Lotus Europa Forums > Garage
Almost ready...
katanaman:
Hi! I am getting close to start-up. I think that the main reason the car is missing critcal and otherwise parts is because the previous owner has removed these parts to complete a Lotus Elan he also owns. Consequently, I had to deal with those issues, as well as the instrument panel being torn apart. Some of the components of the car seem to be well used -- Gee, go figure! -- while others appear to have never been online. So..., some panel instruments are original, while others are new, or American made. I even had to replace a new water temperature instrument because it had fittings that wouldn't connect with those of the Mazda engine - I wonder if they actually worked with the Renault one... it had a huge bulb that fit into the thermo housing. Today I will finish closing up the panel, but the largest task will be to sort out the fan switches and wiring for all of the radiators and fans in the forward section of the car. There appears to be only the extra large radiator front and center, and an oil cooler to the extreme left hand side to have been added, but it appears that the wiring for the fans there have not been sorted out yet. I do know that the control for the heater circuits has been moved to the left hand side rear frame, actually under it, so what I thought was a control to nowhere is indeed connected. The fan direction for the added on radiator, however, is not clear, but I presume should be to enhance the air moving back, although into the nose of the car. The previous owners or those involved in converting the car over to Mazda decided to use the washer bottle as a remote reservoir for the clutch fluid, for some reason, and it was put to the extreme left of that area. Then, a too short hose was used to hook that bottle to the cylinder. I suppose that this will work, but I will be interested in some sort of resolution to make this all appear a little better once I get home. For some unknown reason, the wiring to the side marker lights has been cut, very close to the units themselves, so it appears that I will need to replace the twist in units completely. That can wait until I get home, also. My tires, incidently, will be 175/70R13's, from Costco (best price), although they were tracked down in Florida, so they will take about a week to get here!! I intend to go through Goleta on the way home, actually kind of hoping to get the windscreen replaced there before I continue on... Still seems a long way off...
cal44:
I just bought 175/13's from Discount Tire (Michelin). I don't care about the price although they were only $85.00 ea.
They were freshly made and on the shelf. For those that had crap service from Discount before, it's over. Those guys have been going out of their way for us.
Remember to have the tape on weights installed in the back on the flat area. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I can't tell you how many pinheads want to install weights on the outside of the wheel.
Discount even ordered Vredestein tires from Coker for me. The Elan needed new ones.
EuropaTC:
I've got to admire your spirit in taking this on, given what you've found to date I'd be sorting myself out with a trailer to get the car home ! It does sound very much like the DPO had the imagination for the transplant but not the engineering skills to carry it out, the description of the clutch reservoir fits that sort of bill.
Still, if it's only the engine which has changed then at least the rest of the car (brakes, steering,suspension) is all fairly easy to check over so although the car might not go as fast as expected, you'll get there in the end. It would be interesting to see how it's coming together if you are able to post pictures of your progress from your location.
Brian
katanaman:
Well, now I have encoutered another problem! The manual says that in order to lube the front end components, I need to remove a bolt sized plug and install a fitting that has a lube fitting on it, lube, then remove the fitting and replace the plug. I looked at Moss for mention of this fitting/tool, and found nothing... Is this something the mechanics made up from components, and will I be able to find them here?
benbeames:
They are just zerk fittings that you need for greasing things like the steering rack, though I still haven't gotten a hold of a zerk that fits the rack. On the trunnions, its supposed to be oil, not grease and apparently you can use a grease gun to get it in. Or if like me you don't mind making a mess and getting frustrated you can use a hand pump oil can and just squeeze the novel in as tight as you can, possibly with a rag to help seal it and another to wipe up what squirts all over the place.
Check the manual for the correct type of oil, or maybe someone here can recommend a product and where to get it. And now that I've typed all that I realize I should probably have just waited for someone with more expertise on the subject to post, but this will give you something to read while you wait for more detailed info.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version