ELSE Europa restoration 2015 -2018

[Gmg31]

So my latest project arrived on Saturday on the back of a trailer.  This is a 1970 Europa owned by Colin Chapman's Doctor.  At some point he had an Else conversion done but then the car caught fire and had to be re shelled.   All of the running gear was updated with what looks like fairly new suspension and brakes but the Else engine was seized and despite being gifted a brand new engine by Mr Chapman the project was never finished.  The car has sat for at least 35 years gathering dust and offering a home for many mice. 

So on Sunday I stripped out the interior and cleaned out the mouse poo and the mould.  The body is in near perfect condition with only a few chips.  I jet washed all the crud off the body and degreased and washed both engines and the gearbox. 

I have started to make preparations to lift the body off the chassis. I'm assuming that once the body has been unbolted it will just be a two man job just to lift onto a trailer so I can send it off to paint?

Given the brand new engine has sat for at least 35 years would you change the head gasket?

I tried to upload photos last night but it failed so I'll try again tonight.

I'm happy to listen to all advice, so don't be shy.   

[BDA]

Very interesting story on your car! That's quite a find!

You might be able to get away with needing only one friend to trailer the body but three or four of you would make the job a lot easier. As for the engine, I don't think I'd worry about the head gasket. You might check the carbs for varnish or dirt. I would also try to get some lube, like assy. lube, on the cam lobes. I would also not fire it up till I got oil pressure.

Can't wait to see some pics! Let us know if you need help with that.

Good luck!

[Grumblebuns]

Have to agree about needing more than two people for lifting a body with all glass and the doors still installed. That sucker is heavy.

For a brand new engine that has been sitting idle for 40+ years, try to roll the car in gear to see if it will turn over.

[Gmg31]

I bought this off a trader and he had removed the sump and the bearings in order to oil them and  turned it all over before re fitting. As far as I can tell it turns over smoothly by hand.

[Grumblebuns]

Someone posted a write up on the Europa body removal. It's for a TCS but most should apply to an S2 also.

http://lotus-europa.com/manuals/misc/body/Body_Removal.html

Joji Tokumoto

[Gmg31]

Delivery

[Gmg31]

Interior removed

[Gmg31]

Empty engine bay

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Very interesting story on your car! That's quite a find!

You might be able to get away with needing only one friend to trailer the body but three or four of you would make the job a lot easier. As for the engine, I don't think I'd worry about the head gasket. You might check the carbs for varnish or dirt. I would also try to get some lube, like assy. lube, on the cam lobes. I would also not fire it up till I got oil pressure.

Can't wait to see some pics! Let us know if you need help with that.

Good luck!

What he said

It would be worth getting a bore scope and having a look down the bores as well. Hopefully there's no rust in there, but if there is, it won't end well.

Scuse my ignorance, but what's an Else engine?

[BDA]

Good suggestion on the bore scope!

Scuse my ignorance, but what's an Else engine?

It's NOT an ELISE engine! I misread that name on another thread! 

[LotusJoe]

Strawberry cheesecake,
Here is the link to Else engine

http://www.lotus-europa.com/literature/ElseEuropa.pdf

[Gmg31]

All the advice so far has been to fit the "new" engine as the Else is a bit highly strung.   I will be selling the Else engine for parts once I know for certain that the "new" engine  is good. 

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Strawberry cheesecake,
Here is the link to Else engine

http://www.lotus-europa.com/literature/ElseEuropa.pdf

Thanks Joe - I saw it on the other thread.

[Gmg31]

The lotus heritage chap has advised me that the brand new engine (a present from Colin chapman) is a federal 1500 Renault engine.

[LotusJoe]

The lotus heritage chap has advised me that the brand new engine (a present from Colin chapman) is a federal 1500 engine.

1500 Twin Cam or Renault?