Lotus Europa Community

On my car, the brake tubing was originally on the underside of the backbone. When I built my car, I attached it to the side of the backbone. I've heard of others doing the same thing. I don't think there is a huge advantage to running the tubing on the side of the backbone. If you're concerned about rocks hitting the tubing as I was, you can still put it on the bottom and pop a piece of aluminum over it to protect it (when the body is fitted to the frame, it hangs below the backbone by an inch or two). It's tomato tomahto!

I’ve been caught by the differences between the S2 and the TCs but I can answer some of these.

For a radiator, I would recommend an aluminum radiator off of eBay and if you want to be more original, there’s also what seems like a stock radiator with a modern fan (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=lotus+europa+radiator&_sacat=0).

Brake tubing ran under the backbone on the TCs and I assume also on the S2.

There is a recent thread on windshield surround that might interest you. From the top level of the main menu, search for “surround” and I’m sure you’ll find it.

The front brakes came off a Spitfire. Along with a lot of other good information, this page has links to some parts cross references (http://lotus-europa.com/manuals/index.htm).

Spent another weekend working on my '71 S2 and more good progress was made. The front and rear suspension, steering and gear linkage is all good to go. Just needs a nut & bolt check, going over to check all torque settings are correct and I need a small piece welded for the rear gearbox mount. A few other small jobs and I'll be ready to put the body back down on the [new] chassis.. for the first time in 15 years

I'll be ordering new silicon hoses from Banks shortly, but I also need a new radiator. Does anyone know which ones fit? I unfortunately no longer have a radiator at all, so have nothing to compare it to and I'm assuming something like a VW polo rad' will fit?

Brake pipe to the rear, do you run the pipes through the chassis? I'm assuming you do, but someone might have a better idea?

Windscreen surrounds: Mine is very ugly. The silver plastic is massive and just doesn't look very nice. Is there a better option?
I'm still a way off of having to worry about such things, but I think it every time I look at it!

Oh and the final dumb question is the callipers/disks are from a Triumph Spitfire, right?

Hi

Great to see you are making progress with the car. I am sure it will have plenty of secrets to give up, as will mine 3940R. We are both starting at the same time and pretty much from the same point.

All the best

Berni

Bryan, would you be willing to lend me your S2 MC so I could do some reverse engineering on it? I have the TC MC drawn up in CAD and it would be great to do the same for the S2 MC to see if merging the two is feasible. I would gladly pay shipping both ways, obviously.
Tom

Wish I saw this yesterday; boxed up both and sent to Apple Saturday afternoon with instructions to call me about what I was thinking.

I don't know if they can sleeve down the TC from .875 to .70/.75 or if the S2 is even rebuildable (the piston is well and truly frozen in the barrel...).  I had a spare S2 reservoir, but they are being reproduced again now, so didn't sent that along.  Hoping they can resurrect the S2 since that seems to be the preferred for a booster-less TC.  If not, and the TC MC is rebuildable, I've kind of gotten used to the hard pedal. 

I do know the one in the car is on its way out...the bottom of the cross box is damp with brake fluid.  Keeping an eye on it if (when?) I drive it.  I am NOT looking forward to getting at that top nut; thinking if worst comes to worst, considering the MC is leaking anyway, removing the two screws holding the back of the reservoir on, draining the fluid, swinging the reservoir out of the was as much as I can, to give me some additional space to get at the top nut.  I really think they put the master on THEN installed the steering rack.  Don't want to try and or displace the rack; those bolts going through the aluminium steering rack mounts are probably corroded in place...and I'm not going to risk snapping the bolts.  I have a spare set of rack mounts...but that job with the lack of clearance I can see turning into a real goat rodeo, if not incentive to pop the body off.  Either that...or judicious application of a sawzall...