New member, 1st Lotus '74 Special, looking for great mechanic in CT area

[analogmike]

Hi,

I would like a good Lotus specialist to go over this car before I get it registered and start working on it myself. I'm in the Danbury, CT area. Someone I raced against at the Lime Rock fall festival (who beat me in one race in his Elan, I was in my '73 911) recommended a Michael Clifford in Hopewell Junction, NY. I have worked on my 911s for almost 30 years and heard the Europa is easier to work on but I don't have much time anymore and too many toys.

The thing that is really annoying me is the shift linkage. It was all loose so the seller replaced something like a pin in the linkage on the side of the engine with a bolt, now it's really tight. And I can't move near 2nd gear without grinding reverse... Also need to bend the clutch pedal to the left to get my small feet in there. And probably need to rebuild the pedal assembly as it's not feeling good and I am all about the user interface.

Thanks!!!!



I bought it from here:

http://vintageracecarsales.com/portfolio-view/1974-lotus-europa-special/

[BDA]

  analog!

[i deleted the embarrassing part that shows I didn't read the post completely. My only defense is that I was distracted by the pretty car!]

As for shops, any good English car shop should be ok. If you have a choice, favor one that works on old Jaguars over MGs but don't discount a good MG shop or even a general sports car shop. Ask if they've worked on Loti before or if they're afraid of them. They're pretty pedestrian mechanically. Just don't give it to a truck mechanic!

It would be a good idea to get the workshop and parts manuals (they're available online but a hard copy is good to have for yourself or in case the shop doesn't have one.

Taking the pedals out is not difficult, but the clutch pedal could probably be bent while it's still in the car. New pedals are also available if yours is really bad. They are susceptible to rust so that might be the problem and depending on how bad it is, some oil might be all it needs.

It sounds like the rubber bushing where the linkage pivots near the engine at least got screwed up. I think there are two u-joints downstream that could be the problem. I believe they are still available.

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Looks stunning. Congrats on the purchase.

[EuropaTC]

Hi, and another 

As BDA says, a workshop manual is essential and these days you can have paper or PDF. Most of us have both because it's often easier to flick through a book than electronic pages.

The shift linkage is one of those "hmmm" things about the Europa, I'm always wondering how Lotus managed to make such an advanced car (for it's day) and end up with a gearchange that looks and feels as if it's cobbled together by the apprentice in his lunchtime.

Anyway, the point is that the manual has a reasonable section on the gear linkage and includes some instructions for setting it all up. From what you've said about grinding 2nd when looking for reverse, my first thought would be to check it's actually been set up correctly. The change isn't brilliant by modern standards even when new, but you can usually find the cog you want.

Brian

[sandy]

   Beautiful car. I hope it is as nice on the other side of the paint. If yes, you may inquire who has done the restoration work and talk with them. I rebuilt my entire gear linkage on my 73 5 speed and was still finding reverse on my way to 2nd. I installed a lift kit from a forum member in the Netherlands and have enjoyed confident shifting ever since. It involves a special tube over the the gear lever which is lifted above a bracket. There are parts that also replaces the 5th gear detent. Can't tell if that applies to you from the photo. The only problem I have had with it is that the rubber shift boot is too stiff to flex. I am in CT also. Hope to see you around. Sandy

[BDA]

Here's a link to a thread about that shifter modification: http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=127.msg8263#msg8263

[Grumblebuns]

Gorgeous car. Besides the shifting issue, how does the car drive overall? No personal experience with these guys but they're in your general area next state over..

http://www.sevenselans.com/about.htm

I had the same shifting issue with my JPS when downshifting from third to second. If I was sloppy in my downshift, I would momentarily touch reverse. Only did that a couple of times till I adjusted my shifting technique by using a two finger method on the shifter to ease the lever into gear.

Joji Tokumoto
FAllbrook, CA

[EuropatcSPECIAL]

Welcome Mike, great looking Lotus, love the colour and the interior work  Are they not the best looking car, particularly when you have only seen a photograph then you see it in the flesh, good choice that man

[3929R]

Beautiful Europa!
I believe the stock shift linkage setup can work well enough, IF all bushings and roll pins are good and it is adjusted correctly.
Check the bushings on the linkage at the end of shift lever.  Check the bushing at the center link/middle pivot. Check the roll pin at the center link/middle pivot. Check the linkage and roll pin at the back of the transmission. Check the detent cam and ball under the black plastic cap at the back of the transmission. Adjustments are made at the center link/ middle pivot and at the linkage at the back of the transmission.

More info is here-  http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=62.msg301#msg301

[analogmike]

thanks for the info!

I did get the parts manuals / catalogs from Dave Bean.
Is there a factory or other manual that will also help?

I will look into the shift rod mod, seems simple and useful.

So busy with other car projects/racing/trailer work/tow vehicle work/day job/tennis, I feel sorry for the Europa! I do drive it up and down my dead end road every now and then.

[BDA]

If you have the Dave Been parts catalog I'm thinking of, it is a great source of information and of all kinds of parts, but the catalogs I got from Dave many years ago were what he sells rather than the Lotus parts manual. If that's what you have, they are great to have but you should also have a copy of the parts manual from Lotus. If he sold you a parts manual from Lotus, then you're done with that part! There are workshop manuals - you'll need both the S1 & S2 workshop manual and the Twin Cam Supplement - on ebay right now (search for "Lotus Europa manual") and parts manuals come up occasionally. In addition, Joe has a link to scanned copies of both the parts and workshop manuals here (http://www.lotuseuropa.org/workshop_manual.htm) but I have to say that the copies at lotus-europa.com are better since they are searchable (http://lotus-europa.com/manuals/). That page has a lot of extra information you might find interesting. It may be the largest single source of technical information about Europas anywhere. My opinion is that having a hard copy of the parts manual is a bit less important than the workshop manual. Usually, being able to look at the parts manual on line is good at least for the short term so I wouldn't feel the need to get one right away.

[ezuskin]

Welcome,
Check out RD Enterprises for various replacement bits and bushings to help with shifting. A mechanic with three long arms and at least one unusually small hand and the flexibility of a Yoga master would be the qualifications I would be persuing.
Eddie