My New Cat - 2006 - 1600K - Ex Academy

My New Cat - 2006 - 1600K - Ex Academy

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shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Tuesday 11th October 2016
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So moving aside from the coolant thread, which was mostly done out of concern, heres a wee hello and some info about the new car.

I've always loved cars and driving and from a fairly early age, had a succession of half decent BMW's (e46 330i, 530D, and an E90 325i sport). Lately I got into a VW Scirocco R, which was absolutely fantastic, and took me through my first ever track day using my own car (plenty of time spent in others).

Having gotten the bug for fast road / track driving, I decided I needed something more focused, more adjustable, and ultimately a cheaper way to track a car. (replacing 19" supersport tyres, and big brakes gets expensive quick).

A friend of mine then bought a new caterham 420R. Ten minutes in that and I was hooked! game over!

So I decided to start looking for my own one. Sold the Scirocco and the hunt began.

Usual mix of fairly dull looking cars, lots of very ordinary spec, and then one came along that jumped out at me for the price:

-2006 1600K Roadsport
-6600 miles from new
-One previous owner
-Ex academy car converted to roadsport by Caterham
-Apollo Tank
-13" wheels
-Black pack
-CSR wings
-Leather seats
-Heater
-Aero fuel filler
-Momo removable steering wheel
-4 point racing harnesses
-full weather pack

Best of all, the right colours smile

With the apollo tank, 13" wheels, aero filler cap and harnesses, it seemed like an ideal track day toy and so far it has been. Did a full day at blyton park, without even a hint of brake fade or complaint from any part of the car. I can't say the same for the scirocco!

Without further pause! the photos.







xcentric

722 posts

218 months

Tuesday 11th October 2016
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v nice car and spec. Love that colour scheme. Enjoy it!

k20erham

372 posts

125 months

Tuesday 11th October 2016
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Well done that man!! and you bought it from a great place too by the looks of it PTS, enjoy

shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Tuesday 11th October 2016
quotequote all
Yep, dealt with Ian at PT sports cars. Great guy to deal with and very patient.

The car is a cracker and far better than I thought i'd achieve for the budget I had (even if i did stretch the budget somewhat).

Ultimately for more track use, i'd like to look at an LSD and perhaps some upgrades to supersport power (although iain suggested that Kmaps would get me supersport power without the need to upgrade any hardware).

I'll also change the tyres out when these ones wear. They are Yokohama A539, which are fine on the road, but on the track, you can start to feel the limits of grip, and the car just wants to push wide of the line all the time, you can feel the grip just dropping off. So I'll probably change to avon ZZS when these finally wear out (which is likely to be a long time!)


Tom_C76

1,923 posts

187 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
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For more power try Z&F tuning, though you'll want better cams too. And a free-flow exhaust. And more carbon. wink

And a braced roll bar if you're going to do a lot of track work.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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shrink1061 said:
Yep, dealt with Ian at PT sports cars. Great guy to deal with and very patient.

The car is a cracker and far better than I thought i'd achieve for the budget I had (even if i did stretch the budget somewhat).

Ultimately for more track use, i'd like to look at an LSD and perhaps some upgrades to supersport power (although iain suggested that Kmaps would get me supersport power without the need to upgrade any hardware).

I'll also change the tyres out when these ones wear. They are Yokohama A539, which are fine on the road, but on the track, you can start to feel the limits of grip, and the car just wants to push wide of the line all the time, you can feel the grip just dropping off. So I'll probably change to avon ZZS when these finally wear out (which is likely to be a long time!)
Presumably it has a 6 speed 'box then. Shame about no LSD though.

shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Academy cars are only 5 speed.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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shrink1061 said:
Academy cars are only 5 speed.
I assumed the OP had replaced the poor (for the track) 5 speed 'box since he didn't mention that as the first and most obvious upgrade one would make to such a car.

shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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to be honest I've not found it an issue. The engine has enough spread of torque and it seems to feel fairly close.

I'm screaming 4000rpm at 70mph, so perhaps the final drive has been changed to make the 5 speed more fun?

bcr5784

7,102 posts

144 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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shrink1061 said:
to be honest I've not found it an issue. The engine has enough spread of torque and it seems to feel fairly close.

I'm screaming 4000rpm at 70mph, so perhaps the final drive has been changed to make the 5 speed more fun?
If it's revving so high and you are not finding first a complete waste of time, then it could be that he's changed the internals of the (I assume) T9 box - probably as well as the final drive. There are a lot of optional ratios available - a better set than provided by the 6 speed is possible imo.

shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
Certainly I've found that Revs don't fall much between gears, it stays on power well and 2nd is enough for even the slowest corner. 1st is fine for hooning but can't imagine I'd need it often.

I've driven the 6 speed and neither me or the owner could complain about the 5 speed in mine.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
shrink1061 said:
to be honest I've not found it an issue. The engine has enough spread of torque and it seems to feel fairly close.

I'm screaming 4000rpm at 70mph, so perhaps the final drive has been changed to make the 5 speed more fun?
From memory standard 'diff is a 3.92. Makes first gear useless but aside from the rare 4.1 is the best option. From what you say it sounds like your car is standard. 6 speed comes with 3.62 but I don't know anyone who has tried that in a 5 speed. I can't imagine it would work very well!

For me the issue was keeping the engine in its powerband. Nigh on impossible to do with the 5 speed - used to drop into a crevice when I changed from 4th to 5th. Perhaps the characteristics of the SS engine make this problem worse than on a standard engine?

I've driven BGH 5 speed cars and there's no doubt the car is improved, but the 'box is still not a patch on a 6 speed on track IMHO. Perhaps there's another option out there? Would be interesting to know.

I ran a 3.92 with 6 speed in my HPC. very quick through the gears but hit the redline at 120 mph. Fine on twisty circuits but not on ones with longer straights such as Brands GP.

Aeroscreens

457 posts

225 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
rubystone said:
I've driven BGH 5 speed cars and there's no doubt the car is improved, but the 'box is still not a patch on a 6 speed on track IMHO. Perhaps there's another option out there? Would be interesting to know.
I've not driven a 6-speed but suffered the 3.92 diff and standard 5-speed combo for years. Last year I changed to a SPC rocket ratio set with longer 1st and 2nd gears and slightly shorter 5th. This has transformed the car as all gears are more closely matched and it suits the torquey Zetec.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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Aeroscreens said:
I've not driven a 6-speed but suffered the 3.92 diff and standard 5-speed combo for years. Last year I changed to a SPC rocket ratio set with longer 1st and 2nd gears and slightly shorter 5th. This has transformed the car as all gears are more closely matched and it suits the torquey Zetec.
Torque is what kills a 6 speed. Does the 5 speed rocket use straight cut gears, Chris? You both back up to good health?

Aeroscreens

457 posts

225 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
SPC gearset is semi-helical. More info here

Yeah, both good thanks. Still waiting for the uninsured losses claim to be settled as Maggie has finally finished physio (long story!). Fortunately it hasn't deterred Maggie from sevening as she enjoys it so much and is made of sterner stuff. Her first time back in the passenger seat 9 months later was for a 500+ mile trip to France.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
Aeroscreens said:
SPC gearset is semi-helical. More info here

Yeah, both good thanks. Still waiting for the uninsured losses claim to be settled as Maggie has finally finished physio (long story!). Fortunately it hasn't deterred Maggie from sevening as she enjoys it so much and is made of sterner stuff. Her first time back in the passenger seat 9 months later was for a 500+ mile trip to France.
SPC sounds like a good option. S/C 'boxes are a bloody nightmare on the road!

Glad to hear all 3 of you (C7CAT included of course) on the mend. Scary stuff!

shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Friday 28th October 2016
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Thanks for all the replies folks.

Gearing im ok with for now. Priorities are more ditching the yoko A539 it came with in favour of some ZZS and going wide track on front.

It may also need geometry looking at as it's a bit tooo track focused! Lots of toe and lots of camber. It's hilarious in corners but a nightmare on a long journey on large roads. Continuous corrections needed and car is very lively and willing to turn in.

Also need to look at 82degreee stat with hole mod and a proper coolant bleed as it currently runs hotter than I'd prefer. Seems there's still an airlock at the heater end!

Lastly I'll be adding a rear ARB but not until the better tyres go on. It's squirming enough on the a539's as it is. Positively lethal in cold and wet conditions.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Friday 28th October 2016
quotequote all
shrink1061 said:
Thanks for all the replies folks.

Gearing im ok with for now. Priorities are more ditching the yoko A539 it came with in favour of some ZZS and going wide track on front.

It may also need geometry looking at as it's a bit tooo track focused! Lots of toe and lots of camber. It's hilarious in corners but a nightmare on a long journey on large roads. Continuous corrections needed and car is very lively and willing to turn in.

Also need to look at 82degreee stat with hole mod and a proper coolant bleed as it currently runs hotter than I'd prefer. Seems there's still an airlock at the heater end!

Lastly I'll be adding a rear ARB but not until the better tyres go on. It's squirming enough on the a539's as it is. Positively lethal in cold and wet conditions.
The geo will have been set up to counter the understeer. Going wide track should enable you to have the suspension reset without the understeer returning. I'd heartily recommend you have Stuart Faulds set it up for you. Have it corner-weighted too.

shrink1061

Original Poster:

102 posts

90 months

Friday 28th October 2016
quotequote all
Yeah Stuart faulds won't be happening! I live in Edinburgh.

Dreadnought garage in Stirling are a caterham certified service centre, so they're probably my best bet!

And yes you echo my thoughts on wide track. Happy with some amount of toe but currently very aggressive. Fun but exhausting. A balance is required smile

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Friday 28th October 2016
quotequote all
shrink1061 said:
Yeah Stuart faulds won't be happening! I live in Edinburgh.

Dreadnought garage in Stirling are a caterham certified service centre, so they're probably my best bet!

And yes you echo my thoughts on wide track. Happy with some amount of toe but currently very aggressive. Fun but exhausting. A balance is required smile
Oh that's a shame, I've yet to find a Caterham authorised agent that is able to bring to bear track /racing knowledge to set up a car. Last place to fulfill that criterion was Hyperion. Why not take a trip down to someone like Stuart or Team Parker next Spring? Arrange in advance a programme of works and you'll save yourself money and get a decently set up car into the bargain and the drive back on non-motorway roads will be one to remember. I drove back from Edinburgh in my CLK63 a few years ago on non- motorway roads - superb fun!

I will warn you though that you'll still need some toe-in with wide-track and you'll have to balance that with the amount of understeer you want to live with. I had a more track biased setup on my R500 to reduce the understeer. Made it interfering on the road bug superb on the track, especially on slicks.