Lotus Europa Restoration

[HealeyBN7]

Turn away if you would rather be driving than wrenching...

[Steve Simmons]

Oh yeah! Work commences in the new garage!

I love seeing other people wrenching.

[malcolmr18zoy]

Wow!! that looks just fantastic. Great looking project, and great looking workshop. Now I understand all your comments about rubbing down the Lotus.
Malcolm

[TEAM ROSBIF]

fanatstic garage, you may remember I told everyone of a similar car here in Topanga, I think it has the renault engine.
Whole project is lying in pieces.
wish I had a decent garage!!

Mark

[gorms68]

Wow! Who needs a house with a garage like that.

[Jimmy]

Turn away if you would rather be driving than wrenching...

It's too bad that Steve can't enjoy working on cars like you're doing, Dean.
That looks like FUN.
And unlike Steve's USDA approved garage floor, yours has evidence of someone actually having used it.
Great shop.

[Steve Simmons]

Actually, Dean's floor is brand new. He coated it with clear instead of gray. Mine has far more "battle scars" than his!

Jimmy, come on over if you want to have some fun. I have three cars in various states of repair and restoration. Just because I enjoy driving more than wrenching doesn't mean I don't like wrenching. I just prefer to do it on my own time rather than when something breaks unexpectedly.

[Jimmy]

Oh no, I won't.
Just because you have an anti-bacterial garage floor that doesn't mean I want your cold. Heck, I'm still not up to speed after mine.
But if you can wait a few weeks (I'm leaving town for a while) I wouldn't mind helping you out. It could be fun.
At least more fun than changing the clutch in Annette's B, doing an engine and tranny swap on a Suburban, or building a receiver for the Peterbilt.
But perhaps not as fun as getting my TD running, putting an oil cooler and filter in the V8 car, or making a "stow-away" version of a late model MGB top frame.
All that aside, root beer does not count as beer when working on cars.

[Steve Simmons]

Late model stowaway? Why not just use the one the factory offered? They have more head room, too.

[Jimmy]

'Cause I don't want to deal with the "erector set" - especially if the top needs to go up in a hurry.
Also, I'd rather keep the trunk available for other stuff.
Basically, I will end up with a regular folding frame, but which lifts off without tools and can stay at home for the most part.
I'll practice on the Beater B, then make one for the V8 car. If I ever find a nice enough "gray" top frame, that is.

[Larry Kluss]

Looking good, Dean! Nice to see your great new garage being used for some real dirty work. Although, I don't envy all the sanding and fiberglass dust...been there, done that.

[Steve Simmons]

Jimmy, I believe late frames are all black. I know early folding frames were gray because I have one here from my '65. So what you're after then isn't really a stowaway frame, but a more easily removable fixed frame. You know it's only six screws to remove and install the frame, right? I guess you could cut off the mounting flange and weld on a metal tab instead, and then you could install and remove the same way the stowaway does.

[Jimmy]

Right you are, Steve...the late frames are black. Except the one on the Beater B which I painted gray, so at least it reminds me of an earlier folding frame.
On the V8er I will have to use a gray frame, as the late/black ones claim common territory with the seats. Or the stow-away and top I have - and don't like.
While it may only be three screws per side, I'd really rather leave them put, for a number of reasons. This happens to be one where I'm in complete agreement with you - I'd rather drive than wrench on top frames.
About the only drawback I can see with a lift-off, folding top is that when I roll the car the top will probably come off. Unless, of course, for some odd reason I used bad judgement and drove with it up.
Either way, I'll have other problems at that point.
And lopping off the triangular part where the screws go and welding a tab onto the structure is exactly what I had in mind. Just not in that order.

[Steve Simmons]

One last thought before we completely steal this thread, if you're just going to leave it in the garage anyway, then why not use the factory stowaway top but not break it down? You can easily pin the two halves together and sew the top to the frame, just like folding frames. The only difference then would be lack of the pieces between the header rail and main bows, and the fact that it lifts off. Just a thought.

[malcolmr18zoy]

Hey Jimmy,
Why don't you just install a really good hard top? Then you could pretend that you have a proper car. No more having to agonize over what kind of temporary top to have. Your car would probably be faster, more comfortable on a long journey, and more secure. If you really have to have open air motoring, then do the job properly, and get a sport bike.That way you can have performance as well as open air motoring.
Malcolm

[Jimmy]

Nah, it's not to be a "garage top". Or tops.
On the contrary, actually. I plan on some relatively long distance trips with the V8 car (perhaps cross country), so having an easily useable top along would be most handy. But, for around here, the top can stay in the garage for the most part.
With the Beater B, it'll largely be practice so that I can do a better job with the other top. And it'd also provide the same easy-on, easy-off convenience which I crave.
As you might have guessed by now, I really don't like roofs, but since there are times when they are practical (parking in the rain, driving in snow storms, etc.) I'd like to have the option without always having the extra weight of the top along.
Wanna trade your gray frame for a like new, gold anodized stow away? Have a pristine tan Robbins canvas top for it, too.

[Jimmy]

Hey Jimmy,
Why don't you just install a really good hard top?
Malcolm

I tried that approach, using your OE MGB hardtop that you left here several months ago, but by the time I had it folded up to the point it would fit in the trunk, I could never get it to seal or look quite right as a hardtop again.
But don't worry...it's nothing a little expert fiberglass repair couldn't fix, and as you know, the windows were already shot, anyway.

[Steve Simmons]

You aren't planning to put a full frame top in the trunk are you? I seriously doubt it would fit. Unless I'm mistaken, it needs to break down, as the factory stowaways did.

I never planned to get rid of my original frame because it's original to the car, but I might be persuaded to make a trade for a stowaway. My folding frame is powder coated semigloss black so it isn't 100% original but it does look nice. We'll talk.

[Jimmy]

No, when the top's along for the ride, it'll sit in its normal position behind the seats. The only real difference will be that the top will stay in the garage most of the time once it's easily removed.
If you got your voice back, sure, let's talk frame/top swapping options.

[HealeyBN7]

Surf's up - borrowed Larry's long board and took off most of the poly primer.

Lots and lots of detail sanding still ahead. I figure about six more months...

[TEAM ROSBIF]

wow that looks fantastic, just as a pure shape very beautiful, very James Bond I think.
Looks like you have done a great job.

Mark

[Steve Simmons]

I just love seeing that new garage in action!

[Larry Kluss]

Saw Dean's project on Saturday and, despite what he says, it's coming along at a nice pace.

Remember to use a mask and baby powder on expose skin areas to help keep the glass fibers at bay.

[HealeyBN7]

Remember to use a mask and baby powder on expose skin areas to help keep the glass fibers at bay.

Thanks for the baby powder tip. I did not know that and would never have guessed it would work. I am still not sure. Thankfully I am rounding the corner on the glass work. It's hard to believe this project consumed almost 50 sq feet of glass.

Hope to shoot another coat of primer tomorrow then start with a real guide coat. Good thing I have to go to the office now and again, my arms are sore from all the sanding.

Dean

[Larry Kluss]

...Good thing I have to go to the office now and again, my arms are sore from all the sanding.

Dean

Been there, done that. Have fun!