allegro Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 Can anyone give any info regarding changing the front end to widetrack on a classic SE 1997 1600 crossflow. Can it be done and what components needed. 🤔 Andy Mac C7 GON 😬 Team Langoustine. Hard Core Prawn here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Chan Posted February 27, 2003 Area Representative Share Posted February 27, 2003 Allegro, this was one of the reasons I sold my XFlow Classic and went to my current car! When I enquired at Caterham they first said no, then why bother and then possible but expensive! Presumably the last comment means a trip to Arch motors for some chassis modifications - so its a bit more that a simple swap over as on a de dion car! Can't remember the chap's name in technical service at Caterham but basically he said the modification would only be worth it if the car was a de dion car with such a noticeable difference between the front and rear widths, on a live axle car he said that there wouldn't be much improvement ☹️ HTH Nick Yellow HPC - A 2.0 VX - 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy couchman Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 ...which is why James Whiting's Fireblade cars have a live axle and wide track front ssupension. We know how slow they are round the corners at Curborough! I am going this route having had to have the chassi rebuilt anyway. Will report on it once the car is up and running again. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Chan Posted February 27, 2003 Area Representative Share Posted February 27, 2003 Andy, which is why James Whiting's Fireblade cars have a live axle and wide track front ssupension. We know how slow they are round the corners at Curborough! 😬 😬 Although presumably you are going this route as you have to have the chassis modded anyway! I wanted the option as a straight changeover (a la de dion cars) without having to have my car sorted by Arch at the time. What type of cost is expected for this work? Nick Yellow HPC - A 2.0 VX - 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry.h Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Allegro, I changed my 1997 Classic to widetrack about 3 years ago after having been told by Caterham that it couldn't be done. They know naff all!! It all now comes as a kit for pre 1996 suspension which is what the live axle cars have. It comprises new uprights, upper and lower wishbones, ARB and some brackets for the front upper wishbone forward mounts. I have just fitted it on a live axle Blackbird engined car that I have just built as well. Go for it *wink* Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonycaterham Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Allegro, I was thinking of converting my '90 live axled car to wide track and Caterham admitted I could do it but said why not buy a de-dion car. But Barry is right. As usual money no object as far as they were concerned. I already have the uprated front set up with the upper front wishbone so I am just uprating to dedion- top wishbones which are adjustable and with ball joints to fit the live axle vertical links. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver 21 Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 Allegro Barry is absolutely right (as always) the only bits that are missing on your chassis are the additional forward mounts for the top wishbone, I enquired about this at Caterham Midlands a couple of years ago and the answer was 'No Problem' they were going to braze (I think) the extra mounts on. Graham Competition Secretary Lydden, Curborough, MIRA, Llandow, Loton Park, Curborough, Aintree...What more can you ask for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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