The 7.

[Šįk]

So the LY182 is getting prepd for sale. and here is my new project car to run about it for this year.

Its a 1979 Caterham (Lotus/Cosworth) Super 7 S3. this is the very 1st/Original caterham which is based on the Lotus 7 S3 (same engine setup etc)

Here are some useful links if anyone is interested in reading further into its history.
http://www.vegantune.com/index.php?-option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=27
http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/-696435785/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterham_7

So this was the 1st week of getting some work done on it. today i gave it a 3.5hour detail. biggest improvment was polishing the metal on the car as over the last 31years its kinda gone dull and s**t.

We also got it started for the 1st time in 8 years and took it down the lane.







So now the ball is rolling the car is booked in for an MOT next sat and it should be taxed the following couple days. so then its totally road legal

Future plans are really just to replace worn bits and bobs and getting it running nice and healthy, try and get it ack up to the original 126bhp as i guess over the years its lost a few, maby? seals and dampers etc need replacing. also carpet interior could do with being re-trimed etc so over the next few months its going to be my daily project car

After getting it started today i genuinly cant wait! really am excited!

Thanks for reading, Piers.

 

[Alex H]

I love 7s Keep this thread updated

 

[Kane.]

Sounds lovely.

 

[andywa]

Love these cars. Keep up the good work.

 

[dalla]

What a stunning looking car. Makes me miss my old seven. You will have loads of fun in it, iam sure.

 

[Šįk]

Cheers yea can't wait to get driving it properly. Roads to hartside etc are going to just be epic in it!

 

[Nashy]

Nice work!! I'll come through and see this today!!

 

[Šįk]

# UPDATE #

So today i have had the 7 up and running a few times today to get it back into the swing of life and get the battary charged back up to full life. Took it down the lane a couple times to get things back into flow ready for its upcoming MOT and to make sure all is in working order. Oh and it loves to pop!

Also got round to do further Polishing to get the chrome and general metals back up to standards seing although they have all become tarnished and rusty etc over the years. Very happy with the results as they have all come out really well. Need to go over some more parts again, i.e exhaust gaurd as its had plenty of s**t and dirt thrown at it over the years and seems to of really got deep marks into the metal due to heat etc but its defo slowly but surely coming out! Will just take some good old elbow grease i guess! here some before and after pics of todays work.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

A few final shots.

Tommorrows job is to hopefully replace some genral running fluids and get insurance finally sorted! ..Oh and replace window wipers!

Piers.

 

[Nashy]

Looking good mate!! looking forward to seeing this on the road!!

 

[dalla]

I really really like this. I have actually been considering an early Caterham, and the TwinCam is just a very nice bonus.

 

[Šįk]

Me 2 craig! Fingers crossed and il be cruising about in it from next sat!

dalla - yea you should! But try get a twincam as the noise is simply epic, it's half the enjoyment for me!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Nice !! Good effort .. joined up to BlatChat yet ?

 

[aucky]

Fabulous!

 

[Šįk]

Nice !! Good effort .. joined up to BlatChat yet ?

lol, no not as yet as i have to get a letter from them before i can join which is slightly annoying, i think i need to email their mod to get this letter :S. Just havent got round to it tbh. but it is on the todo list!

are you a member on Blatchat?

Fabulous!

 

[Wick]

Looks and sounds glorious, would love to have a 7/westie as a second car

 

[Rob]

Really love that.

Cost?

PM me if you don't want to say publicly

 

[Tunst]

It was his dads rob. He just "borrowing it" :rasp:

 

[Šįk]

Oh hi tunst!

Lol. No Its still in his name for insurance reasons but it's basically mine to use and look after as I please

It was my dads from new, he and his friend built it and it's been all over Europe so it's quite a speacial car for me to own Tbh. It has alot of sentimental value.

They fetch anywere between £15k-£20k depending on condition etc. This is a higher milage one mind And in great condition but will be a minter by the time iv finished with it. Not a bad hand me down car tbf.

 

[Rob]

Bloody amazing car if you ask me mate, I've got a real thing for anything that looks like this. I want to buy/build (I'm unsure) a kit car in the next few years.

Keep us updated, I'll be interested to see what you do with it.

 

[Šįk]

Bloody amazing car if you ask me mate, I've got a real thing for anything that looks like this. I want to buy/build (I'm unsure) a kit car in the next few years.

Keep us updated, I'll be interested to see what you do with it.

Thanks Personally I think building the car is half the enjoyment and experiance, also you will appreciate the car a hell of alot more too. They look very simple to work on tbf aswell! So if you could build and maintain it with a friend who knows there stuff mechanically then I can't see anything really to go wrong!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Strode - Get a Caterham/Lotus 7. The rest are all just fakes :rasp:

Will give my Dad something to do when he retires haha !

 

[Nickson]

Absolutely awesome car.

 

[fUbAr]

You've got a hammer in your detailing kit?!

Impressive car, fingers crossed for the MOT?

 

[Šįk]

^ lol.

Yea fingers crossed. Just hope all is ok and it passes as I want to get on the road asap!

 

[Ali]

Cool!

 

[Šįk]

# UPDATE #

So todays jobs done..
- Engine water replaced
- Insurance! im insured from this Friday!

Since replacing the engine water the car is running alot better! Water temp levels are alot lower and bang on which is obv a good sign! other day it seemed to over heat but all sorted now, seemed to be abit low before replacing aswell. It started 1st time too so left it running for 10 then took it for a spin down the road. Vid below.



..oh n heres a pic with the nose cone off.

the ugly bug!

and the hidden lotus badge!

Tyre pressures all seem quite low so need to pump them up abit asap too! Tonight im ordering a new set of wipers as we seem to of lost the spare set so should be here in time for the MOT.

Piers.

 

[JD]

Ah Vegantune! The same company responsible for the Evante!

 

[Naith]

wow... just wow. how lucky are you. love it.

 

[mat-nos]

stunning mate, proper classic kit car, i will own another one one day

is it me or is your rad fan missing a few blades, mite be worth replacing/ipgrading that if your having a few temp issues??!!

 

[Tunst]

looking forward to having a gander over this and mayb a little go?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Re: Tyre pressures...

How low is 'a bit low' ? It's a <500kg car .. it doesn't need 30psi per corner.

Most 7's run between 15 and 20psi depending on setup.

 

[Šįk]

Cheers guys. Didn't relise vagentune did the evante!

regarding the fan, it's must just be a bad angle photo as they are all there. Just went to check! Lol.

And mark, yess I will take u out in it. Don't u worry

tyre pressure wise there all on between 8-11psi. There ment to be on 18psi so again il just put this down to the fact it's been sitting for so long.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Ahh ok

Dad runs his at about 18 on the CR500 15" turini looking things.

 

[Rob]

The noise! I need one... but I need a pay rise first.

You are seriously lucky.

 

[Šįk]

lol get grafting then rob! it will be worth it in the end

yea im very greatful for it too. love it tbh and iv not even drove it properly yet! so excited for sat morning. just hope it passes MOT.

 

[Tunst]

Cheers guys. Didn't relise vagentune did the evante!

regarding the fan, it's must just be a bad angle photo as they are all there. Just went to check! Lol.

And mark, yess I will take u out in it. Don't u worry

tyre pressure wise there all on between 8-11psi. There ment to be on 18psi so again il just put this down to the fact it's been sitting for so long.

Take me out? i want to go solo

lol get grafting then rob! it will be worth it in the end

yea im very greatful for it too. love it tbh and iv not even drove it properly yet! so excited for sat morning. just hope it passes MOT.

should have brought it to me, id have got her through

 

[Šįk]

Noo only passanger rides in this baby unfortunatly mark.

Only problem there was your 40ish miles away so if it failed on anything major we would have a problem. I thought seing though it's Just an MOT it would just make sense to get it done 3/4miles away.