1970 s2 0453R Reassembly

[dakazman]

    Richard,
It would be well worth it .  I’ll be your first customer if you perfect it , or get close.👍👍
  I’ll tell you though, JB’s car lift bracket is another godsend. Working under the car is as safe as it gets for people without lifts.
 Dakazman

   

[dakazman]

   Well today was filled with distractions, after building an 10 x 4 foot awning, that I'm still waiting for final approval on a color I went to work on the Europa. I chose to fix the interior door opening so that I can get out in case of fire. after tearing into the door to get to the linkage that came undone by slamming the door shut to test the rubber seal.
  I set a goal for myself to go for a road test. opening my gate that I just built to keep neighbors out and constant interruptions. I pushed "Dolly" out and sprayed her with some of her favorite starting fluid. Then let her warm up as I gained the courage to set a mountable goal. Finding gears was a problem as I needed a few feet to backup to maneuver it down my driveway.
 Sucess Reverse,
   Off I went in second gear around and around in my cul-de-sac, then went for it down the street where my neighbor stared in disbelief and how low the car was and how big I looked in it.
 Tomorrow is another day and I hope to set a first gear journey, and raise the brake pedal effectiveness.

[TurboFource]

 

I can hardly wait to drive around my cul-de-sac!

[BDA]

Congratulations, D'man!!! Your first drive!! Woo hoo!! 

[dakazman]

  Now I have a bigger list to complete though.  1 & 3 was impossible to get into gear, so that is job 1, as is adjusting the brake pedal a little higher. Getting the tach and fuel gauge working would also be on top of my list. Hide wires last . Tune carb, add Freon and get the ac system last.
  Regardless of the time and energy  involved , I LOVE IT!
 
  I’ll post some video of the next ride.

  Dakazman
   

[Bryan Boyle]

   Well today was filled with distractions, after building an 10 x 4 foot awning, that I'm still waiting for final approval on a color I went to work on the Europa. I chose to fix the interior door opening so that I can get out in case of fire. after tearing into the door to get to the linkage that came undone by slamming the door shut to test the rubber seal.
  I set a goal for myself to go for a road test. opening my gate that I just built to keep neighbors out and constant interruptions. I pushed "Dolly" out and sprayed her with some of her favorite starting fluid. Then let her warm up as I gained the courage to set a mountable goal. Finding gears was a problem as I needed a few feet to backup to maneuver it down my driveway.
 Sucess Reverse,
   Off I went in second gear around and around in my cul-de-sac, then went for it down the street where my neighbor stared in disbelief and how low the car was and how big I looked in it.
 Tomorrow is another day and I hope to set a first gear journey, and raise the brake pedal effectiveness.

My first drive in 693R, August 2007, after a whirlwind reconstruction that started with disassembling the donor car the last week of April '07, and around the block the 3rd week of August of that same year.

Took another 18 months to do the body work, FWIW.  Some things happen quickly...others...not so fast.

http://www.lotuseuropa.us/0693r/photos/movies/cominghome.mpg

[Fotog]

Well!  Congratulations, Dave.  Very good.  Honestly, I wasn't sure it would ever happen.  Keep it drivable, and keep driving it!... I say.

[dakazman]

Thanks guys, you’re so right fotog, but with all adjustments,… now I have 1000 reasons for road test🥱😂
That’s when the fun begins.
Dave

[SilverBeast]

  congratulations D'man

[Footer]

Congrats DMAN on your first drive!  I remember mine and my reaction was the same as yours.

[jbcollier]

My first drive was without windshield or doors.  I quickly fitted a windshield but did some high speed runs still without doors.  Got more than a few looks.

[Bainford]

Congrats D Man! Very exciting stuff. 

[dakazman]

  I started bright and early today finding and fixing several problems I found during yesterday’s ride. I had a long paragraph on it that I lost while typing it,,so this will be shortened. I found another problem oil pressure line leaking but probably fixed the gearbox, tach, choke cable.
So all in all a good day until I got called in to babysit. No problem, I was waiting for the kids to play with a new stash of wheels 1lb and 5 lbs of assorted pieces.  It was epic with all the oh and aughs.
Dakazman

[dakazman]

  I’m learning how to cut time off working behind the facia, or dashboard. By leaving the column bolted to the facia and just removing the 4 screws on the facia and the two side bolts thru door jambs. Also the console and bottom ground bolts 2ea. The access to the gauges is very easy.
  All this for an oil leak at the pressure gauge and since my fuel gauge wasn’t working I found the problem after probing wiring.  My sender has Three connectors, two large spade connectors and a smaller spade .  Not remembering what I used to repair the unit when I received it new I just connected it to the larger spade. I swapped to the smaller spade on the sender and up came the needle on the gauge.
 Then I started the car and had RPM, oil and a working fuel gauge.
  Tomorrow I’m going to remove the LED instrument lights and go back to the original ones. A lot of work but well worth it.
DMAN

[dakazman]

  A welcome break from working under the facia getting the instrument lighting correct. With my head buried under the steering wheel my wife announces that my son in law is coming over….
No reason but will be there soon .
  I knew something was up and guessed correctly.
 
  My son in law’s grandfather came over with his new toy, waiting forever for it he received a foundation issue Tesla x pickup.
 It is an amazing vehicle..  I did get to drive it also and now I’ll try to get my wife on board.
He also got a chance to sit in my Lotus, at complete ends of some spectrum he loved the feel the Europa gave him. Barely up to the Tesla’s  tire height.
  It won me over. Buy it!
Dakazman