Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: ron parola on Sunday,October 25, 2015, 03:18:43 PM
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OK, since I got an email saying we're not posting enough; here I go. Some delays getting car painted; came down with a case of the cancers; darn!, broke a finger; rats, crushed right big toe bone, now THAT hurt, still does in fact BUT the worse part was the 8 MONTHS the body shop had it!@! And that was after I plugged side markers, deleted trunk lock, veil clothed front of car and cowl below windscreen. Straightened out rear deck lid and frt bonnet lid ( LOT of glass and sanding!), AND primed it. Time wasn't totally wasted though, converted wiper motor to 86 XJ6 motor; more power and a lower park position, and now have electric washer motor running off original switch. Now I've got a third brake lamp and got rid of the T/S relay box ( using a trailer lamp converter) and lamps are LEDs. I had cast new rear hubs hangers and machined them to accept tapered bearings and got some hot rod rear hubs, which THEN had to be machined to accept the bearings, and while there moved up to 7/16 wheel studs, did the same up front just to be consistent. Opened up trans (subaru) and shoved it a limited slip diff. Got a new dash made and installed some centre AC vents and made flappers, knob operated, to get fresh air OR A/C, heated air out of original side vents. It's ALMOST a real car, NOW need interior (anyone come up with seats for these?? and find a side view mirror that I like. Pix don't do justice to colour, it's BRIGHT red; Dodge slightly metallic. First time out to day, AC clutch not powering up, it's computer driven, I cleaned up wiring.... messed SOMETHING up, tomorrow! Cheers Ron p
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Wow! Nice Europa Ron. Have you had any free time? A lot of work you listed-and it shows.
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Hello Ron you have had a hectic time, hope you're well on the mend and feeling positive
all the best
Stuart
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Nice. I really like red Europas!
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Your have been busy! It sounds like you've put a lot of thought in your mods! You should have a very nice ride when you're done! Post some more pictures when you get a chance!
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Hi Ron,
Heck, now that's a lot of stuff to be getting along with, it's not surprising you've been "resting" from the forum for a while ! That's some tough stuff to go on with, so here's hoping you're through the worst and mending nicely.
As for the car, well that's looking good. Paintwork comes across as a really nice job and the high level brake light is a very subtle mod. Lots of engineering going on by the sound of it, time to get the camera out again !
Brian
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Congrats on a stunning car Ron. I can see you have put in some serious work! I am curious about the Subaru tranny. How much does one weight? Did you have to block off the tail? I was also considering putting a top brake light in.
PS show us some shots of the casting process and your machining set up!
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Car is looking fantastic :trophy:
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Chuck; I didn't weigh the trans but I'll get to it in the next few days (spare); it's a '97 Legacy, FRONT wheel drive. No you don't have to block off the rear, my first try was with it stock, but I didn't like the shift linkage so I cut the back off the rear cover and changed it to a side shifter. I THINK you can do the same with the all wheel drive trans since they are the same with an output shaft added, may have to cut the shaft. I don't recall what the brake lamp came from, I just measured the space available and cruised EBAY untill I found something that would fit, I think about $20. Also I didn't mention I canned the brake boosters and put an aftermarket booster upfront. A generic 7in booster, I tried a dual diaphragm one first but the brakes were TOO touchy, a single works fine AND fits under the spare tire Ronp
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I thought all Subarus were 4WD - every day's a school day.
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I thought all Subarus were 4WD - every day's a school day.
It might just have been the UK ones that were 4WD but I seem to think they had a FWD Impreza years back before they became famous. I know when we bought one there was only a choice of 2 4WD's - "cheap" or "expensive" models ! It's a long time ago so I could have lost the relevant brain cells.... :)
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OK Subie trans weighs 90lbs, AND they were available in the states up to 1997 two wheel drive. More pix; rear of trans on the ground, modified trans in the car, raw castings for rear hub and one in the car. Sorry no pix on machining. Using a concentric slave cylinder which fit nicely on trans, and cut up Subie drive axles ($18 remans from worldpac!! HOW can they be so cheap) I just needed the broached stubs that fit on diff, AND no more ROLL PINS, bolted on. Using TR6 ujoint flanges bolted to the modified subie flanges so I can use stock Lotus ujoints, although using nonlube ones, POSSIBLY stronger. Cheers rp
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too large, more pix
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Jeez have to resize them sorry rp
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Jeez have to resize them sorry rp
Already re-sized
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Very cleaver!! You're going to have to post a more complete spread of pictures when you're done! Keep it up!
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Thanks for the info Ron!! How do you like the shift compared to the 5 speed? I may be exploring alternatives because my tranny has spent time as doubling as a submarine. NG3 is the obvious go to for many people, but I think the subie tranny may be more robust and available.
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My shifting throw is VERY short, and very positive, and it is adjustable via the shift rods length. I did make the shift rod from shifter to trans all out of aluminum, took some inertia out that way, may try carbon rod at some point. That being said the Subie trans is a knock off of a VW so there is a lot of mass being moved around compaired to a normal trans, so they don't shift as fast as a centrally mounted trans, or a modern designed frt wheel Honda/ Mits,etc. And they are sensitive to type of fluid, I use Red Line NS, it's made for trans axles (diff and synchros) cheers rp
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I had also pondered doing a carbon shift linkage. Ron you are scaring me :)
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I'm so dangerous I even scare myself! Thanks David Bromberg rp
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Are there more pics of the tranny swap etc.?