Mike Biddle

Oops, that's not the headlights, just the reflection of a camera flash in the indicators! Sorry folks, my only excuse is withdrawl simptoms, having not spe.... er invested any capital in my car for 2 whole years, and now finding out I can't fit the freestyle suspension (too old.. the car, not me!) Of course I can always send it back to UK and get Arch to fit the later front end,..... and that would fix the hole in the side that appeared after racing with those evil bikers and the altenator fan disintegrating, .... is their a shrink in the club ranks?

Wow! you have to admire the attention to detail some people apply to their projects, everything is so well done. unfortunately I don''t have the patience, and my car looks a mess, but I keep it in good mechanical condition. This installation looks great, but won't the hoses get hot being run right behind the radiator and cosequently heat the incoming air a bit? Not a comment, just a question, Now the real reason for the post, where did the owner source those small headlights? I've got to have them!

Neil I also have a pace kit for my Xe via SBD, only one complaint, car is LHD and the pump has to be messed with in order to fit on the left side, (veiwed from front)

Just checked out the website, and there is a picture of my car with the Image wheels fitted. Click on Billet 3 and scroll down.

Yankee, I also use Image wheels, 7.8 Lbs for 7.5" X 13. Light but very strong, with a long lasting finish. They will also powder coat the centres if you want them a particular colour. Top quality kit, and good service, not cheap, but I don't think that was your aim, they certainly are "VFM" www.imagewheels.co.uk

Mark, I had exactly the same problem with my VX one day after washing it! The Bosch system as fitted to the standard Caterham HPC is very vunerable to this. If you have a local Opel or GM dealer they should be a ble to plug in their diagnostics. I had another problem at one stage and the local Opel dealer traced it to the airspeed sensor in the intake. Later I junked all that stuff and went to Throttle bodies and an MBE ECU, much more reliable! Good luck, Mike.

Alex, I have the SBD airbox, will try to send you a pic. It works well, and yes it does make the car a lot quieter (Ihave TB's). In fact I miss the induction roar, but felt I had to fit it to protect the filter from the blowing sand here, which will coat the filter if the car is stationary. I have one small gripe, and that is the airbox is attached to the backplate with allen screws, and it's very difficult to grt an allen key between the backplate and the TB's, so fitted stainless bolts instead, much easier to get a spanner in. I don't think it robs any power, but because it's much quieter, it doesn't sound so fast.

I wrapped mine a few years ago, and it failed quite quickly. Got them camcoated and the result was much better, lasts at least four times longer, and looks better too. Get them coated inside as well as outside. Increase in power? Maybe, but I doubt you will notice it.

Marius, I run the same set up as you, even down to the same oil. But I do have an oil cooler, and while I don't have any track time on the car (because we don't have a track here), I have made some long hard road runs, like 30 mins running with bikers on the highway at 7,500 RPM, and never got oil temps over 110, or had problems with the carbon can, except some discolouration. It's also hotter here, so I would look for any other factor that could contribute to high oil temp, and; Get an oil cooler!

Yankee, I had this problem recently, and cured it by fitting the uprated fuel pump as fitted to the R 500. Mike.

You don't mention which engine you have, but I got the system for my VX from SBD. The only minor issue in fitting was removal of a redundant mounting on top of the pace pump to allow fitting under the right side engine mount.

Darren, I had the same problem with my VX a few weeks ago after fitting a new throttle pot sensor, and resetting the butterlies on the Jenvey throttle bodies. I know you have roller barrels, but the principal is the same. I had set the airflow through the throttle bodies from memory at 6.5 units at idle, and ended up with exactly the problem you describe, misfiring etc at small throttle openings, and hesitation on "planting" the right foot. The problem turned out to be the airflow setting, it should have been 6 units, not 6.5, which had resulted in a weak mixture at idle and small throttle openings. Adjusted to the correct figure, and, Bingo! back to normal. It may be worth checking this angle out before messing with ECU's etc.

Stephane, I have the 13" billet 3 on my car, and am very happy with them. Image give a good service, and they also have some very good products for keeping your wheels looking good. Highly recommended.

Thanks to all for your responses, now ordered from Caterham the uprated version as fitted to R500. Hope it fits!

I need a new one for my VX 2.0 (injection) Anybody know where it's from? If it's a Vauxhal item, I might be able to get it from the local Opel agent here in Dubai, otherwise it's a courier job. I would also look at fitting a unit designed to give the 65 PSI required for my system, any ideas anybody? Arnie? Thanks, Mike.

You can buy a a tool with a flexible shaft and a magnet on the end which will retreive it easily. Not expensive, easier than removing the sump, and for sure you will need it again someday.

Len, does the suspension fit cars with the pre 96 front moutings set up? Regards, Mike.

AMMO, I run 13" Image wheels over the 280 MM Hispec set up. Jeff, My Hi Specs have aluminium bells.

Fordy, I have the Hi Spec 280MM solid discs with four pot calipers, and they are excellent. This set up doesn't result in overbraking, in fact because of the greater diameter you have a lot more control, all the way to lock up, very easy to use with a lot of "feel". Very light too. Mike.

Me too, have Hi Spec 280MM discs and four pot calipers on the front, now badly need to sort the rears. Are they not offering a bigger, or vented rear disc? Mike.

Lee, start with wheels and tyres, you did not mention which wheels you had, but I beleive the hoosiers will be quite heavy. I have custom made 13" three peice wheels and Avon ACB 10 tyres, and with the tyre fitted they weigh around 21Lbs each. Avon also do some very soft compounds which are ideal for autocross, I assume you are in a modified class, and tyre choice is free. Lighter and more powerfull brakes are available, I saved 4.5 Lbs on the fronts, and got big stopping power (good for autocross)Hi spec 280MM discs, aluminium bells and lightweight four pot calipers. There are some things you could just junk altogether, like windsheild (heavy), and fit the R500 screen. Don't know what seats come in the superlight, but if they are the standard leather ones they are also quite heavy. Other things, lighter battery, smaller, lighter altenator, light flywheel and clutch. There have been many threads on this subject with much better advice than I can give you, so it would definetly pay to do a search.

You could also try Image in Birmingham, they gave me a very good service and have a big selection of styles available, with good choice of colours if powder coating is required. I am very happy with the ones I bought 3 years ago.

Marius, just shorten the lever that comes with it, works a treat. Mike.

Yankeedoodoo, I use them for autocross, and they are excellent, I have 37 trophies to prove it! They don't last long, around 3,000 miles is probably the best you'll get depending on weight of right foot!. They come in lots of different grades too, including some very sticky ones designed for short events like sprints etc where fast warm up is important. Not road legal though. I guess you would be in B modified? So tyre choice should be free.

I have also had the Quaife box fpor a couple of years, and totally agree with Chelspeeds comments, make the lever as short as possible and it transforms the change. Is it heavy?-yes. Do I care? -NO. Are gear changes "clunky"?- yes, if you're driving too slowly, give it some gas and the changes are sweet. No track here yet so can't comment on any competetive advantages. So why did I buy it? Cos it's a lot FUN! I will also consider Daves box once it's proven, but it has one disadvantage for me, one gear less to play with.