Lotus Europa Community

Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: JMV on Friday,July 03, 2020, 07:10:09 AM

Title: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Friday,July 03, 2020, 07:10:09 AM
I purchased my Lotus Europa for 2 years ago and I am restoring the car to original (that means as far as I can get). It is a 1969 type 65 a pre 70.xxxx numbered car which I purchased from a friend who had the car for over 30 years in a storage.  Originally the car was sold to a customer in San Diego in the US. I think the car had a rough life, looking to the damage to the body.

 At this moment I am restoring the body. The chassis is already blasted and painted. I have found most of the missing parts (still missing some things). I am planning to paint the car next year and then I am going to build it.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: buzzer on Friday,July 03, 2020, 07:13:52 AM
Well, welcome to the forum. You'll find a lot of knowledgeable helpful people on here. Goods luck with the restoration!
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: BDA on Friday,July 03, 2020, 07:48:42 AM
 :Welcome: JMV!

Please keep us informed about your restoration and we'd love it if you posted lots of pictures!
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: literarymadness on Friday,July 03, 2020, 10:36:49 AM
 :Welcome: Looking forward to your restoration.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: SilverBeast on Friday,July 03, 2020, 10:49:17 AM
 :Welcome: from me too.  In my experience,  you'll find lots of knowledgeable members willing to answer your questions. We will however request lots of photos! I personally find pictures usually explain a lot more than words most of the time.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: surfguitar58 on Friday,July 03, 2020, 12:11:28 PM
 :Welcome:
Looks like a cool project! Keep us involved!
Tom
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: dakazman on Friday,July 03, 2020, 07:56:27 PM
 :Welcome:
 JMV.
   Congrats on your purchase, post often it will be an interesting read months and years later.
Use this site and other links to manuals , schematics and modifications. Also a lot of great supporters to help when needed.
  Dakazman

   
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: 1970EuropaGuy on Saturday,July 04, 2020, 07:35:46 AM
 :Welcome:

I always love seeing others restoring their Europas. Looks like a good project, keep us informed.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: lotusfanatic on Sunday,July 05, 2020, 11:19:46 PM
Hi JMV!
(another Europa finds itself back in Europe!)

 :Welcome:

Mark
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: Bainford on Monday,July 06, 2020, 11:00:50 AM
Welcome to the forum, JMV. It's the perfect tool to have in your pocket when doing a restoration, or just driving and maintaining your Europa. Congrats on the purchase and good luck on the restoration. Cheers  :beerchug:
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:03:27 AM
Thank you all for your welcome! The pictures will give you an impression of the progress.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:04:29 AM
More pictures
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:05:19 AM
More pictures
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:06:32 AM
Is there a way to post more pictures with one post?
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:08:01 AM
The chassis sand blasted and coated again with 2K chassis lacquer
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:08:37 AM
Nice chassis
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:10:17 AM
Making a mould of the mudguard edge from another Lotus Europa
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:11:57 AM
Putting the mould on my Europa and building a new flange in the mould
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 03:13:32 AM
Then blending the new part in the body
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: BDA on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 07:28:58 AM
Is there a way to post more pictures with one post?

Great stuff, JMV!  :beerchug:

Here's how to post more than one picture at a time:

Click on "Attachments and other options"
Click on "Choose File" button
Choose a file
Click on "(more attachments)"
Rinse repeat!  :)
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: dakazman on Tuesday,July 07, 2020, 11:11:31 AM
Nice chassis

   Dang , Thats an English wheel  :huh:

  It’s funny that I see hairline cracks in the same area that mine were in ( just in front of rear wheel)
Looks like you have done this before. Nice work.
Dakazman
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: surfguitar58 on Wednesday,July 08, 2020, 01:05:22 PM
Dang! You're diving right into the deep end! Nice job, particularly the glass work. At this rate you'll be driving her next week.
Tom
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: Pfreen on Thursday,July 09, 2020, 07:11:10 AM
It seems strange to me that there are stress cracks in front of the rear wheels.  I was wondering if it is because the car was jacked up there.  I think it is peculiar that the Europa TC is supposed to be jacked up in front of the rear wheel and the S2 behind the rear wheel.  Maybe a previous owner confused the two jacking points.  I wonder why Lotus recommends the two different jacking points for the rear for the TC and S2.  The S1 jacking point was at the back of the door.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: jbcollier on Thursday,July 09, 2020, 10:18:13 AM
The S1 has a massive reinforcement, like 3/16" plate, for it's jacking point and seat belt anchor.  The front wheel well is closed so they don't corrode like the S2 and TC ones do.
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: dakazman on Thursday,July 09, 2020, 10:35:36 AM
  Good point Pfreen, I just thought it was someone’s knees or thighs pressing against the body when working on engine. 
Dakazman
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 21, 2020, 05:13:07 AM
It seems strange to me that there are stress cracks in front of the rear wheels.  I was wondering if it is because the car was jacked up there.  I think it is peculiar that the Europa TC is supposed to be jacked up in front of the rear wheel and the S2 behind the rear wheel.  Maybe a previous owner confused the two jacking points.  I wonder why Lotus recommends the two different jacking points for the rear for the TC and S2.  The S1 jacking point was at the back of the door.
It's on both sides off the car. I don't know if that had some to do with the jacking of the car. Perhaps it had something to do with the flexing of the body. The roof of my car had also much cracks. All signs of a hard life.
Title: Update
Post by: JMV on Tuesday,July 21, 2020, 05:21:04 AM
New update of the bodywork in progress
Title: Re: New forum member
Post by: jbcollier on Tuesday,July 21, 2020, 09:06:22 AM
The roof is paper thin and flexes due to vibration.  It also gets the full force of the sun so many cycles of expansion and contraction.