Upgraditis...

[Agent Orange]

Seem to be suffering from a severe case of upgraditis and the need to just fiddle with something.

Car is a 2004 1.6 K Academy which was upgraded to Roadsport championship spec for 2006. Now nothing on it needs upgrading nor changing but that would be missing the point. Power is sufficient and great fun, carbon trinkets everywhere seem out of place on the car.

Gearknob is lose and spins and feels it could do with being slightly taller. More stubby sausage than ball. Any recommendations? No shiny chrome or polished alloy though. Needs to be dull.

Steering wheel looks slightly tired too. Any recommendations that’ll fit the existing factory QR mechanism?

Exhaust heat shield a little scuffed so will replace and facing painting the exhaust matt black. Any thoughts on heat resistant paint?

Cheers

[downsman]

I made my own gear knob to make it a little higher and angled forward.
I welded up a couple of nuts and a bolt as the extension and turned up a piece of yew as the ball.

If a wooden gear knob was OK for the 917, it should be alright for my Seven.
It weighed 70g complete compared to 180g for the aluminium Caterham one

[timrw81]

Quaife's nylon gearl evers are excellent. Beats Caterham's effort for tactility and ease of shifting any day of the week.

http://www.motamec.com/genuine-quaife-gearbox-nylo...

Tim

[downsman]

I like the look of that Quaife knob, but it is M10 thread. I cut an M10 thread in a tube to use, but it never fitted properly.
After some research, I think the Caterham lever has a 3/8 UNC thread.

[timrw81]

Sorry mate, I can't help you with technicalities. The one I used was mated to a Quaife straight cut Type 9 5-speed. It also had the quick shift mechanism and felt so crisp. Like a bolt-action rifle. I'd advise you to ask over on the Kit Car section on here, or on locostbuilders.co.uk.

Tim

[Johno]

downsman said:

I like the look of that Quaife knob, but it is M10 thread. I cut an M10 thread in a tube to use, but it never fitted properly.
After some research, I think the Caterham lever has a 3/8 UNC thread.

http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qge11z007

[Agent Orange]

Perfect. I like the look of that. Just the shape I'm after and cheap too.

[timrw81]

Do yourself a favour and get the quick-shift jobbie too

[CanAm]

downsman said:

I made my own gear knob to make it a little higher and angled forward.
I welded up a couple of nuts and a bolt as the extension and turned up a piece of yew as the ball.

If a wooden gear knob was OK for the 917, it should be alright for my Seven.
It weighed 70g complete compared to 180g for the aluminium Caterham one

Not just wood!
In the 917 it was balsa! Nature's own carbon-fibre.

[downsman]

CanAm said:

Not just wood!
In the 917 it was balsa! Nature's own carbon-fibre.

Balsa (wrapped in aluminium) was also used as the floor in Concorde

[Agent Orange]

timrw81 said:

Do yourself a favour and get the quick-shift jobbie too

Hmm nice and cheap too. Though to be honest the shift already feels pretty short and quick. Is it possible academy and roadsport championship cars already have a quick shift?

Any easy way to check?

[timrw81]

I doubt it. Although with technical matters I soon get out of my depth, as I mentioned earlier. Someone more knowledgeable will have to answer this.

Here's the item from Quaife anyway. Not so cheap but well worth it in my opinion, and will be going on my car-to-be.

http://www.burtonpower.com/quaife-quickshift-gear-...

Sorry not to be of more help.

[downsman]

My Roadsport came with a gear lever mechanism much like that, but with a shorter lever:

http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_prod...

[Farlig]

I know it's a ball, but it's a good ball, and it's not a polished ball it's a brushed alloy Sparco one from DT here

It is a universal fit and have had probs with some of these in the past but the Sparco knob comes with a selection of nylon bushes and there's also three grub screws to lock it...

Feels nice, looks nice and not too dear to boot, win win win

If you really must have a non-ball then maybe one of these?

Edited by Farlig on Tuesday 5th February 19:50

Edited by Farlig on Tuesday 5th February 19:50

[sfaulds]

timrw81 said:

I doubt it. Although with technical matters I soon get out of my depth, as I mentioned earlier. Someone more knowledgeable will have to answer this.

Here's the item from Quaife anyway. Not so cheap but well worth it in my opinion, and will be going on my car-to-be.

http://www.burtonpower.com/quaife-quickshift-gear-...

Sorry not to be of more help.

That wont fit in a Caterham - you need the Caterham version which is shorter and bent to clear the dash. The Caterham one can have the leverage changed to make it a 'quick' shift, but (imho) they're not at all nice to use like that, and actually easier and faster in the standard setting.