R500 Evo K series LX58HFV
Discussion
Does anyone know the Rubystone pink (not sure if thats the exact colour) R500 Evo that is for sale? I miss my R500k series and I am looking to return to the fold.
Engine bay could be presented a bit better!
Advert here:
https://www.alexanderdavid.co.uk/used-cars/caterha...
Engine bay could be presented a bit better!
Advert here:
https://www.alexanderdavid.co.uk/used-cars/caterha...
That car was originally owned by Nick xxxx form Essex (name blanked out for privacy reasons). It was a lovely car when built. I for one love the colour. It was built with a passion for speed. Nick seemed to take care ot it, it was pretty much pristine when it left Nick's hands with no obvious rusting of the nuts, nor corrosion of the aluminium. Nick sold it in 2015 if I recall correctly with about 1300 miles on the clock. I'm very surprised to learn it has needed an engine, gearbox and differential rebuild if it's only done 2800 miles.
As Dave Andrews suggests it had an MS2 head originally, so that suggests something must have been amiss. I've tried to upload a picture of the car with the MS2 head but the computer is having none of it.
I'm surprised that during the rebuild an MS2 head was not sourced. To me it's part of what makes the R500 such a lovely engine. Those in the know seem to be able to source new MS2 heads, albeit they are rare and are priced accordingly. I would be interested in more info about the rebuild.
If it is a factory R500 that makes it probably the rarest of the special Caterhams. The factory should be able to confirm if it is an R500 EVO - it would be sweet for it to have the relevant plaque on the dash.
My understanding is that it is a high specification K-series 7, and lovely as that is, the lack or provenance may deter some buyers and harm it's saleability.
As Dave Andrews suggests it had an MS2 head originally, so that suggests something must have been amiss. I've tried to upload a picture of the car with the MS2 head but the computer is having none of it.
I'm surprised that during the rebuild an MS2 head was not sourced. To me it's part of what makes the R500 such a lovely engine. Those in the know seem to be able to source new MS2 heads, albeit they are rare and are priced accordingly. I would be interested in more info about the rebuild.
If it is a factory R500 that makes it probably the rarest of the special Caterhams. The factory should be able to confirm if it is an R500 EVO - it would be sweet for it to have the relevant plaque on the dash.
My understanding is that it is a high specification K-series 7, and lovely as that is, the lack or provenance may deter some buyers and harm it's saleability.
"Recent Engine, Differential & Quaife Sequential Gearbox Rebuild By Ratrace(less that 1,000 miles ago)."
Mmm.....
As said before engine bay isn't presented well especially if it has had a recent rebuild. My Superlight had an engine rebuild by Boss and the engine bay looked like new when it came back.
I have had experience with the company selling the car when I bought a Lotus Elise S1 from them many, many years ago and I had no issues with them .
Mmm.....
As said before engine bay isn't presented well especially if it has had a recent rebuild. My Superlight had an engine rebuild by Boss and the engine bay looked like new when it came back.
I have had experience with the company selling the car when I bought a Lotus Elise S1 from them many, many years ago and I had no issues with them .
Small Luxury said:
That car was originally owned by Nick xxxx form Essex (name blanked out for privacy reasons). It was a lovely car when built. I for one love the colour. It was built with a passion for speed. Nick seemed to take care ot it, it was pretty much pristine when it left Nick's hands with no obvious rusting of the nuts, nor corrosion of the aluminium. Nick sold it in 2015 if I recall correctly with about 1300 miles on the clock. I'm very surprised to learn it has needed an engine, gearbox and differential rebuild if it's only done 2800 miles.
As Dave Andrews suggests it had an MS2 head originally, so that suggests something must have been amiss. I've tried to upload a picture of the car with the MS2 head but the computer is having none of it.
I'm surprised that during the rebuild an MS2 head was not sourced. To me it's part of what makes the R500 such a lovely engine. Those in the know seem to be able to source new MS2 heads, albeit they are rare and are priced accordingly. I would be interested in more info about the rebuild.
If it is a factory R500 that makes it probably the rarest of the special Caterhams. The factory should be able to confirm if it is an R500 EVO - it would be sweet for it to have the relevant plaque on the dash.
My understanding is that it is a high specification K-series 7, and lovely as that is, the lack or provenance may deter some buyers and harm it's saleability.
Functionally the VVC head is identical to an MS2, same valve sizes, same port sizes and alignment, the MS2 is a hybrid of a VVC and K16 head, the VVC head cam first. In some areas the VVC head is a little bit more difficult to package and is not as neat as an MS2, power potential is the same.As Dave Andrews suggests it had an MS2 head originally, so that suggests something must have been amiss. I've tried to upload a picture of the car with the MS2 head but the computer is having none of it.
I'm surprised that during the rebuild an MS2 head was not sourced. To me it's part of what makes the R500 such a lovely engine. Those in the know seem to be able to source new MS2 heads, albeit they are rare and are priced accordingly. I would be interested in more info about the rebuild.
If it is a factory R500 that makes it probably the rarest of the special Caterhams. The factory should be able to confirm if it is an R500 EVO - it would be sweet for it to have the relevant plaque on the dash.
My understanding is that it is a high specification K-series 7, and lovely as that is, the lack or provenance may deter some buyers and harm it's saleability.
Dave
I completely forgot about this thread. After a lot of research and talking to the engine rebuilder (not Dave by the way) the original engine was in a bad way due to poor fueling and timing and sounded like a bag of spanners. Everything bar the block was reuseable. It had suffered from detonation. A VVC head was sourced and ported and polished, new rods, pistons, crank and it was taken down in size to a 1.9 Scholar bottom end. I deceded not to buy the car having over analysed things and come to the conclusion that the 1.9 engine can suffer from overlisation of bores and leak down. I was less bothered about it losing originality.
A wise decision in my opinion.
I had a Scholar 1.9 conversion and it was a complete disaster from the very beginning with exactly the issues you have mentioned. At its worse it was using a litre of oil every 60 miles.
Rob at Ratrace Motorsport built me an amazing new engine subsequently (1.8 237 bhp) and it has been fantastic.
I had a Scholar 1.9 conversion and it was a complete disaster from the very beginning with exactly the issues you have mentioned. At its worse it was using a litre of oil every 60 miles.
Rob at Ratrace Motorsport built me an amazing new engine subsequently (1.8 237 bhp) and it has been fantastic.
I bought this car! Yes the engine bay isn't perfect, but I am more concerned with serviceability as opposed to cosmetics. It runs sweet as a nut, extremely smooth engine and I love the sequential gear box!
Since I have had it, I've fitted a screen and the correct 13 inch wheels bought some doors and have 3 track days booked next month... I looks much nicer now...
Since I have had it, I've fitted a screen and the correct 13 inch wheels bought some doors and have 3 track days booked next month... I looks much nicer now...
Small Luxury said:
That car was originally owned by Nick xxxx form Essex (name blanked out for privacy reasons). It was a lovely car when built. I for one love the colour. It was built with a passion for speed. Nick seemed to take care ot it, it was pretty much pristine when it left Nick's hands with no obvious rusting of the nuts, nor corrosion of the aluminium. Nick sold it in 2015 if I recall correctly with about 1300 miles on the clock. I'm very surprised to learn it has needed an engine, gearbox and differential rebuild if it's only done 2800 miles.
As Dave Andrews suggests it had an MS2 head originally, so that suggests something must have been amiss. I've tried to upload a picture of the car with the MS2 head but the computer is having none of it.
I'm surprised that during the rebuild an MS2 head was not sourced. To me it's part of what makes the R500 such a lovely engine. Those in the know seem to be able to source new MS2 heads, albeit they are rare and are priced accordingly. I would be interested in more info about the rebuild.
If it is a factory R500 that makes it probably the rarest of the special Caterhams. The factory should be able to confirm if it is an R500 EVO - it would be sweet for it to have the relevant plaque on the dash.
My understanding is that it is a high specification K-series 7, and lovely as that is, the lack or provenance may deter some buyers and harm it's saleability.
Hi Small Luxury, Looks like you may know the first owner of this car... I'm trying to find out the original colour of it, is there any way you could ask Nick what it was painted in? As Dave Andrews suggests it had an MS2 head originally, so that suggests something must have been amiss. I've tried to upload a picture of the car with the MS2 head but the computer is having none of it.
I'm surprised that during the rebuild an MS2 head was not sourced. To me it's part of what makes the R500 such a lovely engine. Those in the know seem to be able to source new MS2 heads, albeit they are rare and are priced accordingly. I would be interested in more info about the rebuild.
If it is a factory R500 that makes it probably the rarest of the special Caterhams. The factory should be able to confirm if it is an R500 EVO - it would be sweet for it to have the relevant plaque on the dash.
My understanding is that it is a high specification K-series 7, and lovely as that is, the lack or provenance may deter some buyers and harm it's saleability.
Many thanks,
Richard.
Richardllll said:
I bought this car! Yes the engine bay isn't perfect, but I am more concerned with serviceability as opposed to cosmetics. It runs sweet as a nut, extremely smooth engine and I love the sequential gear box!
Since I have had it, I've fitted a screen and the correct 13 inch wheels bought some doors and have 3 track days booked next month... I looks much nicer now......
Out of interest, where did you source the wheels from?Since I have had it, I've fitted a screen and the correct 13 inch wheels bought some doors and have 3 track days booked next month... I looks much nicer now......
PiersR said:
I thought all R500's had Mike Barnaby wheels and they were fitted specifically because they were light.
It possibly may have been an option to have MB's fitted. I don't know.
Piers
I have some Mike Barnby mags that I've had for ages, but really they need crack testing (which I'll get done...but tbh don't really want that sort of faff moving forwards and am getting old enough that I don't just want to ignore it It possibly may have been an option to have MB's fitted. I don't know.
Piers
).From the reading up I've done, the wheels on the car above are also R500 ones (13" 8 spokes). I suspect they were put on later cars as my old R500 never had them. I believe they weigh something like 4kg. So heavier than MB mags but not by that much.
I'm also in touch with Force Racing. They do ali' wheels that are something like 3.5kg-3.7kg I think.
There don't seem to be that many places making 13" wheels that weigh less than 4kg at the moment.
Plenty of time for research though...will hopefully be getting the car back on the road for next spring
Richardllll said:
I found them on the Lotus7 owners club forum. I have seen a few sets com up for sale over the last month
Bugger. Will have to keep my eyes open.Out of interest, what sort of money did you pay? I'm looking at best part of £1k for a decent lightweight set so am willing to sacrifice a few hundred grammes potentially
Murph7355 said:
Bugger. Will have to keep my eyes open.
Out of interest, what sort of money did you pay? I'm looking at best part of £1k for a decent lightweight set so am willing to sacrifice a few hundred grammes potentially
He had 2 sets, one with zzs tyres for 500 but mine had wets so £600. I have seen a few sets around that price.Out of interest, what sort of money did you pay? I'm looking at best part of £1k for a decent lightweight set so am willing to sacrifice a few hundred grammes potentially
Richardllll said:
Murph7355 said:
Bugger. Will have to keep my eyes open.
Out of interest, what sort of money did you pay? I'm looking at best part of £1k for a decent lightweight set so am willing to sacrifice a few hundred grammes potentially
He had 2 sets, one with zzs tyres for 500 but mine had wets so £600. I have seen a few sets around that price.Out of interest, what sort of money did you pay? I'm looking at best part of £1k for a decent lightweight set so am willing to sacrifice a few hundred grammes potentially
(Have just remembered though...don't you only gate full access if you're a paid up member?)
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