What does your Europa look like *today* ?

[BDA]

Nice job Serge!

I had a 10-32 nut tacked in my grease cap so I could use a screw to get the cap off if I needed to later. The shape of those things made it difficult for me to take them off without ruining them. You might consider something like that (or maybe you figured out an easy way to get them off!  ).

[exarkun1178]

The chassis is coming along.  Sanded primed and painted.  now stuff is being put back on.

The SS coolant transfer pipes from Banks are well worth the shipping change!  New Fidanza fly wheel is all business.  the SS headers have been fitted and look great.  Hope to have photos next week with the engine and trans mounted.

[exarkun1178]

Saw the car again today.  about another days work and the body can go on.

[EuropaTC]

Now that steering wheel looks great.  I know it's not original but there are still aftermarket ones around which were options in the period and a lot of folks would have swapped them when the car was new to get a better feel on the wheel rim.

One thing that did occur to me though is that the junction with the brake light switch will be awkward to access once the body is in place. Even trying to get to those flexibles is a fiddle when the body is on because you have to work underneath with the arm in your way.

On mine the front to rear brake line goes through the central chassis section with rubber grommets at the holes. The junction is situated inside the chassis leg "C" section so you can see the switch & other line electrical connections from inside the engine bay.

Brian

[exarkun1178]

I am very pleased with the steering wheel (Moto Lita, UK).  The car has several... non original components.  My priorities remain original handling and engine.  anything else is fair game.   

You raise some good points on the brakes. I will have to discuss with the shop this week.

[EuropaTC]

I thought it might be a Mota Lita wheel. It looks like one of their aluminium billet adapters as well ?   I got a black spoke Mk 4 last Christmas as a present from my wife and it does feel the part.  Expensive for sure, but I think they are well worth the money.

On the brakes, a lot of folks run the front/rear line underneath the central spine because it's easier access and you can keep your eye on it for corrosion.  I fitted mine through the spine simply because that's the way it had been done from OEM. You pays your money.... etc.

[exarkun1178]

Engine is in!

[StephenH]

OK not technically today, but less than 48hours ago so close enough

I ran 2nd in class at a short sprint event on Sunday to the benchmark Alpine A110 Group4.
The gap is slowly closing and the Alpine driver (John) mentioned he thinks we are starting to push each other to try harder.
Given he lowered the course record (again) by 0.2sec and is still 0.9sec clear I mentioned I might be in his mirror but still well off needing to look over his shoulder.

 

When I sort out some changes to Youtube I'll maybe post some video, but for the moment some low res captures through the windscreen.
This one is very much a road course complete with potholes, gravel, bumps and water weeping out of the surface.
A few of these events now running as community fund raisers.
Good fun.

[Bainford]

Woohoo! Congrats, Stephen  Now that's having fun with a Europa. I'd like to see some similar low key events in this area. That looks like a lot of fun. Cheers.

[StephenH]

If anyone wants to burn up 200MB of their available bandwidth you can get a video of a few runs from this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p90zrge62yk19uk/Myrniong%2020140414.wmv

Didn't get everything from the day but enough to get the picture.
At the end of the video I left the footage of about half the vehicles waiting to come back down the road.
Good mix from Vintage though into 70's with a few modern recreations.

[Valerio Leone]

Nice video! Congrats!
Have you ever considered a close ratio gear set?
Back in the time some drivers in Italy use to ran a special renault set for hill climb

[StephenH]

A CR gearset is something on the future upgrades list.
Do you know a good supplier for the 5 speed?

As the motor loosens up it doesn't mind being buzzed a bit.
However given I was told after the event that the Alpine was running over 8000rpm across the line me running to 7500 is not so drastic perhaps.

[Valerio Leone]

running a crossflow over 7000 rpm for long time is not advisable if it's not equiped with a dry sump.
rods will suffer and in a long term you will brake.
This is what Monsieur Charly Carcreff told me when I was inquiring for one of their fantastic engines 160/220HP.
For the gear set 5 speed I would recommend Bacci Trasmissioni for Italy/Europe area
In Australia I knew that Albins was having a set for the 5 speed UN1

I was speaking about the close ratio set for the 4 speed 336.
It was common for this last to use the kit "montaigne" from Renault. This was the one made for Renault 8 godini 1100 on 1965.
 

[StephenH]

For the gear set 5 speed I would recommend Bacci Trasmissioni for Italy/Europe area
In Australia I knew that Albins was having a set for the 5 speed UN1

Thanks Valerio,
Albins haven't manufactured any Renault gearsets for some years and have sold all stock.
I spoke with them about 2 months ago on the subject.

[3929R]

Looks like loads of fun.  Thanks for posting the great video!