Skipper555 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 I've been searching the archives for info on fitting the Apollo tank to my K-Series VVC and have found some info, but some of linked info and pictures are missing or out of date now due to the changes in the site and external sites no longer hosting pics. This page is very helpful for a start though https://www.mycaterham.com/66828/67348.html However as I bought the tank and fitting kit seperately (as I didn't find the full kit on the Caterham store until just now, and it's out of stock anyway) I'm missing some bits too. 1) Is the tank drain plug an M20 x 1.5? 2) Is an aluminium drain plug OK to use? 3) What's the temperature sensor that fits in the side of the tank? I can see it's the same as the coolant temp gauge sensor on the rail, but I've failed to find this sensor on the Caterham website. 4) Someone mentioned they had managed to routing the pipes under the alternator belt, but the linked pictures were missing. Does anyone have any pictures of this routing? 5) To fit the breather into the cam cover is it a case of removing the cover, drilling an approriate hole for the threaded fitting to pass through and then tighten up the nut on the inside with thread lock? 6) Does the sandwich plate for the take off fit with the rubber gasket against the engine side? (This is my logic in this replicates the seal on the oil filter) 7) My assumption is the to fit the sandwich plate I simply unscrew the oil filter, fit the sandwich plate and tighten up the thread insert and then screw the oil filter onto the sandwich plate. Is that correct? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 Think I've found the answer to 3) by searching Blatchat a bit more. I think it's this one https://caterhamparts.co.uk/senders/17-temperature-sender-water-all-variants-96.html?search_query=Sender&results=67 I think I was searching for sensor instead of sender on the Caterham parts site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 4. On my SV I managed to route the oil pipes horizontally and under the alternator. Never liked the idea of hoses inside the alternator belt ! 5. Yes 6. Yes. 7. Yes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 Nice one, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Don't underestimate getting the sandwich plate sealed etc. When I did mine ended up getting Caterham to do it.....or I was just weak. It's easier with engine out but not easy in situ. From memory the drain plug is the same as a Ford diff plug. Bleed to cam cover as you describe. Temp sensor is whatever you use to measure oil temp.....so if using the water temp gauge & a switch same as water temp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Think my pipes went through the alternator belt but that was nearly 20 years ago...🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 Thanks, that's very useful info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted July 2 Area Representative Share Posted July 2 (edited) You seem to have the job sorted. Redline will probably be able to supply your temp sender and drain plug. TOP TIP. I find the Apollo tank very lightweight and easy to damage when removing the drain plug to the point where some choose not to fully drain the Apollo. I use a small electric pump to suck out the oil from it via the breather aperture on the top of the Apollo. A suitable pump is often on offer at Lidl or on eBay. Similar to THIS. Edited July 2 by Paul Richards 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 Thanks. I'll try Redline. Good idea on the draining.i have a manual vacuum pump I could use for that which I've already used on my gearbox, so I'll keep that in mind. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 I use a Pela vacuum bottle with it's small bore hose inserted through the top vent hole once breather hose removed. Do this when the oil is hot, but a lot of the oil will drain down into the sump if you disconnect the breather hose, reducing the amount you have to extract. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 12 hours ago, SM25T said: 4. On my SV I managed to route the oil pipes horizontally and under the alternator. Never liked the idea of hoses inside the alternator belt ! 5. Yes 6. Yes. 7. Yes Could you post a pic of your pipe routing please? I also don't like the idea of pipes through the belt and might change that over winter. Did you need to buy longer hoses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 I used the hoses that came with the kit. Kit was bought second hand, so maybe they were non standard ? I'll find photos of the installation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 Viewed from above, you can just see the hose elbows from the sandwich plate running horizontally under the alternator. I have got some other photos taken from under the car .... somewhere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 Breather hose with one way valve fitted. It must allow air to flow from tank to engine, not into tank. This stops tank draining down to sump when standing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 Here is a photo from the front, albeit when there was a weep from the hose connection to the oil pressure gauge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 I am guessing there isn't enough width to fit the elbows horizontally on an S3 ? It is easy on our SV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROBE2 Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 There is a installation guide from club magazine a few years ago available if you do a Google search ( I also have it if required). It gives helpful advise on tightening the sandwich plate and how far to go. If a used kit advise replacing sandwich oil seal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 (edited) This one? https://lowflying.caterhamlotus7.club/2001/2001_09_03_Apollo.pdf The thread I found this link from is also useful Edited July 3 by Skipper555 Add link to tightening Apollo sandwich plate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 Considering how badly my sump foam was degraded, have people fitted this foam in the cam cover? (I had wondered where the foam on the full kit from the Caterham Parts website went) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 1 hour ago, PROBE2 said: There is a installation guide from club magazine a few years ago available if you do a Google search ( I also have it if required). It gives helpful advise on tightening the sandwich plate and how far to go. If a used kit advise replacing sandwich oil seal. Possibly the article I wrote for the Sep 2001 LF issue -- seems ages ago now! JV 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROBE2 Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 That’s the one John, I recently fitted an Apollo kit and I got to 15lbft for sandwich union ensuring new seal and it aligns square by not attaching pipes tank end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 No foam or steel gauze in my cam cover 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 @SM25T Thank you for posting the photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper555 Posted 16 hours ago Author Share Posted 16 hours ago Does anyone have any tips for tightening the sandwich plate bolt? There's a lump inside the plate housing (top left) that's making it hard to get a socket on cleanly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted 15 hours ago Share Posted 15 hours ago A plumbers box spanner: https://www.screwfix.com/p/faithfull-tap-backnut-spanner-with-tommy-bar-27mm-32mm/844rh or a Tap Back nut thing: https://www.toolstation.com/tap-backnut-tap-connector-set/p43610 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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