Build it yourself? A Caterham could be finished in a few days buying the complete new kit but you will only save about £1500.

A Westfield would take 8 to 12months. buying a basic kit and a donor vehicle but again half the cost of a Caterham.

Its not actually the head gasket thats the problem its the bead of silicone that was applied at the factory by the robots that is inconsistent and had weak areas. This is what causes the failure from memory if you replace the head gasket yourself and apply the silicone liberally and cosistently no small thin bits then its should be fine engines are very good. The 1.8 VVT in the rover 200vi was a peach. 160 bhp easy with a less restrictive filter medium.

Sorry but I don't understand the logic behind this statement?

If there wasn't a problem how come they blow in the 1st place then with what are OE parts?

Because the original design wasn't good enough. There's been revised gaskets, new location dowels, and other mods since.

The K series mostly got it's woeful reputation because the desgn wasn't developed enough and the problems weren't fixed quick enough. It's an advanced, lightweight design, ruined by the usual Rover mismanagement. I'm not sure I'd want one, just for the whole potentail problem thing, but allegedly they can be made very durable and reliable.

So many got the wrong Antifreeze in years ago.

Then there was the Leak down at the Matrix at the radiator caused so much bother.

You could and still can pick up so many of the Rovers that might have a good Body but the engine cooked,

(i was given a couple for the taking away, in beautiful condition)

then struggle to find a good engine anyplace to make them worth a repair.

One i fixed with a replacement engine, then exploded the gearbox when my niece was driving it.

Good ones still run & ones that were bad are mostly long gone.

Heater knobs that turned and turned, (you just needed some superglue or a new 'knob')

demisting that did not,

alarms/imobolisers that had a mind of their own.

There are some wee bargains around and some wonderfully re-built engines.

You just have to find that pot at the end of the rainbow.

Hardly worth the looking tho IMO.

the old school ford zetec engines are ten a penny in the breakers yards, and they are reliable too, don't try and reinvent the wheel, a 7 will more than likely have a ford type 9 gearbox or a sierra one, don't make life any harder for yourself than you have to... Don't get a fixation on huge power outputs, 4 strong men can lift one of those things up!!

if you have the space I would recommend building it yourself from a kit.. When I built mine I made the frame myself but its difficult to do without some expensive gear.

I'd not build the frame myself as I don't weld, although bolting bits to a solid frame is a different matter.

The westfields are an option too if I was to get a new one. Otherwise most of the westies on the trader are on Q plates, which is a bit more hassle and I'm not entirely sure I'd be happy with something a guy put together in the garage.

You know me Tom, so on a scale of 1 to 10, how much work is a caterham with a simple engine.

I think something around 100bhp should be just fine, as lets face if the things are not heavy, they are RWD and the safety device is the driver.

Edited 27 December, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

A Q plate is a bonus in most Kit Car owners eyes, NO emissions tests, just tested for excessive smoke.

As for being built in a garage, it's the skill of the builder that counts. You need to look at ads. on the Kit Car forums such as Caterham. WSSC, Locost. and Westfield Sportcars factory sell used ones as well.

At the end of the day Mark, it's just nuts and bolts, you know I'm only down the road from you to come and put it together for you.. it's about time we went out for a beer again sometime.. Anyway that's another story.. Yes, so, it's just a machine, you only need basic hand tools to put them together. the electrical components will be the most difficult but i hear that the kits come with a pre terminated loom nowadays... Don't expect me to drive it though, I'm a bit too hench to fit into one of those infernal things nowadays, oh yer and I would strongly advise you yourself Mark to go and find somebody that owns one and ask to sit in it before you go chucking money at getting one, you are well over 6 foot tall and you will struggle to get in and out of it

failing that there is always the option of buying the 'unfinished project' from eBay

as already stated above, there is a whole host of owners clubs, forums, enthusiasts etc locally

_{I couldn't fit in a normal 7 type car either, The wider and longer versions of a Westfiled are SEW or SEIW, Caterhams have the SDV versions with a bigger cockpit.}

I suppose a lot is down to the money side of things. Don't have the Caterham or Westfield money, but I did look at a Robin Hood in the summer - K series engined one as well and although it was no Caterham it still felt good and gave me a grin.

Was ready to buy until SWMBO rained on my parade - my bathroom looks nice now though

Its not actually the head gasket thats the problem its the bead of silicone that was applied at the factory by the robots that is inconsistent and had weak areas. This is what causes the failure from memory if you replace the head gasket yourself and apply the silicone liberally and cosistently no small thin bits then its should be fine engines are very good. The 1.8 VVT in the rover 200vi was a peach. 160 bhp easy with a less restrictive filter medium.

What silicon? You dont use any sealant on the head gasket.

The factory gaskets were not the best which is why they started to supply multi layered steel gaskets.

What silicon? You dont use any sealant on the head gasket.

The factory gaskets were not the best which is why they started to supply multi layered steel gaskets.

I watched a program on the tv I think it was about the landrover freelander anyway it had the 1.8 kseries

Engine and they described the head gasket fault as a beading problem at the factory. Thing it was on watchdog or right to reply etc.

In hind sight it was probably rubber or composite bead and not silicone but they replaced this in the fix.

I watched a program on the tv I think it was about the landrover freelander anyway it had the 1.8 kseries

Engine and they

described the head gasket fault as a beading problem at the factory. Thing it was on watchdog or right to reply etc.

The Freelander was probably the worst offender. A relatively small engine for the car, the fact the original gaskets were dodgy, and the location of the thermostat (allowing a sudden rush of cold coolant into a hot engine) all came together.

Since I'm currently experiencing a "go out an get a stupid, impractical car moment" in my life, it's something that could work as I'm guessing the insurance wouldn't be mad.

I think most can be covered with classic car policies (at least the ones I was looking at a few years back were ), but I decided I needed to wait til I had a house with a garage before I got one as they aren't the most difficult cars to pinch

If you get one and want some help getting the best out of it, give me a shout and I'm sure we can find some fun roads to enjoy

Chris

I think most can be covered with classic car policies (at least the ones I was looking at a few years back were ), but I decided I needed to wait til I had a house with a garage before I got one as they aren't the most difficult cars to pinch

If you get one and want some help getting the best out of it, give me a shout and I'm sure we can find some fun roads to enjoy

Chris

I've got to convince myself that it's practical to have a car for the week and a car for the weekend, with the week one being very dull but cheap.

I'd certainly be after some driving/HPC type stuff to make sure I understood how to drive it to it's best and not put myself/others at risk.

I'd certainly be after some driving/HPC type stuff to make sure I understood how to drive it to it's best and not put myself/others at risk.

Build it and use it for Autosolo

This thread reminds me of my brother's MG Metro Turbo. Great car, went like stink and never let him down once.

I've got to convince myself that it's practical to have a car for the week and a car for the weekend, with the week one being very dull but cheap.

I'd certainly be after some driving/HPC type stuff to make sure I understood how to drive it to it's best and not put myself/others at risk.

A trackday with an instructor will sort that out.

I had a Rover 214sli 16v quite a few years ago and at the time covered over 30k per year for 2 years in mine, never had a single problem with the engine and I ran a K&N induction kit, ecu map from Motorbuild and I think it was a full mongoose SS exhaust went like stink. The issue I had was the non vented disc's :(

When I craved more power I had the engine swapped for a 1.8vvc with the same mods on, also had the 220 turbo front brakes fitted

I loved my Rover and k-series engine, this car replaced my modded 309gti so had alot to live upto

This thread reminds me of my brother's MG Metro Turbo. Great car, went like stink and never let him down once.

But the MG Metro Turbo didnt have a K series engine in it.

That was the A series engine.

Never said it did..."it reminds me..."

I had a Rover 214sli 16v quite a few years ago and at the time covered over 30k per year for 2 years in mine, never had a single problem with the engine and I ran a K&N induction kit, ecu map from Motorbuild and I think it was a full mongoose SS exhaust went like stink. The issue I had was the non vented disc's :(

When I craved more power I had the engine swapped for a 1.8vvc with the same mods on, also had the 220 turbo front brakes fitted

I loved my Rover and k-series engine, this car replaced my modded 309gti so had alot to live upto

Best thing I did on my last 214 was put the vented discs setup on. My current one came with ABS so already had the vented discs up front and also has discs on the rear . Junked the ABS stuff though, no good for the stuff I do with the car. Sorry to go off topic slightly, how easy was the conversion to vvc in regards to wiring looms and ecu's etc? Keeping toying with dropping a vvc in mine at some point.

are are the head gaskets a problem.

Sorry but even asking the question made me chuckle! Renowned for HG failure but having said that, I've owned a handful of 1.4 K series engined cars, most recently a Metro Gti which I covered 45k in with no problems what so ever.

Ollie

Edited 2 January, 201313 yr by SkyInsurance

Best thing I did on my last 214 was put the vented discs setup on. My current one came with ABS so already had the vented discs up front and also has discs on the rear . Junked the ABS stuff though, no good for the stuff I do with the car. Sorry to go off topic slightly, how easy was the conversion to vvc in regards to wiring looms and ecu's etc? Keeping toying with dropping a vvc in mine at some point.

I honestly couldn't tell you. I dropped the car off with Motobuild and caught the train home, returned when they called to say it was ready and gave them some money

Insurance is not expensive - my Elise is cheaper than the Octavia and comes with trackday cover.

Don't discount a S1 Elise, they are more practical than a 7 and very involving to drive.

The K series is fundementally a good and light engine (hence good for 7's etc) but HGF is an issue and although metal dowels and better gaskets help, nothing will irradiate the risk. But, it rarely means engine failure; usually a head skim and around £750 for the work.

Jez

Oh - the 1.4 is very tunable. Check out a mate d mine who does hill climbing:

http://www.elise-r.co.uk/steve-butts-400bhp-1-4-k-series-project/