PalmerSport Caterham's

[Phooey]

Anyone know the detailed spec of these? I'm 99% sure they are 2.0 175hp (run on LPG) but wondered if this was the Ford Duratec engine? Also any info on gearbox, wheel size etc much appreciated. Ta

[framerateuk]

I'd be very surprised if it was anything other than a Duratec.

[tomwoodis]

Ditto. If that was the quoted power then it's bob on for a bog standard crate engine 2.0 duratec.

[GreigM]

Exhaust is out the right and given that power output it'll be a duratec. The power output mentioned on Palmersports site would hint to a R300 race-spec car.

[framerateuk]

At that rate, it's probably running the Caterham 6 speed box.

From the photos I've seen, looks like they're running 6 x13" (or perhaps 14") wheels all round too. Can't tell what the tyres are, but I'd imagine they're something a bit less sticky than CR500 so that they last a bit longer (from the moving shots, they don't look like CR500's. Maybe Toyo T1R?).

[rubystone]

tomwoodis said:

Ditto. If that was the quoted power then it's bob on for a bog standard crate engine 2.0 duratec.

I'm seriously interested in one if those 175 bhp crate Duratecs. What price can you get them for?

[texr2000]

rubystone said:

I'm seriously interested in one if those 175 bhp crate Duratecs. What price can you get them for?

Seen Burton sell them, dont know how well priced they are though, also sell 280BHP 2.3 and almost R500 spec 255BHP 2.0
http://www.burtonpower.com/ford-built-2-0-duratec-...

Edited by texr2000 on Sunday 7th June 22:49

[Phooey]

Brill guys, thanks for all the replies

[GreigM]

Looking on palmersports site:
http://www.palmersport.com/our-cars/caterham-7-sup...

S3 chassis, 13inch wheels (minilite style), running 185s front and rear (unusual, will make it more tail-slidey). They've also removed the front ARB to make it REALLY tail happy. Basic Stack dash, few custom bits (exhaust, fuel filler). R300 is definitely going to be the closest road-car.

[Phooey]

GreigM said:

Looking on palmersports site:
http://www.palmersport.com/our-cars/caterham-7-sup...

S3 chassis, 13inch wheels (minilite style), running 185s front and rear (unusual, will make it more tail-slidey). They've also removed the front ARB to make it REALLY tail happy. Basic Stack dash, few custom bits (exhaust, fuel filler). R300 is definitely going to be the closest road-car.

Ah good find Greig! It was definitely 'tail happy'. Is 13" the preferred choice of wheel?

[GreigM]

Phooey said:

Ah good find Greig! It was definitely 'tail happy'. Is 13" the preferred choice of wheel?

Yes. Pretty much all cars have 13" - wheels are lighter, good choice of tyres, suspension designed to work with this size so better handling, ride quality better etc. Only reasonable reason to not use 13s is to get better ground clearance, anything else is misdirected vanity.

[framerateuk]

13's make a huge difference to handling of the car.

I was 3 seconds a lap faster on 13" wheels than I was on my 15's the year before at Llandow (on CR500s). They just give you more confidence, you can feel the car moving around more and there's more feedback through the wheel.

Others may disagree, but it was a revelation for me when I moved down from 15s.

[Phooey]

Ah, I understand now why 13" seems to be the trackday choice! Thanks again for replies

[rubystone]

texr2000 said:

Seen Burton sell them, dont know how well priced they are though, also sell 280BHP 2.3 and almost R500 spec 255BHP 2.0
http://www.burtonpower.com/ford-built-2-0-duratec-...

Edited by texr2000 on Sunday 7th June 22:49

I couldn't find the bhp quoted. Several years ago a crate engine gave 140 bhp on the standard plenum etc. if they've now extracted 175bhp from a stock engine that'd be interesting.

[DCL]

rubystone said:

texr2000 said:

Seen Burton sell them, dont know how well priced they are though, also sell 280BHP 2.3 and almost R500 spec 255BHP 2.0
http://www.burtonpower.com/ford-built-2-0-duratec-...

Edited by texr2000 on Sunday 7th June 22:49

I couldn't find the bhp quoted. Several years ago a crate engine gave 140 bhp on the standard plenum etc. if they've now extracted 175bhp from a stock engine that'd be interesting.

I bought one of those as the basis for my engine - good price IMHO. I'm not sure that you'll get 175BHp out of them without a cam change but they're good for a 220 BHP without too much work, but 280 BHP is a different matter and is not cheap.

Edited by DCL on Monday 8th June 22:49

[framerateuk]

I think they'd need new cams to see 175bhp.

My FIesta ST had a Duratec in standard form - it was 150bhp. It took new cams, exhaust and induction to see 185bhp.

[texr2000]

here is the others they sell
http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-category/engin...
and a 205BHP motor
http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-category/engin...

[sfaulds]

A standard 2.0 duratec will do 180bhp on a Caterham plenum and exhaust.