wip lotus 7

[darren10_3uk]

hey there started working on a new project the the other day its the tamiya lotus 7.please leave comments.

[Ferrari TR]

why the big box on the pass side?

cool paint on the mini too.

[MPWR]

Off to a good start.

If you want comments, tell us about your build. Tell us what you're planning, tell us what you've done, tell us how you did it and why.

And then we'll tell you what we think.

More light would help your pics.

[slk320]

I want to know more about that mini - that looks like a really cool little model

[darren10_3uk]

okay ideas i have for this car is im trying to make it like a full track car so i boxed in pasenger seat. as you can see from the pictures i have made so i can fit a bucket seat in there. there is going to be a scrath built rollcage and front archs. im also going to have a go at detailing the engine heres a couple of pics of whatim trying to make thanks for comments so far. all so i will set another feed about the mini

[KevHw]

Whenever I see this kit on the shelves, I'm always tempted to buy it but never do. Yours provides many insights to the kit and your plans sound very interesting. Can't wait to see more of your progress with this.

[MPWR]

If you're a bit of a detail freak and are into authenticity, I'd consider a simple engine mod.

The kit engine out of the box is a Ford Kent "Sidevalve" (tuned by Cosworth). It's an old engine, seen only on very early model 7s. But the kit engine can easily be converted to a Kent Crossflow. The Crossflow is by far the most common engine put into 7s, and it was installed well into the 80s when parts ran out. (You can still buy a new 7 from Caterham with a rebuilt Sidevalve in it). It's still considered a great engine in the 7, much more powerful and flexible than the Sidevalve and very popular to tune. A 7 with a Sidevalve today would be considered more of a classic, and likely wouldn't be tracked much.

The big difference between the two is where the carbs are mounted. On the Sidevalve, the carbs are on the same side as the exhaust. On the Crossflow, the carbs swapped sides of the engine, moving to where the spark plugs were on the Sidevalve. The plugs for the Crossflow is where the carb manifold was on the Sidevalve. The last pic you posted above is of a 7 with a Crossflow tuned by Lotus-Holbay. It's a great reference if you want to make the conversion.

[darren10_3uk]

thanks for pointing that out to me mpwr il try and have a go at that. some more parts have turned up today so i can crack on with some more

[darren10_3uk]

hi just a little update to what i have done so far, i brought some new wheels for the model, i have also chose which brakes im going to use i have painted and weatherd one, i have also gave the body a fine coat off white, i have done work on the engine but pics didnt come out well as they were taken from a phone as soon as my sis comes back from holiday and i get my camara back il take some thanks for looking

[Ferrari TR]

looks good.
the rear calipers seem about 50% too large though.

[AmazonSprite]

Originally Posted by MPWR

If you're a bit of a detail freak and are into authenticity, I'd consider a simple engine mod.

The kit engine out of the box is a Ford Kent "Sidevalve" (tuned by Cosworth). It's an old engine, seen only on very early model 7s. But the kit engine can easily be converted to a Kent Crossflow. The Crossflow is by far the most common engine put into 7s, and it was installed well into the 80s when parts ran out. (You can still buy a new 7 from Caterham with a rebuilt Sidevalve in it). It's still considered a great engine in the 7, much more powerful and flexible than the Sidevalve and very popular to tune. A 7 with a Sidevalve today would be considered more of a classic, and likely wouldn't be tracked much.

The big difference between the two is where the carbs are mounted. On the Sidevalve, the carbs are on the same side as the exhaust. On the Crossflow, the carbs swapped sides of the engine, moving to where the spark plugs were on the Sidevalve. The plugs for the Crossflow is where the carb manifold was on the Sidevalve. The last pic you posted above is of a 7 with a Crossflow tuned by Lotus-Holbay. It's a great reference if you want to make the conversion.

The one in the kit is not a sidevalve!!! It is however as you say the Ford 'Kent' engine, & is sometimes also known as a pre-Crossflow. The main difference between that & the Crossflow is that the Crossflow has the exhaust on the opposite side of the cylinder head to the carbs, whereas the earlier version had the carbs above the exhaust. Both engines are overhead valve, with the cam low down in the engine block.