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It's not easy being green - 1971 TC

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Cheguava:
Starting with the restoration of my currently derelict, originally Pistachio / Lime Green TC, now the last but 1 owner, who had it from 1980-2004 had visited to see it and offer advice. Also spoke to the owner from 2004-2024, who bought it, then bought an American TCS and left this one under a sheet for 20 years, which explains why mine how has Federal rear light units at least.

Fair to say the first bits of stripping down have had more down than upsides. I'll either need complete UK light units or UK lenses and modify the units to suit them.  Side repeaters are knacked and won't come out (Dr Dremel is going to visit them) and the alternator is seized, which is understandable, but I can't see a reference to it online - Delco DN460? **EDIT** Have now found the DN460, also fitted to TR6 and some Spitfires, at £300+ will work on freeing mine first.

There was good news though. The football sized wasp nest in the rear corner had been abandoned by its occupants. Yay!  Off for a few days while I plan the campaign to strip and separate the body from the chassis, using the fine guide on this site.  Will post progress, forwards and backwards, on this thread.

Does anyone know what type of ignition key would be required for a 71 TC? There's a number inside the lock but I'm unsure of the key type, it's a Waso lock but I can't narrow it down further.

BDA:
Congratulations on your first step in you journey!! I'm really glad the wasps (hornets?) left before you took delivery!

Our own My S1 found a place to buy keys in the UK,  https://www.keytrader.co.uk/. I don't know if they know which blanks you need but you can give them a call. The usual suspects in the UK probably sell key blanks too (SJ Sports Cars, Kelvedon Lotus, Lotus Supplies, etc.). The Lotus archivist may be able to find which number keys your car used and Lotus might be able to help with the particular key numbers (to reproduce your original keys). Here's his address: AGraham at lotuscars dot com.

Good luck!

Cheguava:
Thanks BDA. I've already contacted Andy at Lotus to pass him the car's details for their register, worth asking the question about key numbers, but I'll wait until I get the door locks out as I understand those numbers are possibly on the barrels.

Cheers, Jeff

EuropaTC:

--- Quote from: Cheguava on Friday,April 26, 2024, 12:34:28 PM ---alternator is seized, which is understandable, but I can't see a reference to it online - Delco DN460? **EDIT** Have now found the DN460, also fitted to TR6 and some Spitfires, at £300+ will work on freeing mine first.

--- End quote ---

I can't help on the keys but maybe on the alternator. IIRC some folks have had their originals overhauled so that is one option. I decided not to and when mine failed I simply fitted a Lucas 17ACR instead and modified the wiring. That's a very tight fit but the 16ACR is slightly smaller and in hindsight would have been the better option. The 17ACR lasted for a while until I saw a more modern Lucas A127 for £55 on Ebay so I got one of those to replace the 17ACR. The A127 is a very good fit for the car and comes in several outputs, some of which are probably too great for the car's wiring should you ever achieve the maximum charge rate.

This is how it went together;

http://www.martley.plus.com/lotusland2016/europa/16europa03.html 

(it's a very old and quaint website, but it's about the details not the coding !)

Brian

Cheguava:
Hi Brian, that is really helpful info on the alternator - I'm spoilt for choice now! 

Thanks for the link to your website, which is fantastic - no idea what you mean about Yorkshire Pennine weather though.  :))  Many happy hours of reading ahead - looks like you've done all the stuff I'm going to have to go through.  Massive help.

Best wishes,
Jeff

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