Lotus Europa Restoration

Post your car-related project and restoration stories here!
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whitebuffalo
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by whitebuffalo »

So Autolite plugs make a difference? Seems that if they are within specification it wouldn't matter. What is different about them?
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

whitebuffalo wrote:So Autolite plugs make a difference? Seems that if they are within specification it wouldn't matter. What is different about them?
Actually removing the "incorrectly gapped" Autolite platinum plugs in favor for the colder Denso Iridium plugs and gapping them correctly made the difference. For some reason I had the Autolites gapped at .030 when the spec calls for .051.????? Searching for tuning suggestions returned a couple Zetec sites that recommended the Denso plugs. I am sure the brand makes little or no difference. It was just easier to find tuning recommendations for the Denso for some unknown reason.:)

For the life of me, I don't know how I installed them with the wrong gap in the first place????
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Steve Simmons »

Sounds like you forgot to gap them upon installation. Standard gap is usually about 30. Boy, I'm sure glad I've never made such an obvious mistake. Oh wait, I just had to pull my engine for something... :roll:
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

This is what happens when your not working on your daily driver. You can see in one of the photos that the pilot bushing fell out of the flywheel carrier. I could have pressed it back in and been back on the road in a couple hours.

Instead, I decided to split the case and remove every single part making a small job into a much larger and frustrating one.

Actually the trans was weeping from the seams and seals, so might as well...right?

Dean
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Steve Simmons »

You're a brave man.
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

So Austin and I planned on installing the new roof on the barn this weekend. Opened the pallet and it was the wrong stuff....

What to do with all the newly found free time? Put the new seals in the transmission and back in the car.

Made a new pilot bushing holder/extension on my new HF mini-lathe (fun toy, that seems to work better than most HF toys).

Fabricated a new trans mount with replaceable bushings to keep the rear of the trans and rear suspension in the same place around every turn. I'll no longer be hostage to a $180 block of rubber.

This was my chance to tighten the almost-nearly-just-about-impossible-to-reach alternator bolt.

Opted for a pair of foam filters to replace the tea strainers that developed a high pitch vibration and wrinkle painted the valve cover. Just waiting now for some redline MT90 to show up via Amazon.

Here's hoping the fluid stays inside the trans and the new pilot bush does it's job.

Dean
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

So after installing and hooking everything up no less than three times, I think I finally have a working transaxle and clutch.

Took it on a test drive this morning terrorizing the local neighbors and it finally works like I thought it should three years ago. Rattles fixed and the foarm air filters sound really cool.

Thanks to Larry for printing out some obscure drawings, Austin for helping lift it in and out a dozen times and Steve for coming by a few nights ago to lend a hand.

For the last 24 hours I can even claim to have a British car that doesn't leak. I am sure that will change, but I'll take the dripless floor as an improvement while it lasts. It does have a Ford engine and Renault transaxle...

Dean

PS: Austin took the overhead photo a week ago, then when Steve came by he took a couple of his own. Funny how the camera guys are so easily drawn to the fireworks display:)

PSS: That second shot is not really me using a HF grinder to shorten the input shaft. Some other guy came by to perform this highly skilled work. I would have used a cold chisel :)
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

A couple weeks ago, Austin and I were invited to Jay Leno's garage for an interview and the filming of a two part series of Overhaulin', where Chip and his gang make over a Lotus Europa for one of Jay's friends.

Part 1 plays on the Velocity channel tonight. Part two on June 2/3. The Lotus, Austin and I should be in part 2 with Jay near the end - the reveal.

All fun.

http://velocity.discovery.com/tv-shows/ ... hedule.htm

Dean
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Here are a few pictures Austin took while we were watching the Overhaulin' shoot. Should be OK to post these now that the show aired and the reveal was...revealed. Posting this in my restoration blog as it is kind of a keepsake with the car... Next I need to get some memorable autocross times.

Enjoy

Dean

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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Larry Kluss »

I hadn’t seen the Foose car because I don’t get Velocity. :oops: I like most of what they did. I like that the paint scheme is reminiscent of the works Lotus 47 and the modern interior is tastefully done. I’m even fine with the rear taillights, but the low rear bumper looks odd. The headlights are okay. I’m not really a fan of large wheels on old cars and those look downright cartoonish. Overall, it’s looks like a nice resto-mod.

Your car looks great and right at home on the stage among the other cars. Very cool.

Any word on when your segment will be up on Jay’s website?
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Spent the day at the Camarillo Airport.

Times were inconsistent, but the car held up. This run was 44.1 seconds. My fastest run was 44.0 seconds, but the battery died in the GoPro...



Dean

Edited to fix the timing numbers... posted on no rest and too soon after getting home:)
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Larry Kluss »

Did you mean to say 44.1 seconds? Much faster than my best time.
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Thanks Larry for the tips!! I fixed the scores... When I watched the videos it sure seemed that I could have pushed a bit harder.

On my screen I saw one lap where it looked like I didn't have any oil pressure. Then again at the start of the next run group it looked like I ran the whole course on zero oil pressure. I started to wonder why the oil light didn't flash, then I headed to the barn and checked the level. Good. Thinking the worse, I started the car and listened for issues. I hopped in the car to check the wiring. It wasn't until I was seated that I realized that I was looking at the temp gauge when I was watching the playbacks...
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Martin Keller »

Hi Dean,

Your run looked real good.
Wish I had known there was an auto-x at the airport this weekend.
Maybe the next time you could let me know ahead of time so I could make arrangements to come and play also if it is open to others. :)

:drive
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

And for an executive summary, it looks like our friends at Carbuldindex posted a nice story on Friday.

1971 Lotus Europa Restoration with Ford Zetec Engine Swap | The Car Build Index
http://www.carbuildindex.com/41620/1971 ... gine-swap/

Taking it for a drive today!!

Dean
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Steve Simmons »

Very nice! The car deserves any and all attention that it gets. We were out for a drive in the '49 TC today and got pretty wet. Smiles all around. :)
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

It is time to move the Lotus into the 21st century...

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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Steve Simmons »

Better you than me. ;)
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whitebuffalo
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by whitebuffalo »

A gluten for punishment! That looks like a real headscratcher to get right.
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

I am overwhelmed by the resounding vote of confidence :)
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by Larry Kluss »

I'm betting you'll have it installed and tuned before sun-down tonight :)
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Once I committed, it wasn't that involved. I removed the Megajolt ECU, Ford EDIS system, low pressure fuel pump, DCOEs, intake manifold, and all the related engine wiring.

The OMEX system comes with fully mapped ECU for a Zetec 2.0l with long headers. It controls spark, fuel and holds memory for data logging. Map adjustments are based on air temperature, cylinder head temperature and barometric pressure. I needed to install a high pressure pump (3 bar), fuel pressure regulator and fuel return line.

The nice thing about this system is the ITBs came fully flow tested and balanced. I really just needed to make the fuel and wiring connection and it fired right up.

Image

It idles nicely and pulls strong and smooth. Not just a little more seat time to ensure my wiring job and mods will stay together.

Dean
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by whitebuffalo »

That makes the motor look more exotic, now plump down the cash on one of those Ford BDA rocker covers you will have the punters thinking you have a rare Ford race motor :lol:
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HealeyBN7
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

whitebuffalo wrote:That makes the motor look more exotic, now plump down the cash on one of those Ford BDA rocker covers you will have the punters thinking you have a rare Ford race motor :lol:
Found that valve cover on line at Restro-Ford. I love it, but it cost more then I paid for whole Zetec long block!
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Re: Lotus Europa Restoration

Post by whitebuffalo »

HealeyBN7 wrote:
whitebuffalo wrote:That makes the motor look more exotic, now plump down the cash on one of those Ford BDA rocker covers you will have the punters thinking you have a rare Ford race motor :lol:
Found that valve cover on line at Restro-Ford. I love it, but it cost more then I paid for whole Zetec long block!
You should treat your lady to a nice looking trinket :) Not sure what your wife would think of that :D
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