Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: exarkun1178 on Sunday,November 30, 2014, 05:36:03 PM
-
After a BAD experience at my local Lotus dealer i put the car in for a few fixes last September(2013). A few fixes turned into a frame off restoration. In December 2013 when the decision to take the body off was made, a target completion date of March 2014 was given.
March turned into April, to may later in may to July, to September. End of September. to every week in October and November. This week i was told its ready (Tuesday)
On Wednesday, it turned out to not be ready. a part was ordered.
So, Im told once this part comes in (new jets for the carb) its all ready to go. thought we could have fun and try and guess the pick up date.
What we know:
jets were ordered Tuesday 11/25
Windshield wipers were not installed (as of Wednesday 11/26)
Winter tires were dropped off, and not installed (as of Wednesday 11/26)
The passenger side vent was not installed (as of Wednesday 11/26)
Thanksgiving holiday started Thursday 11/27
Front and rear hatches are not installed (as of Wednesday 11/26)
I gave the shop owner a 500$ tip for the shop guy that has done most of the work (Wednesday 11/26)
Will i be driving the car this week????
:BEER3:
-
Man, that's a sad story! You have to wonder when they say it will be ready tomorrow and there are so many things that have to be done. Each of them may not be a big task and even put together, they may not add up to a huge task, but they said its completion was eminent and it's not...
I hope you get it back soon and it's worth all that pain, trouble, and cost!
I forgot to say that you're incredibly generous to give the wrench a $500 tip! Let's hope it give him motivation to finish the job and correctly rather than to let things slide some more!
-
Winter tires?
-
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.......
I can confidently say it will be ready by Christmas. The trick is to guess which Christmas.... ;)
-
Winter tires?
:pirate: I have ever intention of making the Europa a daily driver. while i am unlikely to drive when it is snowing, i am likely to drive it in the cold and after it snows. Not to mention it has r888s on it now, which are not happy in the cold.
Dont you all have winter tires?
-
Man, that's a sad story! You have to wonder when they say it will be ready tomorrow and there are so many things that have to be done. Each of them may not be a big task and even put together, they may not add up to a huge task, but they said its completion was eminent and it's not...
I hope you get it back soon and it's worth all that pain, trouble, and cost!
I forgot to say that you're incredibly generous to give the wrench a $500 tip! Let's hope it give him motivation to finish the job and correctly rather than to let things slide some more!
I do hope the tip helps speed it up, and create an environment where they do finish up the little bits. the whole job was more the 35k, i had thought $1000, however, $500 fit my budget better. i think it is nice, and really this guy did a good job.
-
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.......
I can confidently say it will be ready by Christmas. The trick is to guess which Christmas.... ;)
yeah, that what my father said, "Tuesday the car will be ready" then he said, "which Tuesday has yet to be determined. This week, next week, next year..."
You are both right....
-
When it's not snowing around here, (which is hardly ever) the roads are made of salt, chloride, sand, potholes, & idiots.
I hope your conditions are not as bad...
:huh:
-
pretty evenly split...
-
Is there an update? How close are you getting?
-
I'm holding my breath waiting for a picture of your Europa on the road again!
When it's not snowing around here, (which is hardly ever) the roads are made of salt, chloride, sand, potholes, & idiots.
I hope your conditions are not as bad...
You haven't seen a salted road till you've seen my street in SALT Lake City. I'm not kidding- As one might guess we have a local nearly limitless supply of salt, so road salt is literally cheaper than dirt. I'm on a hill so the plow drivers give us needed attention. My street is extremely narrow so the plow is driving very slowly (and hitting garbage cans left on the sidewalk) while his salt spreader is whirling away. When the snow melts our street is still white and crusty. My Europa is tucked away til spring rains come.
-
In Australia we have a region called the Northern Territory or NT.
The locals will tell you that NT stands for:
Not Today
Not Tomorrow
Not Tuesday
Not Thursday
Sometimes projects seem to fall into the NT no matter where they are in the world :)
-
i guessed today. i lost.....
-
In Australia we have a region called the Northern Territory or NT.
The locals will tell you that NT stands for:
Not Today
Not Tomorrow
Not Tuesday
Not Thursday
Sometimes projects seem to fall into the NT no matter where they are in the world :)
and W.A. stands for Wait Awhile.
-
not ready yet....
the new smaller jets are not small enough the shop says.
Anyone know much about jets? and where one could find a large assortment of jets?
-
For set-up purposes, I have a selection of jet drills on hand. To go down just solder up the jet and drill to the smaller size. When you have it running sweet, order the proper jets. Doing it this way saves a ton of money in loose brass.
-
NEVER! :blowup:
-
no news. shop is now looking at other carb solutions. the current carb smallest jet is series 100. the 100 is far too large he says. ugh.
-
Is this the carb that came with the car? Wasn't it running when you took it in? Why do they need to make such fundamental changes to carburation to get it to run right? This isn't making sense to me but maybe I'm missing something...
-
Sounds like we need another vote for it's ready now and they're driving it. >:(
-
the carb that allowed the car to drive into the shop is/was shot. this is a new carb.
Still not ready yet..
-
So is this a different carb as in a different manufacturer or different model? If so, it starts to make sense but if it is a replacement carb, then I'm still lost...
I just hope you get to drive it soon! Good luck!
-
to the one who voted for next week, you did not win.
Update: the they changed out the carb for a new one with smaller jetting. Fail. The shop now thinks it may be something else. a engine dyno guy is coming to look at it this week.
-
:headbanger:
-
So is this a different carb as in a different manufacturer or different model? If so, it starts to make sense but if it is a replacement carb, then I'm still lost...
I just hope you get to drive it soon! Good luck!
I'm puzzled by this also. What carb are you using that you have to change out the carbs to change jetting.
-
they were both DD webers. i dont know more then that as it was the shop that bought them. I do know they were both from a formula ford dealer.
-
No word from the shop last week. unlikely to hear from them till after the holidays... Q1 2015 here we come.... :headbanger:
-
Man, that's tough! Hopefully they surprise you and call you after Christmas!
-
Looks like Q1 guys are in the running.... no word from the shop in 2 weeks....
-
Looks like Q1 guys are in the running.... no word from the shop in 2 weeks....
I would go get my car, thats bull#*!t.... >:(
They could at least call you & keep you informed...
Anyways, maybe the new year will bring you your new Lotus... :holdurbreath:
-
It has to be ready before April 2015! :pirate:
-
the issues with the carb continue. :confused:
-
I went back a few posts where you said the shop was using DD webers. I went here (http://www.webercarbsdirect.com/Weber_Carburetors_s/2.htm) and didn't see DDs. I couldn't tell from a quick look whether you have a Renault motor but I assume you do in which case, the 32/36 D* series is probably what is called for and it should be pretty straightforward to get it going as it's not something that is new. Even if you have a twink, I know of a guy who has them on his car and it runs fine. There's something wrong here. This just shouldn't be this big a deal. It might be time for a second opinion. Maybe you can find someone who's been down this road before and can supply the proper equipment or smarts to get it going. Either these guys don't have their heart in it or don't have the smarts to do it correctly.
-
32/36 DGV carbs have progressive throttles while a DD has throttles that open in sync:
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/uploads/monthly_09_2007/post-3830-1189938996_thumb.jpg
John
-
Hmm... I'm always learning something new - and quite often from you, John. Thanks (again)! I wonder why they weren't listed on that site. Maybe they don't carry them?
In any event, I still don't think this should be this big a deal.
-
For all of the issues that you are having with these DD Webers, it may have been simpler and much easier to bolt on some DGV or similar carbs. I replaced my stock Solex with a DFAV Weber. Straight out of the box, the jetting was pretty much in the ballpark; it was drivable as is. As I put more miles on it I may have to the the jetting but the only adjustment that I had to make was to the idle mixture screw.
Joji Tokumoto
-
GOOD GOD MAN!! a carb is a carb! A lot of carb issues can be related to ignition faults, I sorry but I don't believe they can't get "small enough" jets; Webers are known for their tuneablity. I have taken less time to convert my (ecotec) to Megasquirt injection than they have in tuning your carb. My question to you is what IS the actual running issue, ie hard start, no idle, flat spot on accel, surge midrange, no top end revs? Do check coil output, dwell, timing AND if the engine was apart cam timing. Also crossfiring in the dist cap OR wires and tight valves. AND how can a carb be "completely worn out", throttle shaft and bushings may not be worth replacing but that would just be a idle or sticking throttle prob, everything else is fixable with the exception of a BROKEN body!! But I really think you should get it out of there, they seem to be fairly incompetent as far as engine tuning! Help us out here; any info you can supply us can HOPEFULLY resolve this issue! Good Luck ronp
-
The issue had been, at idle it ran fine, once on the gas it ran rough, and blew heavy black smoke. We tried re jetting the carb. but no luck. at that point we found an electrical issue. we fixed that. now it runs fine at idle and once on the gas it cuts out.
-
Fuel pump? Pressure too high? :confused:
Webers run on relatively low fuel pressure...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HOLLEY-FUEL-PRESSURE-REGULATOR-JEEP-TOYOTA-DATSUN-WEBER-CARBURETOR-12-804-/151175891643?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2332c90abb&vxp=mtr
-
Cuts out with black smoke also, or cuts out with lack of fuel?, too much fuel generally would not cause it to cut out, run crappy yes. Are they changing just the main jets or also the midrange jets. At this point main jets would not be in use. And I believe this is not a progressive linkage carb but the throttle plates both open at the same time ( not the best for street use) so both barrels have to be jetted. Since they both open together you do have the possibility for a lower speed flat spot, for racing there IS no lower speed so no problem. With these you probably have to run more accelerator pump. ronp
-
I was just thinking, so you say they couldn't get SMALL enough jets BUT it idles ok, that means the idle jets are close, BUT the smoke and cutting out (IF caused by being too rich) when you rev it up is controlled by AIR jets. These are the jets that go down the top of the carb, not the ones that go in the side. To lean it out you need bigger air jets for mid range. rp
-
It is possible whom ever voted Q2 2015 is the winner. I am told it is very close.... not holding my breath
-
I'm not holding my breath either, but I am hoping that this long sad story will come to a happy ending soon!
-
It is possible whom ever voted Q2 2015 is the winner. I am told it is very close.... not holding my breath
That would be me, I think. Who would have thought that it would take this long for a jetting issue to be resolved. Give us a final update when it's running.
-
I have the answer:
Today.
-
Woo Hoo!!! As I said on another thread, your car looks great! How does it drive? As good as it looks I hope!
-
It drives nicely. so many changes. for starters it brakes when you tell it too. the shifter throws are no more then an inch in either direction, previously id have to throw my whole arm up and down. I didnt get on it hard but plan to this weekend, will get a better feel for the handling then. cant wait.
-
Excellent news, Rob. Very glad to hear this. It must feel great being back behind the wheel after so long.
-
Well... that was a quick 12 hours.
I was out this morning and after a quick put spot to check on the jeep i got back in the car and it stopped running right. sputtering and back firing.
I limped back to the shop....
Shrug....
-
Bummer!! I hope they get it fixed quickly! They sure owe it to you.