1970 s2 0453R Reassembly

[Certified Lotus]

Looking good Dakazman! Your certainly motivated and making nice progress.

[Stuleslie]

Number plate lamp. I don’t know about US licence plate sizes but I think the light you a showing might stick down to far and cover a bit of the plate. This link:

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-98424-number-plate-light-number-plate-lamp-special-with-clear-lens-hella-2ka-001-378-001.aspx

Is the original Lotus/Hella lamp without bulb so you can fit a festoon LED.

Don’t do what I did, I changed all my lamps for LEDs including the alternator/battery light. This light will not go out when you rev up as the load on the alternator is not high enough to switch on charging. You should keep or get a 2W tungsten bulb.

Cheers, Stuart

[jbcollier]

It’s a good idea to fit a shunt resistor to the alternator warning light.  That way it will charge even if the bulb blows — or you fit an LED bulb.

[dakazman]

  They , del city have an assortment of plate lights, side lights , brake lines , backup cameras, switches and more. I only posted a few candy items . I have not purchased any item yet but compiling a list .
Please do not jump on these but order there catalog.

     Dash received the second coat of polyurethane yesterday and I sanded with 400 grit, 1st coat with 220 . I did not use an exacto knife at any point. The grain varied way to much . The dremmel works the best with a fine cutting tool appropriately 1/4 inch away from cutout. Then I used a larger sanding disc on the dremmel to shave to the plywood slowly. Stepping down the sanding docs diameter to shave smaller holes. Always from the underside up. Final trimming was done with very fine files.
Gauges and switches were fitted again. The high and lows can be seen as glossy and flat areas.
I will go go with another coat of varnish to deminish the glossy areas before applying decals.
Dakazman
Beer is optional after 5.

[Gary t]

Does heinaken work well as a solvent?  😀

[dakazman]

Gary t
   Lol .
Continued with cleaning gauges, I watched Serge’s video on it also. My tach and speedo had some sort of black sealant between glass and chrome bezel that I will need the reinstall once I come up with a part. I could use a large, thick O ring . Mil spec . Cleaned up nicely!  I will need to find some test procedures on them. Need more time in a day! Lol....
Dakazman

[BDA]

FYI - there are some videos on YouTube for testing Smiths gauges.

[jbcollier]

The “black sealant” you found is an o-ring in an advanced state of decomposition.  Not unusual after all that time.  The usual British parts suppliers have them.

[dakazman]

Thanks guys, I’ll look into the videos and O ring info now that I’m heading in the right direction.
Still waiting for my brake calipers , apparently I forgot to place the order for another 2. Now that that is solved, I’ll post that job completion pictures.

 Also Putting back together another heater unit after refurbished and painted. Idea was to sell it but now I just may keep it.

Sanded dash 2nd coat with 400 grit , most of the hi/lows are gone. 3rd coat going on.

Dakazman

[dakazman]

 Gauges cleaned up nicely  . I ordered a smiths water temp gauge so all will match. The SW was an eye sore.

The dash decals arrived but with no instructions on placement, so I’ll be researching that tonight along with the testing of all mentioned. Back to sanding dash, later..
Dakazman

[BDA]

More nice work, D-man! 

[dakazman]

  Found the gauge testing procedures on :
http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/misc/electrical/gauges.html
 
   The S2 federal wiring diagram is incorrect on the lotus documents page. I doubt one one the previous owners installed some wiring inside the harness assembly. The addition, (modification) is two switches for the flv fan and the radiator.  The onnees manual does not show this also , yet I have two switches.
   With that said I checked some of the notes, s/n 7001xxxxxxxon print, hmmmm, I’m 7006xxx so it , the diagram should be correct. Did someone add an extra switch ?

    I also am adding a picture of an s2 federal 1970 dash facia layout, any comments and corrections would be appreciated. I am using the individual words that are on the decals so feel free to correct the placement. Location also , top/bottom.

Dakazman

[jbcollier]

Very common to add an extra switch for the rad fan.

[dakazman]

 Thanks again JB,
I thought it might have been done by the factory, but they forgot to add a federal change.
I’m also very comfortable with the layout now , remember I have never driven or rode in one. Reading the owners manual and the lotus documents page on Electric’s gave me more to think about. Modified voltage regulator for one and something to protect coil if hazard and turn indicator left on.
Dakazman

[jbcollier]

The early cars did have a switch to turn on the rad fan.  The heater fan is a single speed fan but the switch is three position: off — heater fan on — heater and rad fan on.  Not sure when they deleted it but S1s and early S2s had it.

Unfortunately, they also used the rad fan from the R16.  It’s a puller fan so they wired it backwards (that’s why you get the black power/red ground in the wiring diagram).  No way to reverse the fan blades so it pushes way less air than it pulls.  Ok-ish in cool moist UK, rubbish in hot, dry anywhere else.