Diesel Caterham

[JenkinsComp]

A simple question - has anyone built a diesel Caterham 7?
This may well be heresy to some forum members so I apologize in advance!

I know W#stfield did the Weasel in the 80s, with the awful CVH diesel it did 0-60 in 6.5 and 70mpg.
It just strikes me that a modern VW Golf GTD motor producing 180bhp/280lb ft with a Caterham 6 speed would make a 7 go rather quickly and get better than 100mpg. A VW Polo diesel that weighs more than double a 7 allegedly gets 75mpg with a much larger frontal area.

I offered this idea to Caterham a couple of years ago and they scoffed at the idea of an oil burner in their car, but I reckon the positive publicity surrounding a 100mpg production car would be well worthwhile. With a long range tank it would make a good endurance race car too.

Caterham already beat this economy with a basic spec 1.4 K series petrol that managed 131mpg on skinny rims and mildly altered bodywork, so a good modern diesel should easily beat 100mpg. http://green.autoblog.com/2006/07/27/the-131-mpg-c...

[SHutchinson]

Practical Performance Car published a project build of a Westfield diesel. That used a modern VAG engine.

[Purespeed]

Diesel Caterham

[timrw81]

Are you a plant? Caterham is about to make a little announcement...

[7 Sevens]

Well if the OP is a plant and we don't think its a good idea then Caterham only have a few hours to pop a petrol engine into their new model. ;-)

Would the aero on a 7 not significantly reduce the mpg.

[pw75]

haha, it won't be diesel, that is a definate.

I think its a good idea, I'd like to see it done.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I think it would a brilliant idea. Breaking that 100mpg figure, especially in the current £6 gallon+ climate, would be a real boon and forward thinking from Caterham.

It might even provide a new source of customer to the brand too; people that might have never considered a Caterham in the past potentially.

No road tax too (i'm sure you'd be able to beat the emissions).

I'm actually surprised they haven't done it before tbh.

[Sam_68]

7 Sevens said:

Would the aero on a 7 not significantly reduce the mpg.

If you're going to do this sort of car, common sense says make it an Eleven look-alike.

I can't be bothered doing the sums at the moment, but since an Eleven could manage 130+ mph on (IIRC) about 90bhp, a 170bhp VAG turbodiesel ought to be quite swift, and the fuel efficiency could be astonishing.

[Lefty]

Sure I read somewhere about an Elise 1.9 VAG tdi...

[jj48]

Seem to recall that someone in Ireland had installed a Ford Focus TDI engine into a 7. Very quiet and with no weight as such to propel should be pretty quick.
Richard

[Steve-B]

There is a Diesel 7 in West Sussex, bare ali silver with green wheel arches, a Merc 5-cyl engine by a guy named John. I've seen the car in the flesh once and it was a tight fit, but it did fit in and is on the road. It's done a GOME rallye as well.......so it does get around....

Edited by Steve-B on Friday 14th January 12:18

[dinkel]

There are diesel bikes . . . What about vibrations?

[MadHatter7]

WTF !

[WillieSkelly]

A local guy over here (N.Ireland) has a Westfield with a Focus TDDI engine in it. It also has a radio. On runs when we're all in filling up, he sits at the side of the road, ticking over listening to music. He has had, possibly more, than his fair share of 7s, so he built this one to use it as an everyday usable 7.

There are a few photos here: http://nise7ens.net/ivanmckee.html

Willie

[renorti]

yes great idea,nice 2 liter with 170hp be right

[EFA]

A Randcam rotary diesel is what you need. I thought about putting one in my Seven whem I had it, but the price was a little prohibitive.

[mickrick]

Plenty of torque. Not my cuppa char in a caterham.
But I absolutely love this thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1v0zsNY8QY&fea...

[Yellow 7]

mickrick said:

Plenty of torque. Not my cuppa char in a caterham.
But I absolutely love this thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1v0zsNY8QY&fea...

Love the black smoke but he should have worn a ZZ Top beard!

[mickrick]

Yellow 7 said:

mickrick said:

Plenty of torque. Not my cuppa char in a caterham.
But I absolutely love this thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1v0zsNY8QY&fea...

Love the black smoke but he should have worn a ZZ Top beard!

Yeah Baby!

[V7SLR]

Imagine the mess refilling when the tank decides to spit a load of fuel out (as we've all experienced!)

Stu.