bluenose

I have Hispec Ultralite 4s with standard disks and Mintex 1144 pads and standard rear brakes and the same pads as Chris Alston. Car seems balanced and is fine for roads round here and on track. I have the updated master cylinder. My car is light at 460kg. I agree with Chris that the car is ok on standard calipers, I just wanted the far lighter weight of the Ultralites to save on unsprung weight. I have heard from posts saying that on overseas trips where there are loads of hairpins etc the Hispecs do not perform and I suspect this is probable true and vented disks and bigger 4 pot calipers would likely work better but for most of us it is not usually needed. As for HiSpec customer service, I have heard stories and again cannot comment as I had no issues although my dealings with them were quite a while ago but HiSpec have been used on the Levante and other cars so they must be doing something right.

Tony recently sprayed my nose in Lotus Lava Orange(pearl), same colour all over, £80. He even fitted new dzus fasteners. Sprayed some wings for a local owner to me, metallic green, again £80 per wing. Nick

Seems reasonably priced for a 620. There seemed to be a lot of 620s up for sale with very little use? Too much of a handful for most owners or just another new toy for the well off to play with over a couple of weekends and then get bored and move to the next new toy? I really struggle to understand why a car that is essentially like every other Caterham is sold new for close on £60k? £45k is at least more sensibly priced. It says import, does it mean there is an import duty to pay maybe? Nick

I had some made for me after having an impression taken at Autosport. They are good but was talking to a guy who is in the industry at Le Mans last year who said the disposable foam ones are just as good. Nick

Forgot to say if your knee trim panels are pop riveted in place it is easier to change the rivets for self tappers so you can remove the panels to get to the retaining channels and wires. N

Mr Mint It is unlikely that you will have the captive nut retaining channels fitted, you can easily check by putting your hand up behind the knee trim panel and the dashboard and feel if they are there. If they are not there then you will need to purchase them along with the aeroscreen and mirrors. First time fit will be fairly time consuming as to fit the new channels is a bit fiddly but once bolted in place the change over is relatively quick. The heated screen connectors normally come with spades on and I changed mine to bullets to make it easier to pull the wires out through the holes in the scuttle. I normally lay a blanket on the scuttle/ bonnet, remove the wipers, undo the four bolts holding the windscreen and lay it forward onto the blanket. If you have a cut out switch you have to lift the stanchion over the key outlet. Then remove the heated screen wires and then lift the screen off. Then just fit the aero onto the poppers which I assume will be there if not you may need to fit them to. Then bolt down the ends of the aero. Job done. Going the other way takes slightly longer as it can be fiddly to line up the stanchion holes with the retaining channel captive nuts but after several goes it becomes easier. Think that is it. Nick

This should be a brilliant weekend. Bucklers Hard s a fantastic place if you have never been before and the Beaulieu River is very picturesque and unspoilt. We are hoping to top the 67 cars from the last event and with the time of year we are hoping the weather gods will be kind again. If you can do all 3 events you will have chance to drive some lovely roads up to Sherborne. There are plenty of places to stay around the New Forest, some stayed at the RNLI in Poole for the last Bucklers meet but if you need help with somewhere to stay then get in touch and I will try to help. Nick

My recommend would be to find someone familiar with Caterham set up to flat floor the car and check the rake, toe and camber settings, the car will be much more enjoyable to drive if set up properly. Just lowering the rear with no references will not necessary help the handling. Nick

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Reversing light not tested and therefore if not there it does not matter. I think, not sure, every new car must have a reversing lamp for type approval/homologation but if your car is kit built/ built by small manufacturer and SVA/IVAed then it might not be required? My Blackbird does not have one as I only have an electric reverse. I think you should have a rear fog light and one should have been fitted for SVA/IVA however if your car was rebuilt it may have been left off? Think they became a legal requirement in the 1980s. While your MOT tester is happy I wouldn't worry other than getting caught in fog, always good to be seen in such a small, low car. Nick

I have purchased a new nose cone in diagonal weeve but its not as nice as my old one and not of the same quality. If anyone has an original Caterham diagonal weeve nose cone from the K series Superlight/Superlight R era in good nick I would be interested in buying it from you. Nick

Mike My electric reverse is between the engine and prop. I do have a spare set that I'd like to keep but you are more than welcome to borrow it to replicate the install. Any good engineering firm should be able to make the bits required. Mine uses the Nova Racing adapter with BMW donut. Nick

The later dedion tubes are of a thicker gauge and therefore heavier than the earlier ones, pre 2003 if memory serves me. Speaking to Bruce at Arch is a good idea, worth your while. Nick

Any chance of posting a photo? I have the older more upright brackets so it's probably different but show me what you are trying to do. Not sure I remember a grommet? Builds can be frustrating but at least your a long way from summer so not missing anything. Nick

https://www.lotus7.club/guides/how-guides/fitting-battery-master-switch

David Not sure what your timescales are on this but you are welcome to carry out the work yourself in my garage near Ringwood. I am willing to lend a hand and we could plan it in over a weekend or two in November? Otherwise I would suggest PGM at Partridge Green, Sussex. Nick

That has been cut. Ask for your money back.

That's interesting regarding the threads, I take it you know this from experience? Obviously deviating from a proven design is always a risk and I would want them to be as least as safe if not safer than the parts they would replace. They are roughly double the price but would look sexier

Anyone bought these and if so are they any good? http://www.compbrake.com/product/caterham-suspensiontrack-rod-ends-pair-copy/ I assume they replace the Triumph ones here: https://caterhamparts.co.uk/racks/125-track-rod-end-single.html. I don't want the wishbone ends just the track rod ends. Nick

Well I replaced my Blackbird floors with lowered ones and never heard the rivets, don't know why?

Right, I found this in another post "Just looked on a box of bolts supplied from Mike for his MB wheels and sealing silicone = Hi Modulus Dow Corning 785, Black cap heads, with plain stainless washer and stainless nylocks torqued to 18Nm / 13 ft lbs, Really much easier if you have an extra hand to hold the cap heads from turning"

Your centres are back from Mike's and are in my garage. I thought the bolts were 18nm, not 18lb/ft but I could be wrong.

I have had had plugs made by these http://www.mercuryhearing.com/ Have yet to try them out but they seemed to know what they were doing. Nick