Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Members Cars => Topic started by: BDA on Friday,February 05, 2021, 06:47:24 AM
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A few years ago we had toward 10 body off restorations going on on this forum. I haven't been keeping track lately but I know we have at least a few going on now.
Please don't be offended if I miss yours. Off hand, I know about Chuck (are you working two frame offs?), Serge (documenting his S1 complete restoration on YouTube), D'man (building his air conditioned black beauty), and Turbo (in the beginning stages of a major rebuild).
So if you're working on a significant restoration effort, please tell us a bit about it. Is it a body off? How far along are you? Are you keeping her stock? And anything else you want to say about it.
Edit: fixed iPad codes for '
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Hi Jim. I am rebuilding a 73 TCS (2227); I bought it in 2001 and started the rebuild when I retired in 2020, (well, I say retired but in reality I just ran out of people who wanted to employ me... :confused:).
"Yes" she most certainly is a "body off" as I bought her in pieces, (this I DO NOT recommend...). My target is to drive her down the road, (completed) on my 70th birthday.
To date, I have completed the engine, ancillaries and gearbox rebuild; the chassis is overhauled, (the latter was done by Spyder Engineering). I have been steadily overhauling/purchasing components for the "4 corners" and I am now finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. My approach to the rebuild has been to prepare everything in readiness for attaching to the chassis without incurring any hold ups; ie: at this point I will have a rolling TCS "Go Kart" (forecast this summer) at which point I will move onto the body.
I am keeping a record of all costs to date which I will post in due course for the benefit of people considering undertaking such a rebuild - note, being retired I have lots of time, but not necessarily lots of money, so for me it, has been very much a "hands on" rebuild.
I have posted with pictures on various subjects but have not posted progress pictures, I take my hat off to those members who have managed to do this; I do however have many photo's of the various stages of the build.
Anything thing else you need to know please come back.
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I'm doing a body off resto too. This is my first significant car project and it's definitely been a lot slower then I had hoped for but I'm learning a lot on the way. Right now it's in pieces, apart from the engine and transmission which I haven't touched yet. The frame has been a bit of a saga. The original was rotten, but the car came with a spare. It turned out that the T section on the spare was bent. I thought about replacing the T section - bought a tig welder, taught myself to weld, built a CAD model and finally decided that it was too ambitious for my skills and bought a third frame. Then spent some time beefing up the backbone to T section joint on frame 3. I assembled a wet blasting cabinet to clean parts and right now I'm sorting that out - I haven't quite got the slurry supply system working properly yet. Hopefully it will be by the end of tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the day when I can bolt the first parts onto the frame.
I plan to rebuild and install the original engine with electronic fuel injection and ignition. I hope to shed a few pounds from car during the rebuild and gain a few horsepower from the engine. Then it'll be painted pistachio lime green as it was originally.
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We're already up to at least six. I had forgotten to ask about 4129R. Time was he was working on several (at a time!) and maybe he's still working on one or two. So Alex, please check in!
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Second full restoration in progress per the pic. Working on the dash and electrics since it's too cold to spend much time outside or do fiberglass. I have a few posts in progress re progress and mods.
Ron
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Add me to the count! I just saw you had me listed BDA ;)
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I am, but it is a Sunbeam Tiger.
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BDA, Thanks for the shout out .
Louvers glassed in today but outside of vehicle, hose crimping tool showed up also😀
Pfreen, looks good! Nothing like a clean slate to start with.
Gideon, teaching myself to weld TIG and MiG also but need to modify my 3phase 220 line first.
Dakazman
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I am also trying to also learn tig and mig. I like a fiberglass car much more thar a steel one. The Tiger is unibody, so there is 5000 places for rust.
But, it is a Covid project to keep me busy, so I am learning a lot.
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Always wanted a V-8 Europa. Mock-up completed so now on to cleaning it all up. Still need to build the motor, 289 Ford. Porsche 5 speed. Was a difficult install, engineering challenge to say the least but it all fits. Whether it all works, time will tell.
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She’s going to be a monster, Kram! I hope you beefed up the frame a lot for all that torque!
I’d love to see more pictures!
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Pfreen, Been down that road. Best of luck with the Rootes Group.
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V-8 Europa. A few more pic's
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Kram, 👍 nice you’ll be one of a small group with a V8. :beerchug:
Paul, it’s all about learning and watching YouTube videos. H Mastering comes with practice. Luckily I have lots of scrap to melt holes in. Especially the aluminum.
Dakazman
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Very cool value cover!
It looks like the engine encroaches into the cabin or did I see it wrong?
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Not "In the middle" but buying parts in advance, learning more about TS engines.
The basic car is no more complicated than my Spitfire, the 'Glass bodywork is not new to me but is always a nuisance.
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So, are you getting ready for a restoration? How complete a restoration?
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I started the restoration of 4605R in 1992 - on again and off again. Have drivers door to fit and finish then start painting. Started with bent frame and a lot of broken fiberglass. Now have new frame, body bolted to frame, bottom of body painted w/ black epoxy - so finish the drivers side door and painting to do. Then rebuild an engine that has not been run since 1990, add new wiring, redo the seats, carpet, headliner, install suspension, fuel tanks - am I too old for this?
Tom
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Like seemingly all cars bought on-line mine turned out to need a bit more work than hoped for from the description.
So it's now a complete frame-up job. :headbanger:
I plan to do a few minor upgrades while I am at it.
Nothing new visibly, except perhaps some driving lamps.
I will be putting in twin MC's with balance bar and dual fuel tanks.
Already have an overbuilt TS engine with Webers so that is covered once refreshed.
Judging by many comments here I am lucky to be living in a very rural area with little traffic.
But I will still need to see if I can find one of those "We will post your bail" insurance schemes once it's finished. :help:
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What do you mean?
It ends?
Seriously?
I must be doing something wrong, sigh...
Currently I’m working on vented discs, inertia-reel seat-belts, balancing my half-shafts, and a bigger cooling fan. More to follow, always.
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Nice Kram! Any chassis pics? Boxster transaxle?
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My 1973 TC, Lagoon Blue 2624R, is in a longer term restoration than planned. Started years back but held off the major deconstruction as I couldn't devote the time necessary a few years back. My main concern was I did not want to try selling a kit car (Believe me, all the parts are there) if I did decide to sell it on to someone that had the drive to fininsh it. Mever wanted to Part it out. As it sits it is 99%+ complete, even has the ashtray.
I am second owner. 13,675 original miles. First Owner was my High School wood shop teacher. I do have memories of the car being driven to school.
Car was sitting under a large Oak tree for years. Last on the road 1978 to 81. Head was off and new valves installed but looks like it never ran again. Cork valve cover gasket is like-new.
Full Body off is in slow motion progress. Body has been stripped down and is close to removal. Wiring harness is complete, untouched and unmolested. An AM/FM eight track was installed with magnificent Sparkomatic Wedge Speakers. Antennae was a ribbon ran around front plenum perimeter.
I have boxed and labeled parts and taken pictures. I am sure when reassembly starts, I'm certain to have my "what were you thinking" moments trying to see what I should have labeled or taken pictures of.
Good part is I am committed to finishing but life is getting in the way a bit. COVID is not helping as we have 96 y/o mother-in-law with us but it will get done, just in smaller pieces and a slower pace for now.
Dan in NJ.
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Europa V-8. Encroachment of the engine nose, (water pump) into the interior is about 8", near flush with the seat sides, not that bad. The gray center cover comes off as do the red side panels, right panel to the spare tire/header, left to the gas tank/header. Engine encroachment was really set by the half-shaft location, placing the nose of the engine where it is. Had to cut some of the upper frame "Y" away for cylinder head clearance, but this area will be gusseted. Bottom of frame is really not modified, surprised that the engine damper, belts, pulleys, water pipes, etc all fit. The alternator was a tough nut to crack, it's mounted off the engine outside the frame rail. The belt passes thru a slot in the frame near the front radius/trailing arm pivot.
2004 Porsche Boxster G86 5 speed, whether it holds up to the torque of the V-8 is still an unknown, although where I bought it from the mechanic there stated he used this trans in his Boxster with a 350ci GM motor with no issues. Will see. The ratios and spreads are near the same as the stock TCS Europa 4 speed, 5%+/- taller overall with a .83 5th, 3.56 diff. The motor should be able to handle. I'll have better chassis pictures once I get the body off in the next month or so.
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JB - I think you’re right. At least mine will likely never be finished and that seems to be pretty common.
Kram - you and Clifton have very expansive imaginations!
Dan - good luck with your restoration and congratulations on your ashtray and to your mother in law!
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Kram,
You are ducting air into the "closing" plate and through the chassis? More details......?
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Yes, I built a scoop into the closing plate that feels air between the main steel frame box section and fabricated the fiberglass closure plate, screwed to the body. The inlet opening is the width of the box section and about 1.5 " tall. I have not calculated the amount of air that will be passed but passing some air can't hurt. I do have a near totally flat bottom now, better for down force! LOL
Anyway, the rear aluminum angled piece shown (bolted to the alternator support bracket) is meant to pick up some of the surrounding under car air, hopefully creating a venturi effect and pull additional air up onto the front of the engine. How much air gets thru the tunnel is questionable, since the inlet area at the front is in a low pressure area. I tried to negate the frontal low pressure area by placing a variable flap opening in the bodywork in front of the tunnel inlet, aft of the radiator. A spring hinged flap drops down when the radiator fan runs, feeding pressurize air to force feed the tunnel. Of course this air will be radiator heated discharge, but venturi air gets cooler as compressed, so maybe the net result is somewhat cooler air with increased flow to the motor?
I'm sure someone can poke holes in all this, but was fun thinking outside the preferable box. If I was so inclined I guess I could do some calc's and try to qualify this mess, but would probably need a wind tunnel to verify. I just don't think my Stihl blower would be sufficient. Comments appreciated.
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Nice sheet metal work, Kram!
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Nice work and thinking Kram!
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4397R (ex Andy harwood) is still sitting waiting for me to get to it. A couple of cars are ahead of it. However, at least part of the Europa is moving forward. I decided to keep Andy’s work to install the vertec so I had this extra TC. It is being rebuilt and installed in the 1975 Titan Mk9B chassis and am doing a sports racer conversion on it. I actually had installed a TC in my Titan Mk5 many years ago and so it just seemed...natural. And being part pack rat, I still had the modified Datsun version SU’s with their custom needles. I also have a 1969 Datsun 2000 half way through its body off. I tell myself not to work on the Europa until the other two are done but......I miss an Europa.
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Since 3 weeks the body is back on, so i am probably at 60% now. Last year have been a bit complicated and kept me away from working on then lotus, but since November i am back on track.
New target is autumn this year, for an event in Belgium, to meet with two other Europa drivers.