Piers300

The start of a spares kit !!!

Derek. The R300 K (and I think the R400K) came as standard with 15” wheels and CR500 195/45/15 Avon tyres. 13” were optional on both. I find the ride on my R300 pretty good, but availability of the 195/45/15 tyres is a bit of an issue. I have never tried 13 or 14” so cannot comment. You can still get Avon 195/45/15 though and remember they were developed by Avon specifically for the Caterham 7. However, the new replacement Avon tyre is 195/50/15 and can be tight with low front mudguards. Sump clearance is an issue, as I have had to recently replace mine after hitting an object in the road. Piers

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Ed. I have been given your contact details by Revilla from Blat Chat, as he has suggested that you may be able to repair a wet sump for my K series 7. A new sump was fitted yesterday, so up and running, I thought that repairing the old sump may be a good spare part for me, as they become more difficult to obtain and our roads are terrible and it might well happen again. I can send photos if this is a possibility. It has had quite a thump, so it may be beyond repair. Kind regards. Piers Rendell

Oily. I am in Canterbury

My last run out in 2017 to the L to B meeting was rather an expensive event. On the way home, I hit a something in the road that cracked my sump. I didn’t know about the leak till starting it last Sunday before my chilly trip to S and C for a service and mot yesterday. It’s all been sorted now by S & C and a new sump fitted. However, I have the old sump that they say is probably repairable. Does anyone know a suitable repair outfit that can make it useable as a spare. Thanks Piers

Updated

Brian. Redline would be the best people to contact (assuming you know who they are, as they advertise in LF). Your car sounds great. Piers

A bad ECU earth will allow a spark, but it will not fire the injectors. Ask me how I know this !!! Try squirting some fuel into the throttle bodies, taking all due precautions and see if it starts. Piers

Check ECU earth and all earth connections. Piers

Piers

I have 4 x 195/50/R15 AD08 Yokos . I need to clear space in garage. Each has a reasonable tread depth. Collect only from Canterbury/Dover area. Piers

Try checking the ECU earth connection. Mine had a poor connection and cold starting gradually got worse and worse, until it would not start, unless petrol was squirted into the T/B’s. Once hot it started and ran fine. The earth connection on mine was not a direct connection to the chassis. It is now and now it starts. Piers

Sounds like the voltage regulator in the alternator is not regulating correctly. Piers

A constant potential battery charger, I.e. Accumate - CTEk ect, work on the basis that when the float charge level of the battery (13.2 volts approx) and the charger output voltage are equal , I.e. the battery is fully charged, then no current flows. So even though the charger remains connected, it is not charging. When the battery condition changes due to some internal losses, the voltage changes and the charger then operates to charge the battery. You just leave it on, but do check the electrolyte level occasionally. A float charger normally has a boost and trickle switch and if left permanently connected, will boil the battery dry. Piers

Sorry - should have given this information in above: In Tony Weale's book - Lotus Seven, he gives the following: First BDR Engined Caterham 7, serial number: LCS 4268 BD R M-BDR001 Piers

In Rees's book, the BDR's have a chassis number within the sequence "4628 to 30696" with an HP suffix. See page 74. Piers.

According to Chris Rees in the Magnificent Seven book (v2), only 149 x 1600 BDR's and 269 x 1700 BDR's we built. The majority are in Japan I suspect. You don't see them very often. I would keep it absolutely standard if you are keeping it as an investment, as that is what it will be. According to Jez Coates - it is the one to have. However, if you intend to use it, changing the front suspension to a better specification would not be a bad thing, as long as you kept the original components that could be refitted if needed. A old friend of mine "Clive Stevens" had one and called it the Blue Meanie - registration number VNJ 7 which replaced his immaculate Holbay 1600 Sprint. He was never that fond of it and sold it to Japan and bought a Lime Green TVR. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us. I have some photos of it at a East Kent Meeting at Pluckley. I also have some pictures of a BDR that turned up to a 7 Meeting at Goodwood in the summer of 1984. My new 7 was on order and I went there to chose a colour. This car must have been very very new and it was registration number: B444JTF. The photo I have of the engine looks like it has a Blue top cover. On Clives car, it looks to be alloy and uncoloured. Piers

I think part number is NEC 100631 and available ex stock from Rimmer Bros - genuine rover part and not a copy. Piers

I've just been out to the garage to look at my spare coil. I have a 2004 R300 with distributor, so I expect it is identical to your coil. Unfortunately there is no part number other than he maker " Diellier " or something similar. I think it is a standard Rover coil for either the 1.6 or 1.8 engines. Piers

Hi Alan. Thank you for your response and the wheels you sold me, which are awaiting trial fitting this weekend. I will see if they fit the front, as it is already very tight with 45 section tyres. I have four new CR500 195/45/15 tyres that I bought, as they seem to be getting more difficult to obtain. I will try your old wheels and tyres and if they fit - great. If not, then I will have the new CR500's fitted to your old rims. It is good to know the AD08's are good for the road. Thanks Piers

I have just bought four x 15" Anthracite 10 Spoke Caterham wheels, which have 195/50/R15 82V ADVAN AD08 Yokohama tyres fitted. I bought these for the 15" rims - not the tyres and know little about the Yokohama's. I have my original 4 x 10 spoke 15" with 195/45/R15 CR500 Avon's fitted to my 7. There is minimal clearance with the front carbon fibre wheel mudguards brackets and always has been. I suspect the 195/50/R15 will not fit, but I have not tried yet - this weekend. I understand that the Yoko's AD08's were used for competition and all the tyres have some tread left (between 3.5 and 5 mm) and are in good condition. Would there be a demand for these? I intend to fit new 195/45/R15's that I have bought or is there so little difference between 45 and 50 section tyres that the may fit.. I don't do track days and are the AD08's suitable for road use ? How do they compare to the CR500? Thanks Piers

Still looking. Piers