Rob Walker

Put some polythene over the top of the cam cover before washing or leaving the car out in the rain. I am surprised your car didn`t run like a pig for a few miles at some stage as the plug must have been wet.

Shame that they have weakened the strength of the fixings of the cage to get it to fit. I had to cut off the tube fixings and re weld them to get Tom Hoods cage to fit. Now Frankie what are you gonna do for half doors and boot cover? The nearest fit of boot cover is off a 1997 superlight to fit standard roll bar and without weather gear and the best half door solution is the MOG half doors £135 from fluke Motorsport. Rob

Escort Mexico mk 2 had a 1600 pinto engine the RS 1600 was a BDA based on the cross flow block. The Escort Mexico Mk 1 had a 1600 cross flow. Edited by - Rob Walker on 6 Sep 2005 08:33:08

Brent I don`t want worry you but are you sure the Champion filter does not have the valve ? Some of the valves are not visible from just looking down the hole as some have a flat plate with the spring behind the plate, I have cut several open to discover this. IIRC the filter that I fitted on Tom Hoods 2.3 was a Fram off an Escort Mexico 1974. This is also applicable to all K series owners the filters with this valve are to be avoided.

Faulty pressure dump valve within the oil filter? They should only open when the filter gets blocked to prevent the filter case splitting. I always fit filters that do not have this valve because should this valve open all the crud that the filter has removed will be released around the engine. Filters without this valve are getting harder to find.

When I used to run a stock 1.6SS I would use upto 1/2 L on a track day and 1/4 per 1000 miles on the road. I have never come across an engine that uses no oil that would worry me. Edited by - Rob Walker on 5 Sep 2005 08:31:36

Early K DS pumps were fitted witha manually adjustable idler /tensioner, simply wind the adjustment screw until you can flex the belt about 10mm on the longest run. Moving the wheel in tightens the belt.

I think that there is some truth in the article but a lot of bull. Firstly the fuel line is a return system not unlike a petrol engined car so yes when the fuel pump is energised the fuel will make a round trip to the engine and any excess back to the tank. As far as bits of metal getting into the engine and wrecking the internals this is pure fantasy as any particles would have to pass first through the fuel filter then gauze filter in each injector nozzle and then through the tiny holes in the end of each injector. IMO should the worst happen and you do not continue to run the car for any distance all that should be required is a tank drain, replace the high pressure fuel pump, have the injectors ultrasonically cleaned, new filter and reprime the system. Anyone daft enough to pay £7000 for this please come and see me I will take your money. Having said all that BMW wanted £2500 to replace the blown turbo on my 320D. I source the turbo myself and it was fitted by an aftermarket BMW specialist for half the cost. £102 per hour plus vat is a rip off.

One of my big regrets was not painting my car. Its highly polished ali and black fibre wings and nose several people have asked me if its a Robin Hood which does not fill me with much pride.

The standard calipers should run with anti squeal shims, get them from CC or a Lucas dealer. Waste of time putting coppa slip behind Pagids as they get so hot the coppa slip burns to a powder.

I got 280 out of a 2.3 without much trouble. With a little more work 300 should be possible.

250 plus Bhp and its an 1800, I think someone has been eating too much cheese!

Gold pump is now cheaper than the purple so its a no brainer

A dirty or blocked injector nozzle on number 2 will also give you a misfire I had this problem recently. Got the injectors cleaned all was hunky dory.

I avoided the Bristol test center and used Taunton who were very helpfull

I recon 8" is about optimum. No problems fitting on 8" go that extra 0.5" and you struggle. Edited by - Rob Walker on 3 Aug 2005 12:04:39

I would stick with the Caterham/ lucas stock pads that have the blue stripe on them or you may loose your brake balance.

Depends on best for what? going shopping or hours thrashing around a track?

Yoko state that the 6" rim is the optimum size for this tyre. However it has been my experience that the Yoko 205`s work better on wider rims up to 8".

Super bit of kit, get it set up properly and forget. Mine starts first time on the button every time.

Sorry to say but it sounds like the seal has gone on the bearing within the turbo. Mine failed without much warning on the way home from Silverstone last wednesday on my 320D BMW. Look on line there are plenty of companies doing exchange units Turbo Technics 01604 705050 BTN 01895 466666 are the best.

I bought my Radtec direct at the Autosport show £180 inc vat.

I STRONGLY advise you to let Caterham have the problem of fitting the cage. I recently built a car and it has been impossible to get the caged cage to fit, I have chatted with Gary May who was unable to get Brodies cage to fit properly had to resort to using undersized bolts right through the sides of the car to get it to fit. I have yet to meet an owner who got the cage to fit without a struggle. In short its a very difficult job and the caged cage doesn`t fit very well.

No a radial can use more camber 3 degrees ish.

I need a standard plastic Rover k Fuel rail the type that houses the round fuel pressure regulator at one end Rob