Dave B Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 I am running standard caterham xflow at the moment with 4:1 comp exhaust. Any advice on progressive enhancements would be appreciated. Head is leaded so I'm thinking of an unleaded upgrade with bigger valves. Has anyone any experience of aftermarket head suppliers, again any advice would be helpful. Where do i start?? Dave B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 Dave, My 1700 started breathing quite heavily at approx. 21000. Decided to take it to Roger King and let him have a tinker with it. It's hardly the quickest car around but RK did his 'basic' upgrade, forged pistons etc and re-bored the AX block to 1800. BTW the 7 also has an unleaded conversion. Car still only chucks out 140bhp but there has been a marked improvement in the engine (RK reckons that the supersprint only ever gave 120bhp and not the 135bhp that Caterham claim). Best thing to do is speak with RK. I for one found him very easy to talk to and he will explain and cost all the options and wont pressure you into anything. Chris Alston Se7ening - it's all miles and smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif 1800 Supersprint - Loud and Proud teeth.gif ...well it only sounds fast officer blush.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted December 21, 2001 Share Posted December 21, 2001 If you are after a budget upgrade then vulcan are worth talking to, you wont get the same level of service as with RK, but they do a wormanlike job and will do the unleaded conversion as part of the rebuild. They do very levels of modification , big valve , webers etc. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted December 21, 2001 Share Posted December 21, 2001 Love the spelling error (it is isn't it ?).Worm job as it's a budget upgrade? Maybe it's 'Womanlike'. "Thwack". Clipped around ear by Suzi Seven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted December 21, 2001 Share Posted December 21, 2001 Ayup Chris, It was late and my hands were oily.. typos can be unintentionally funny. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taran Las Posted December 21, 2001 Share Posted December 21, 2001 If you're doing the work yourself Burtons sell ported/big valve heads. Regards Phil Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCG Posted December 21, 2001 Share Posted December 21, 2001 Dave, I would second Chris Alston's comments. thumbsup.gif Dave G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave B Posted December 22, 2001 Author Share Posted December 22, 2001 Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions. I will think over xmas and start talking to RK. Cheers Dave B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted December 27, 2001 Share Posted December 27, 2001 I has a head by Roger K. Unleaded inserts and 155 spec head. That was all. On a stanard bottom end and cam, cast pistons only it gave 135 proper HP. Very pleased I was too. Mine gave 120 before mods. The car span very much better thereafter and sounded totally amazing in comparison. I understand that to release more power you need new cams and more revs than 6K max and this is unwise on the std bottom end - the pistons being the limiting factor I think. Roger didn't seem terribly cheap but he told me the head on it's own would be ok to 9K rpm! Gives you some confidence when you're only ever going to 6-6.5. Nigel Mills - 2.0 Zetec carbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morls Posted December 27, 2001 Share Posted December 27, 2001 How about......A Fireblade engine. My motor, with 6 speed 'box carbs and all electrics cost £1100. The whole lot weighs about as much as a Ford 'Box and bellhousing, the power at the back wheel of the motorcycle is a real 135BHP. If the rave reveiws are to be believed this should make the car lighter, better handling and easier to stop. Has anyone driven both XF and Blade back -to- back? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Mad Posted December 28, 2001 Share Posted December 28, 2001 are there not a few chassis mods required for that ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morls Posted December 30, 2001 Share Posted December 30, 2001 Um...yes, Looking on the BEC list there appears to be a few companies who can make the engine subframes and gearchange links such as Stuart Taylor, Playskool, Blackbird Motorsport or Z-Cars. The Caterham Blade uses an extra pair of inserts on the lower chassis rails, as per the four at the front, also a few plates welded on the front top bulkhead rail to support the gear links. I've not seen their bracket for the reverse box but I think many people are now moving to electric reverse anyway. When I did the sums to convert my old Caterham from XF to blade I reconned on about £2300 for the conversion, not including a reverse box but with a £500 SS system. The sale of XF engine, box, carbs etc would help offset some of this. Not starightforward or cheap I know, but if the roadtests are true it should make a huge difference from the XF. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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