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Lotus Europa Forums => Members Cars => Topic started by: Keith A on Tuesday,September 29, 2015, 11:30:22 AM

Title: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Tuesday,September 29, 2015, 11:30:22 AM
Here's my first posting.... The '69 S2's present state is a full rolling chassis rebuild, the interior is trashed, I've built a new dashboard, busy repairing and strenghthening various extremities and tatty repairs. Window struts were broken etc etc. I've stripped everything off and rebuilt when possible. Door hinges next......... Then the paint - John Player Gold Leaf. I'll keep adding the pics, I'm interested that it's an S2 but has the door push buttons, and as it's not a Fed, thinking it came in from Germany or maybe Canada any ideas? Nice to meet you all... This is my. 6Th Lotus through the years, in fact I had a 69 s2 JPS in 1975......years fly.....
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Tuesday,September 29, 2015, 11:36:39 AM
 :Welcome:

That looks like a great start to an S2! Good luck! Please keep us up to date and keep those pictures coming!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: jbcollier on Tuesday,September 29, 2015, 07:29:10 PM
Early type 54 Europas had the push button door latches.  You find out where the car was initially dispatched if you contact Lotus.  It costs a bit but they give you a fairly detailed resume.

John
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Bainford on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 08:49:34 AM
Welcome aboard, Keith. That's a fine project you have going there. I'm glad you decided to join in. Cheers.
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 10:46:43 AM
Thanks for the info. Nice to be here!  I'll keep you posted on the hinge progression if my sanity holds up -)
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Grumblebuns on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 12:58:47 PM
I'm envious of your craftsmanship. Keep the pictures coming on your progress.

Joji Tokumoto
FAllbrook, Ca
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: blasterdad on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 05:28:16 PM
 :Welcome: :coolpic:
Off to a great start! Looks like you've got a sweet shop too!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 06:59:45 PM
Like to take credit for the shop but it's where I found the chassis after the rebuild ....I've added my humble abode!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 07:03:54 PM
Even that's not too shabby! Having a blast cabinet is REALLY handy!  The cars aren't too shabby either! :)
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Wednesday,September 30, 2015, 07:13:57 PM
Thanks! Avery handy piece of kit from Harbor tool, I posted some other past bits and pieces pics above too,  Cheers
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: buzzer on Thursday,October 01, 2015, 05:06:51 AM
And I see some use of Carbon fibre in that last pic  ;D ;D
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Friday,October 02, 2015, 10:34:30 AM
Yes that' s right, it's easy to use, goes around corners well and you don't get so itchy!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Chuck Nukem on Saturday,October 03, 2015, 09:19:35 AM
Nice job Keith!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Piper an on Tuesday,October 20, 2015, 11:56:21 AM
looks good Keith im doing a bit on car ,working on my m100 few repairs waiting for pro spray on wing & bonnet Derek
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Thursday,January 14, 2016, 01:24:22 PM
Here we go with some updates, been a while, almost ready for paint, new interior ordered and then to start putting things back on, my wife will be happy as most of the overhauled or new items are bubble-wrapped, in ziplok bags and stored in large blue containers.........in the lounge  :)) . A Happy New Year to All.  K
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Thursday,January 14, 2016, 02:28:46 PM
Those are some BIG pictures!

It looks like your making great progress. I'll bet your wife is almost as happy about it as you are since all those Lotus pieces will be getting out of her hair!

I'm expecting great things from the paint shop. Don't forget to post pictures!

 :lotus:
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Thursday,January 14, 2016, 02:44:25 PM
Thanks, If you right click and select "open link" they become a normal size -). Yeah she's a trooper, I'm looking at getting her painted (The car not the wife) with the doors, bonnet and boot lids off and I think I've found someone to make the John Player Team Lotus decals for the door too. Hopefully I'll be at that stage in Feb. Just the window motors and locks to sort out, everything else should be good to go. I've a new windscreen in the box, carpets and seat leather and trim ordered from Classics and Sports in Mass. which should be arriving any day too. Starting to get excited as it's coming back together. Cheers,  K
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Thursday,January 14, 2016, 05:49:21 PM
If you're talking about the round black JPS stickers like on my car (see picture below), r.d. should have the JPS stickers. I had a couple from when I got my car when it was new and Ray and I thought he might be able to sell some so he had copies of my sticker made. Unfortunately, he said they didn't sell very well so that might mean he either threw them away, eventually sold them all and didn't make more, or still has a stack of them.

It looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel! Keep posting those pictures!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Friday,January 15, 2016, 10:31:42 AM
Wow, very nice looking car sir. I meant the "Gold Leaf Team Lotus" decal, me bad, here it is for door install. Cheers  K
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Friday,January 15, 2016, 10:56:41 AM
I was thinking that's what you meant but "John Player" threw me off. Good luck! It should look great! Are you going to do the whole scheme (red/white with gold stripe)?
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Friday,January 15, 2016, 11:54:00 AM
Yes, that's the plan, I've finished the wheels (pics on previous page), and will probably leave the bumpers off, I'll see what she looks like. Now the doors are off (That was a fun Sunday) it's going to be much easier to install the interior too
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Friday,January 15, 2016, 12:03:57 PM
Those gold wheels will look great!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Friday,January 15, 2016, 01:00:42 PM
 :BEER3: Lots of polishing and sore fingers, was allowed to do them in the kitchen at night during the week too -)
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 03:21:59 PM
Hi All, Been Quietly beavering away for several months, I though I'd post where I currently am. I've finished most of the carbon fibre work, finished rebuilding the seriously bad seats, tried my hand at re-upholstering and carpet fitting and just got her back from the paint shop - the labour continues, re-fitting all of the gear overhauled in boxes, Thought I'd never get here!   Cheers 
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 03:24:16 PM
Interior trial fit
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 03:25:23 PM
First day home
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: andy harwood on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 04:12:54 PM
Wow! Looks great - love the paint. I think the interior Is looking good, light color with the red/white paint.  Did you sew the console cover?  I've got a tanned skin stored away for that purpose.
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 04:39:05 PM
Thanks! I worked with http://www.sportsandclassics.com/ on the interior and they sent the leather stitched cover for the console, I'm still working on the front "Scalloped" piece to get it right but they were very close with the seats and carpet stitching - no one is ever the same eh!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 04:43:12 PM
Here's the seat basics from them
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 05:16:35 PM
Those are some SERIOUSLY BIG pictures!  :)

She looks great! Keep up the nice work and keep posting those pictures!

 I told you gold wheels would look great!  :beerchug:
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 05:27:36 PM
Thanks so much, I shrunk them big time, any further and they became colourless, I'll keep trying -). It was a 4 week body job at a terrific local shop who took it on as their personnel project. I visited every day as they progressed. Even the inside of the boot, bonnet, gutters were hand sanded and finished
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: BDA on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 05:54:19 PM
It sounds like you got a really good shop!

There are lots of ways to shrink photos. On Windows 7 and after there is a tool called the Snipping Tool that allows you to save a portion of the screen as a graphic file. I display the full resolution photo on the screen and use the Snipping Tool to save the picture (or part of it) to another graphic file. It will now be in the resolution of the screen. The picture of my car earlier was done that way.

Here is a snippet of the picture of your wheel:  :)
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 05:59:11 PM
Oh Wow, Thanks!
Title: Re: S2 Rebuild Labour of Love Houston
Post by: Keith A on Sunday,September 18, 2016, 08:45:42 PM
Thanks dude,

I've uploaded pics to other forums that have automatically adjusted resolution to fit W P forma/size, I'll sort for future ones -)