new car - for me anyway - '99 Caterham

[andysteele]

spent some time wondering what to get as a toy/track car, MX-5, Westfield, Elise etc etc settled on a Caterham. 1999 Caterham Super 7, possible ex-Scholarship car from 1999, with 1600 8v Vauxhall engine (100BHP). love the fact its so basic, mechanically and otherwise, so i should be able to do a lot of the work on it myself.

needs a bit of a clean and a good service, hope to get it ready for the spring.




love to know peoples thoughts on this purchase!

Andy
andysteele.net

[john185k]

love it mate

[Don1]

Whish I was small enough to have anyone other than the SV - basically I'm jealous, and like it. Right colour too!

[john185k]

i know the thing will be quick, however any plans on developing the engine?

[tybo]

Very nice.

Is that garage really narrow or what ?

[andysteele]

will just give it a service and keep it standard to start with, see how that gets on, i appreciate its quite low power by todays standards, but I`m sure it can still deliver a high smiles to miles ratio!

if i do a few track days I reckon I`ll be after more power before too long!

[andysteele]

standard size single garage, i get my fabia in there fine, with the caterham there is more than enough room to get around the car, get a jack underneath etc, so more than enough!

[SameName]

Lovely car mate, should still be very quick, would love one in future.

[Carpie]

Love the Caterham! Really want one, imagine it'd have the thrills of a bike (I'm a biker too) with the not-falling-over properties of a car!

[flattotheboards]

Cracking car there mate, i wouldnt mind a 7 at some point.

[PooPoo]

Love it. Used to have an SV. Saving for a CSR!

Just pump the rear tyres right up for serious sideways action!

[cozmic]

andysteele said:

will just give it a service and keep it standard to start with, see how that gets on, i appreciate its quite low power by todays standards, but I`m sure it can still deliver a high smiles to miles ratio!

if i do a few track days I reckon I`ll be after more power before too long!

Mate,get back to basics,swap that vauxhall litter for a cross flow lump...spend a few quid,tweek it here and there....will blow u away without a dought!..
I spent last summer rebuilding my cross flow obtaining a obsene amount of new parts from burton in essex.Yes it cost me all told a couple of k and No im not about to ever get my money back, but...WOAH what a toy..my striker keeps up with r1 kitties and blows away red top rubbish...and all from basicly a 40 year old lump...
i took it to my local rolling road tuners, and it produced a healthy 147 horsepower...in 4th gear peaked at 10,100 rpm...clocked at approx 122 mph...
O and i have another gear to go...subsiquently this now pushes to around 140..which to be fair, is stupid...but loads of fun all the same..go on be a devil, get back to basics and enjoy.

[iguana]

Nice one, I've got a '99 ex Academy 7 too, so they would have raced together, if you know the old race number or owner ive got the '99 results sheet.

Mines 2.0XE 16v powered now tho.

Ref matey aboves- rip it out & put in a prehistoric x flow!! mad idea, & 10k rpm out of a cross flow!!! hmm sure & 140 bhp wowser, gently tuning an XE will get you 230bhp easy peasy.

Friend did get a real no bul$hit 190bhp out of his xflow hillclimber & 9k rev limit, did cost £10k to do it tho!

Edited by iguana on Wednesday 9th July 10:50

[jr@]

nice choice

IMO dump the c16se and go for a c16/x16xe dohc vauxhall 1600

[Alfahorn]

That will be no bloody good when you need to go to Sainsburys!!!!!

[minimatt1967]

great car 2.0 XE power is the way forward!

[bales]

cozmic said:

Mate,get back to basics,swap that vauxhall litter for a cross flow lump...spend a few quid,tweek it here and there....will blow u away without a dought!..
I spent last summer rebuilding my cross flow obtaining a obsene amount of new parts from burton in essex.Yes it cost me all told a couple of k and No im not about to ever get my money back, but...WOAH what a toy..my striker keeps up with r1 kitties and blows away red top rubbish...and all from basicly a 40 year old lump...
i took it to my local rolling road tuners, and it produced a healthy 147 horsepower...in 4th gear peaked at 10,100 rpm...clocked at approx 122 mph...
O and i have another gear to go...subsiquently this now pushes to around 140..which to be fair, is stupid...but loads of fun all the same..go on be a devil, get back to basics and enjoy.

Hmmm.....10k rpm from a crossflow eh, so thats erm lets see 74lb/ft of torque then....must be a bit gutless in the mid-range....

Without wanting to appear harsh you are either 14 or really have been misinformed in your choices...

XE's are pretty much renowned for being able to generate over 200bhp on mild cams and standard heads which is bloody impressive for a relatively old engine. Look at some of the figures SBD get out of them in full race spec!!

[minimatt1967]

bales said:

cozmic said:

Mate,get back to basics,swap that vauxhall litter for a cross flow lump...spend a few quid,tweek it here and there....will blow u away without a dought!..
I spent last summer rebuilding my cross flow obtaining a obsene amount of new parts from burton in essex.Yes it cost me all told a couple of k and No im not about to ever get my money back, but...WOAH what a toy..my striker keeps up with r1 kitties and blows away red top rubbish...and all from basicly a 40 year old lump...
i took it to my local rolling road tuners, and it produced a healthy 147 horsepower...in 4th gear peaked at 10,100 rpm...clocked at approx 122 mph...
O and i have another gear to go...subsiquently this now pushes to around 140..which to be fair, is stupid...but loads of fun all the same..go on be a devil, get back to basics and enjoy.

Hmmm.....10k rpm from a crossflow eh, so thats erm lets see 74lb/ft of torque then....must be a bit gutless in the mid-range....

Without wanting to appear harsh you are either 14 or really have been misinformed in your choices...

XE's are pretty much renowned for being able to generate over 200bhp on mild cams and standard heads which is bloody impressive for a relatively old engine. Look at some of the figures SBD get out of them in full race spec!!

Quite the touring cars boys were getting 300bhp reliably from them no worries!

[cozmic]

minimatt1967 said:

bales said:

cozmic said:

Mate,get back to basics,swap that vauxhall litter for a cross flow lump...spend a few quid,tweek it here and there....will blow u away without a dought!..
I spent last summer rebuilding my cross flow obtaining a obsene amount of new parts from burton in essex.Yes it cost me all told a couple of k and No im not about to ever get my money back, but...WOAH what a toy..my striker keeps up with r1 kitties and blows away red top rubbish...and all from basicly a 40 year old lump...
i took it to my local rolling road tuners, and it produced a healthy 147 horsepower...in 4th gear peaked at 10,100 rpm...clocked at approx 122 mph...
O and i have another gear to go...subsiquently this now pushes to around 140..which to be fair, is stupid...but loads of fun all the same..go on be a devil, get back to basics and enjoy.

Gentlemen, i would have to agree with the facts stated, however i have done this to the said motor and have proved that a cross flow, build correctly can and will give you performance that will rival any modern day engine.
And sadly no i am not 14, if i was, i very much dought i would have either the experiance or audasity to challenge or agree with any other of your comments.

Hmmm.....10k rpm from a crossflow eh, so thats erm lets see 74lb/ft of torque then....must be a bit gutless in the mid-range....

Without wanting to appear harsh you are either 14 or really have been misinformed in your choices...

XE's are pretty much renowned for being able to generate over 200bhp on mild cams and standard heads which is bloody impressive for a relatively old engine. Look at some of the figures SBD get out of them in full race spec!!

Quite the touring cars boys were getting 300bhp reliably from them no worries!

[stockver]

cozmic said:

Mate,get back to basics,swap that vauxhall litter for a cross flow lump...spend a few quid,tweek it here and there....will blow u away without a dought!..
I spent last summer rebuilding my cross flow obtaining a obsene amount of new parts from burton in essex.Yes it cost me all told a couple of k and No im not about to ever get my money back, but...WOAH what a toy..my striker keeps up with r1 kitties and blows away red top rubbish...and all from basicly a 40 year old lump...
i took it to my local rolling road tuners, and it produced a healthy 147 horsepower...in 4th gear peaked at 10,100 rpm...clocked at approx 122 mph...
O and i have another gear to go...subsiquently this now pushes to around 140..which to be fair, is stupid...but loads of fun all the same..go on be a devil, get back to basics and enjoy.

quite interested, got any pictures? and any of the sylva you own as well