R500 rear end woes
Discussion
I have a 2002 R500. Just had the engine rebuilt by Ministers who did a 101 upgrade and is now quicker than ever!!!! My problem is now the car has developed a distinct clonk from the rear suspension when passing over even moderate bumps. I have removed and inspected both springs and shocks and all seems in order. All the other links and bushes seem ok. In fact all seems solid. Anyone have any ideas
Sorry can't help with the clonk but I had an r101 in my 7 and loved it even though it was a tad temperamental, but that's only to be expected in fairness. I now have the 2 litre evo which is even quicker but I prefered the smoother higher revving r101. The way it pulled after 6k was something else whereas the 2 litre is savage but more linear.
The very early R500s and press cars may have had 230bhp but I think they turned the wick down a little for increased reliability. Certainly the rev limits were revised. The r101 is basically the wick turned back up. I think 240 (at 8800!) is the most one could produce but the difference is greater than 10 bhp over the standard R500 because those were nearer 220 bhp in production trim. The R101 also has a distrubutor-less ignition system and I think different pistons fitted so costs a fair bit more than a standard rebuild. The results are impressive though as I was outdragging R500s on the straights, much to their confusion - my car still has its superlight R stickers on!
Mine was rebuilt to R101 spec from a VHPD engine and cost somewhere around £11k at the time from memory, though I have tried hard to forget! I was told a brand new R500 engine was about £12k.
I'm guessing but I'd allow at least £6k for a rebuild from an R500.
Mine was rebuilt to R101 spec from a VHPD engine and cost somewhere around £11k at the time from memory, though I have tried hard to forget! I was told a brand new R500 engine was about £12k.
I'm guessing but I'd allow at least £6k for a rebuild from an R500.
Don't waste your money at Minister. Send your engine to Dave Andrews at DVA power as he has progressed the engine much further than minister, making reliability improvements and power. My R500 was rebuilt by him and now shows 257 bhp on the rollers at 8800 rpm. At 8300 it is showing 253bhp so fairly flat power at the top of the curve. Minister still used the original valves wheres as you can gain some improvements with better flow through the head and larger valves. He will also send the rods and crank to Vibration Free to iron out any imbalance.
He converted the pistons to floating pins. The original r500 engines were on fixed pins which is a weakness in the engine given the revs involved. He also improved the oil ways in order to increase lubrication.
A new scolar block was also used and the total rebuild came to less than £4k included upgraded cams.
He converted the pistons to floating pins. The original r500 engines were on fixed pins which is a weakness in the engine given the revs involved. He also improved the oil ways in order to increase lubrication.
A new scolar block was also used and the total rebuild came to less than £4k included upgraded cams.
Hedgetrimmer said:
Don't waste your money at Minister. Send your engine to Dave Andrews at DVA power as he has progressed the engine much further than minister, making reliability improvements and power. My R500 was rebuilt by him and now shows 257 bhp on the rollers at 8800 rpm. At 8300 it is showing 253bhp so fairly flat power at the top of the curve. Minister still used the original valves wheres as you can gain some improvements with better flow through the head and larger valves. He will also send the rods and crank to Vibration Free to iron out any imbalance.
He converted the pistons to floating pins. The original r500 engines were on fixed pins which is a weakness in the engine given the revs involved. He also improved the oil ways in order to increase lubrication.
A new scolar block was also used and the total rebuild came to less than £4k included upgraded cams.
He converted the pistons to floating pins. The original r500 engines were on fixed pins which is a weakness in the engine given the revs involved. He also improved the oil ways in order to increase lubrication.
A new scolar block was also used and the total rebuild came to less than £4k included upgraded cams.
for Oily!Most Caterhams go to Road & Track (The two steves) for Dyno / mapping work, R500's seem to be around the mid 230ish mark. My all steel DVA 1.9k made 257bhp at the same dyno, with lots more torque than a 1.8k R500 (180ftlb vrs 155ftlb ish) , therefore I would counter that it is directly comparable to Minsters work.
DVA=Dave Andrews=Top fella & a true gent to boot!
He stepped in when I was shafted by a lesser K series engine builder (NOT MINISTER) & got me right out of the poo, & provided me with a superb motor!
DVA=Dave Andrews=Top fella & a true gent to boot!
He stepped in when I was shafted by a lesser K series engine builder (NOT MINISTER) & got me right out of the poo, & provided me with a superb motor!
Edited by dsl2 on Thursday 5th February 08:51
Edited by dsl2 on Thursday 5th February 08:52
minister won't even share the dyno trace with their customers as they don't want to get involved in the endless dyno arguments. cynics and rival engine builders would say they're trying to hide poor results but they are a meticulous engine builder and OK perhaps expensive but their engines deliver in my experience.
I now have the 2.0 evo k-series in my car. In a straight line it doesn't give anything away to a (supposedly 300+bhp honda) supercharged ariel atom so I'm pretty satisfied with that, regardless of what it did or didn't say on the dyno sheet!
I now have the 2.0 evo k-series in my car. In a straight line it doesn't give anything away to a (supposedly 300+bhp honda) supercharged ariel atom so I'm pretty satisfied with that, regardless of what it did or didn't say on the dyno sheet!
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