ELSE Europa restoration 2015 -2018

[Gmg31]

Started work on the right hand side today

[blasterdad]

Carb looks great! It never occurred to me your panels could pull double duty as "parts pegboard".
Great idea!
 

[BDA]

It's coming along very nicely, Gmg31!

[Gmg31]

Having now installed some gold highlights in the engine bay I thought it best to powder coat the new battery box to match.

[BDA]

Very nicely done! The gold accents look great!

[Gmg31]

Finished all of the ignition wiring today.

[BDA]

That looks really nice, Gmg31!! Very clean!

[3929R]

Your project is really starting to hit the home stretch. EXCITING!

[Gmg31]

Started the engine tonight, first time this 36 year old engine has ever fired. Really difficult to set up the timing with no pully marks or any timing marks of any sort.  And then afterwards there was a small pool of oil on the floor. 1 step forward and two steps back.  Ho hum.  A bit of fine tuning this weekend.

[BDA]

Congratulations! That's a great step forward! Don't you have marks on your flywheel (or is it different from the TC)?

[EuropaTC]

afterwards there was a small pool of oil on the floor. 1 step forward and two steps back.  Ho hum.  A bit of fine tuning this weekend.

only a small pool of oil ?   This is a Lotus we're talking about ?

 

Great news, I'd say it's all good progress, you'll soon sort it out now there's the incentive from a running engine.

Brian

[Gmg31]

So if you were following this on the other thread, you'll know that the little pool of oil turned out to be quite serious.  the head gasket was spitting oil out at the back so she has been stripped down again.  The rubber seal round the timing chain was twisted and the head gasket had been stuck back together with gasket sealant.  quick skim and valves re seated, new gaskets and all back together today and running by tea time.  A bit disappointed that none of the plug leads I bought last year were actually long enough so I had to use some old spares, but this meant rather poor running.  So it'll be a few days before I get her running smoothly

[BDA]

I hope it all works out well! Please keep us informed!

[Gmg31]

One of the other threads I started was about reinforcing the floor, based on the overhauling Europa.  In the end I  found a local specialist who recommended Combi matting which is 2 layers of glass fibre and a tightly woven mat all stitched together all bonded with Crystic resin.  So easy to use and absolutely rock hard. 

[BDA]

That should do it!