1400 K series

[lowlander]

Hi there,

 

Can someone tell me when the 1400 K-series was discontinued in favour of the 1600 K-series. 1995/6 rings a bell. Also when was the 1400 k-series re-introduced on the classic?

 

Is a standard (i.e. non supersport) 1400K good value secondhand or do you think a 1600VX with live axle is better value for money?

 

All the best.

 

Martin.

 

 

[SLR No.77]

1400K ran until the 1995 - chassis change to tunnel handbrake coincided with swap to 1600. There were however 30 limited edition 1400SS models produced with the new chassis. My old 1400SS was a 1995 chassis, but wasn't registered until 1996, just to cause confusion.

 

IMHO opinion they are a MUCH better buy than the 1600VX live axle - chalk & cheese. The '90s 1400s are easily swapped to 1800cc and benefit from being pre-SVA. Check the link in my signature for a quick guide on how to do the swap There's also a few of the "C-Class" racers around which are a really good spec - safety gear, LSD, etc. Myself and another local owner managed to buy 2 that had never been raced!

 

Stu.

 

 

www.superse7ens.co.uk..........the rebuild 😬

 

 

[Sheds Moderator]

Mine's a C-class, still running 1400 SS from 96. Slippy diff, brake bias, dry sump, it's a beast. 😬

[Nifty]

Martin,

 

I may have a 1400 SS engine going cheap very shortly if you fancy a cheap buy followed by a cheap upgrade.

 

Keep off the straight and narrow 😬

[lowlander]

Thanks Nifty but I don't have a car to put it in yet !!

[Nifty]

Exactly, you buy the cheap, bog standard 1400 and then give me a few notes and gain the extra ooomph ❗ 😬

 

Keep off the straight and narrow 😬

[Englishmaninwales]

But make sure it's a 6 speeder, the 1400 SS with a standard ratios 5 speed is not well matched....

 

Edited by - Englishmaninwales on 21 Apr 2007 00:08:52

[Nifty]

Or a tweaked 5 speed

 

Keep off the straight and narrow 😬

[SLR No.77]

Or better still, a tweaked 5 speed with an 1800 dropped in is a really nice combination

 

Stu.

[Nifty]

Or even better still would be a tweaked 5 speed with an R400 *thumbup*

 

*tongue*

 

(If I ever get it running 😳)

 

Keep off the straight and narrow 😬

 

Edited by - Nifty on 21 Apr 2007 11:18:26

[Englishmaninwales]

tweaked 5 speed with an 1800 dropped

😬 😬 😬 😬

[David Lynch]

It's fine with a 5, You'll just barely use 5th on a track, but you'll be glad on the road 😬

 

1.4K SS 😬 EN Yorks Se7ens 'You've got be in it to lose it !'

[Alias]

At the risk of stating the obvious, the 1400 K was also the base model of the Caterham range (the Caterham Classic) between 2003-2006.

 

I had a 1400SS for 4 years (until I replaced it with an 1800SS) and think it was a lovely car. The Caterham 6 speeder was originally developed for the 1400SS and works very well with it (each gear change slots the engine at the start of the power band (5400 -7200 rpm).

 

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1800 Supersport with 6 gears and clamshell wings.

[Colin Mill]

I'm more than happy with the 1.4 with the 5 speed box as a road car. I'm glad of the rather tall 5th for cruising on the motorway. Although not all that important it does return 44 mpg on a mainly motorway trip which given the aerodynamics is rather impressive.