Discussion
Whilst the sequential 'box would tie nicely into the Eurocup spec cars this year, my experience of them is that they are not that nice to use on the road. Add to that the fact that even the 'box specified by Caterham for the 'cup is circa £5k IIRC (and the stronger one that I'd be fitting if I were racing in the cup this year is even more money)...and you can see that this is a not inconsiderable amount of money.
I'm intrigued about the R500 - I presume Minister are building the engine....and that it is a Duratec....
I'm intrigued about the R500 - I presume Minister are building the engine....and that it is a Duratec....
I think it is a Duratec circa 267 bhp - I think minister is involved but maybe another company also. It should rev beautifully. It is supposed to have a much lighter flywheel so will be jumpy if not driven properly on the road.
I also heard they were making quite afew bespoke parts specifically for the R500. i think they are responding to the competition and so have to up their game.
I have heard that they will give the sequential box as an option but no idea how much.
I also heard they were making quite afew bespoke parts specifically for the R500. i think they are responding to the competition and so have to up their game.
I have heard that they will give the sequential box as an option but no idea how much.
fastcello said:
I think it is a Duratec circa 267 bhp - I think minister is involved but maybe another company also. It should rev beautifully. It is supposed to have a much lighter flywheel so will be jumpy if not driven properly on the road.
I also heard they were making quite afew bespoke parts specifically for the R500. i think they are responding to the competition and so have to up their game.
I have heard that they will give the sequential box as an option but no idea how much.
Any idea what other company and why it's involved? I also heard they were making quite afew bespoke parts specifically for the R500. i think they are responding to the competition and so have to up their game.
I have heard that they will give the sequential box as an option but no idea how much.
There's some 'spy footage' of a new Seven called the 'R501' on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UesOtqRloYU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UesOtqRloYU
sfaulds said:
Hi Marcello - getting bored with the Porsche?
A lot of presumptions in this thread, I think witing and seeing is the best bet.
And rubystone, which stonger gearbox would you be fitting? A Drenth?
Stuart - would you recommend a Drenth then? Seems a bit OTT to me, but I'd have to bow to your superior knowledge if you said that'd be a better bet A lot of presumptions in this thread, I think witing and seeing is the best bet.
And rubystone, which stonger gearbox would you be fitting? A Drenth?
Actually the porsche was sold last week.
I actually think it is over rated - I know most people would disagree.
I think the new R500 or R501 will be awesome - I have been told they intend to make it much more special and will even be making special knobs vs the plastic ones - well we should know in a few weeks.
How is the racing going Stuart?
I actually think it is over rated - I know most people would disagree.
I think the new R500 or R501 will be awesome - I have been told they intend to make it much more special and will even be making special knobs vs the plastic ones - well we should know in a few weeks.
How is the racing going Stuart?
sfaulds said:
It seems over the top to me too, but it was the only stronger box that has half a chance of fitting in a Caterham that came to mind - which box were you referring to?
AFAIK, there is an alternative Quaife 'box to the one specified in the CSR Caterham have been testing......but it seems not to be an issue - I quote "Robin Sedgwick....CSR....
Gearbox ran faultlessly for 40 hours – Quaife inspected and noted that it appeared that it had had no more than 3 hours use."
From that statement, it would certainly appear that the 'box as specified is fit for purpose...but after the number of 'box failures last season, you'd want to overspecify the 'box wouldn't you?...
....apparently a propshaft failed though in testing...the UJs are now lifed
rubystone said:
AFAIK, there is an alternative Quaife 'box to the one specified in the CSR Caterham have been testing...
There are lots of alternatives, I wasn't aware of a stronger one though. Which is it?rubystone said:
....apparently a propshaft failed though in testing...the UJs are now lifed
Sounds like your source wasn't paying attention on Monday night - there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the props, and the UJ's have not been lifed.sfaulds said:
Sounds like your source wasn't paying attention on Monday night - there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the props, and the UJ's have not been lifed.
Apologies, let me make it clearer - a UJ failed in testing; as a consequence of which on Monday night Caterham recommended that the UJ be replaced on cars over 3 years of age. But for sure, the option of lifing them was being discussed the day after Kevin nearly lost his crown jewels....and I've seen the photos of the failed component...not pretty!Edited by rubystone on Wednesday 12th March 14:24
Rubystone
I had a 997 GT3 RS - great looking car with great engine and brakes.
I think it is somewhat devoid of a great driving experience. The 996 was better to drive.
It was also nervous on the road.
So as a track car I'd rather have the new R500 and have a slightly better road car.
I have my name down for the new R500 hence the tidbits of info.
The car will be released in March and first customer ones in june/july they reckon.
I had a 997 GT3 RS - great looking car with great engine and brakes.
I think it is somewhat devoid of a great driving experience. The 996 was better to drive.
It was also nervous on the road.
So as a track car I'd rather have the new R500 and have a slightly better road car.
I have my name down for the new R500 hence the tidbits of info.
The car will be released in March and first customer ones in june/july they reckon.
This all goes to show what a half arsed effort Caterham's R&D is.
If they think lifing the UJ's at 3 years will resolve all issues then think again. The CSR suffers lots of diff mounting issues already. A sequential change will only exacerbate this to a massive extent. My UJ's would last 2 track days max before showing signs of damage. Remember, they are from a Volvo 340!
Unless they fit an entirley new much more robust cushion drive prop, add an awful lot of load bracing to the diff cage, and fit a decent low inertia engine, the sequential box will offer little benefit but do a whole lot of damage. I (and others with these types of transmissions) have broken all these parts of the cars - repeatedly. One thing is for certain. Its not the BHP, its the shock loads of the change.
40 hrs use for a gearbox is nothing. I have 7 years on my Quaife sequential. 2 faulures, neither major. Mine is the older, stronger type though. The new box, according to quaife is a cost cutting exxercise. Its much quicker to rebuild!
If they think lifing the UJ's at 3 years will resolve all issues then think again. The CSR suffers lots of diff mounting issues already. A sequential change will only exacerbate this to a massive extent. My UJ's would last 2 track days max before showing signs of damage. Remember, they are from a Volvo 340!
Unless they fit an entirley new much more robust cushion drive prop, add an awful lot of load bracing to the diff cage, and fit a decent low inertia engine, the sequential box will offer little benefit but do a whole lot of damage. I (and others with these types of transmissions) have broken all these parts of the cars - repeatedly. One thing is for certain. Its not the BHP, its the shock loads of the change.
40 hrs use for a gearbox is nothing. I have 7 years on my Quaife sequential. 2 faulures, neither major. Mine is the older, stronger type though. The new box, according to quaife is a cost cutting exxercise. Its much quicker to rebuild!
mic said:
There really is a lot rubbish on here, the CSR universal joint that failed was a one off. The 40 hours for the gearbox may not be lots of time in normal use but in race use it is pretty good by any standards, even more so on a new design box.
Mic...what rubbish? You've simply quoted what we've said. I don't think anyone has even questioned whether 40 hours is "pretty good" either...nor indeed that the UJ issue is anything other than a "one-off"....or have I missed something here?.......Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff