Author Topic: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum  (Read 1858 times)

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Offline daver277

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Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 05:43:49 PM »
Hello all:
I'm sorry for not joining 1 or 2 decades ago but as they say, better late ..........
I've got a T54 with crossflow Gordini. I think the original crossflow was done when it as near new but over the years, I rebuilt it with mostly R17 Gordini internals and added Chryco TBI injection from a caravan/shadow/daytona etc. and fabricated a fairly nice exhaust header. I tried to keep it somewhat original but aircare testing forced me to upgrade the engine management and after parting out several Chrycos, I realized that the electronics don't know exactly what they are spraying and sparking and the performance number were similar between the 2 motors.
I have to admit that it does not get out too much but come good weather, it's on the road for a week or two every year.
Over my 20 or so years of ownership, I've played with it lots but have never taken the body off.
As with virtually all 60 to 20 year old lotuses, there is a 'to do list' and right now the top priorities are getting the horn functional, new 13" tires, a heater valve cable to the cabin and checking the header for leaks.
I will try to post a photo.
-Dave
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Offline jbcollier

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #1 on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 06:11:45 PM »
Looks very nice!

Any chance of photos and details of the engine and your fuel system?

Offline daver277

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #2 on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 06:47:34 PM »
The collection of electrons that now make photos seems to have gone adrift.
The throttle body looks like a downdraft under the regular air filter so not much to see. There are about 25 or 30 wires to various sensors and controls which are a real mess and I hope to get them presentable.
One nice thing is that it does diagnostics but back in 91 the diagnostics were nowhere near as sophisticated as OBDII. It throws a fault code for torque converter lockup and A/C compressor LOL.
The ordinary external high pressure fuel pump is buried down behind the fuel tank and there is a bleed line back to the tank like all modern FI systems have. I think all through the 70s and into the 80s almost all the fuel pumps were the same except for the wire and plumbing connections. My Jag, Alfa, BMW, VW & Porsche all had essentially the same Bosch unit. The Chryco in tank units I've taken apart even looked the same.
I will send out a search party for pix.
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Offline BDA

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #3 on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 07:10:34 PM »
 :Welcome: dave277!! Nice ride!! Can't wait to see more pictures!

Offline daver277

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #4 on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 07:39:08 PM »
Here is a photo of the throttle body on the manifold and one of it installed. Throttle body FI is pretty simple as the TB has the injector, fuel press reg., throttle pos. sensor, auto idle valve and sometimes air temp sensor all in one piece. Just needs supply and return fuel lines and a dozed or so wires to squirt fuel. Add a water temp., O2 & MAP sensors, a Chryco distributor, coil and computer and you have digitally injected an 807 Renault. A $50 parts car has all the pieces except an external fuel pump. Surprisingly, the Chryco distributor clamped nicely in the head but needed an extension fabricated to take the drive down to the Renault cam.
Multi port would have been a fair bit tougher.

Here is another photo when I used a Makita drill to run the water pump to get me home after the drive pulley on the cam parted ways.
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Offline BDA

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #5 on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 08:18:56 PM »
That Makita drill is a keeper!!

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #6 on: Monday,March 21, 2016, 08:44:44 PM »
Best electric water pump ever!

Offline Rosco5000

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday,March 23, 2016, 05:47:50 AM »
 :Welcome: from another Lower Mainland dweller out in Abbotsford.  Your car is looking good. 
1974 Europa Special
1969 Europa S2
1970 Lotus Elan +2
1978 Austin Mini - 1275, big brakes
1991 Ford Explorer - Lifted on 33s, custom lift and radius arms
2005 Chrysler 300C - chipped, lowered 22s
2011 Cadillac Escalade - Stage 3 cam, Headers, CAI, 2,600 stall converter

Offline EuropatcSPECIAL

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday,March 23, 2016, 07:31:48 AM »
 :Welcome:Welcome Dave :lotus:

Offline Bainford

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Re: Dave in British Columbia is new to forum
« Reply #9 on: Tuesday,March 29, 2016, 08:34:43 AM »
Welcome to the forum, Dave  :Welcome: Your Europa is beautiful, and like the others I too am intrigued by the waterpump drive. Very innovative. Cheers.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor