Europa TCST

[TurboFource]

These pics are from when I picked up my Europa in October(there were on a different device).

The one pic is me on the right and CW on the left.

[BDA]

Great pictures! It will be fun to look back on these after you’ve finished restoring her.

[dakazman]

    Ya got so good times ahead.  Hopefully you can breathe new life into her.
Keep posting your progress, you'll love the read later.
 
 Best of Luck,
  Dakazman

[TurboFource]

My friend Murphy showed up today with his buddies Rust and Corrosion....

I was able to remove the coolant tubes, emergency brake cables, master cylinder and most of the suspension.

Rust on shock is holding up removing drivers side upper suspension bolt and half the control arm, also preventing removal of lower suspension bolt....soaking with penetrant (again).

Corrosion is preventing removal of the steering rack as one lone bolt has decided to become one with the aluminum mounting bracket....heat, penetrating oil, wiggle then repeat numerous times has gotten it to move about 1/16"......may be hack saw time and then deal with it.

[BDA]

You continue to have your work cut out for you! Those rack mounts are available but they tend not to be inexpensive. You could probably make your own without too much trouble if you have a buddy with a machine shop.

Good luck!

[GavinT]

Yeah, hack saw time . . or the angry grinder.

Life is too short and bolts too cheap to put up with that sort of recalcitrance. 

[Dilkris]

Rust on shock is holding up removing drivers side upper suspension bolt and half the control arm, also preventing removal of lower suspension bolt....soaking with penetrant (again).

I had the same problem - managed to remove the upper suspension bolts by cutting them in half through the center and then used  an impact wrench on each half. (Makes sense?)

Lower suspension bolts came out with most of the front box section though...... 

I used a lot of cutting discs (and expanded my vocabulary hugely rendering the garage with a blue haze),  before my chassis was completely disassembled..... 

Keep at it - its satisfying when done - not particularly so when you look at the pile of items you are going to have to replace though. 

[TurboFource]

Had to use a hacksaw to get steering rack bracket off (anyone have a spare?).

Also removed lower stuck suspension bolt. Had to resort to something I dislike using, curse words, a pipe wrench,'small sledge hammer, long bolt for a punch

Hopefully tomorrow I will tackle remaking stuck control arm bolt.

Amazing how getting one bolt out can turn into a huge ordeal!

[Dilkris]

Had to use a hacksaw to get steering rack bracket off (anyone have a spare?).

Available at sjsportscars.com (X046H0015Y - Steering Rack Mounting Clamp), if you fail to find anyone on the Forum with one.   

[Sandyman]

RD also has them.

[TurboFource]

Upper stuck bolt came out with a little persuasion  Suspension points are all still intact!

All that is left is to remove brake lines that go from front to rear (looking forward to simplyfying that mess!), trailing arm pivot points and the padding. Is the heater tubing removable?

Then I can flip chassis and repair lower T-section etc

[BDA]

Good job, Turbo!!! 

I don't think the heater tubes come out. On my new frame (I have a pre-tubular Spyder frame), I believe they are made of copper and so probably brazed into the frame. I suspect the Lotus frames were similar. Also, there don't seem to be listed in the parts manual.

[Dilkris]

 :I-agree:I can confirm heater tubes are an integral part of the original chassis, they cannot readily be removed.

[jbcollier]

They are steel and tack welded in place.  For goodness sake, change them while the chassis is out.  They rot.  Mine vacuum tested fine but they leaked under pressure with hot water.  Changing them in situ is a nightmare!

[TurboFource]

Thanks for replies. Are new ones available or should I just make them?