Engine Removal

[Geoff Ryall-Harvey]

Spent today taking the crossflow engine out of a Caterham Super Sprint. What a balls ache!! Compared to an Avion, Lomax or Pembleton there is no access whatsoever and every bolt was stuck, rusted or rounded off. No power tools in the wet and drafty shipping container it was in either. Finished off in the pitch dark. I am now very sore and feeling every one of my 54 years.

It had been in the container for many years.... A very leaky container. I had to saw the heads off all the exhaust manifold allen bolts. The engine is now off to a top class Formula Ford builder as I have convinced the owner that the car deserves more than a quick bodge to get it back on the road.

Quality of fit, finish and design on a Caterham is poor beyond belief. For example, the clam shell wings and headlights held on by one tiny bracket - in consequence the vibration has ripped the chassis tubes around the bracket!! Caterham have never heard of triangulation obviously....

[dave randall]

o the joy of old cars hope you have lots of elastplast /broken knuckle garage/haha take care dave randall

[blackjack56]

Hi Geoff, You have obviously been spoilt like myself by having a blackjack with its great Richard Oakes engineering. Good luck with the rest of the rebuild Tony Mellor, Blackjack56.

[Geoff Ryall-Harvey]

Hi Tony. Took the engine to the engine builder today. Interesting trip. He pulled the head for us and we found that it was not the claimed Super Sprint engine with high compression head and thick wall South African block fitted by the factory! It looks like some one had sold that on and installed a scrapyard crossflow head and block.

Still it will be a good basis for a mild rebuild. Looking forward to getting on with it .