Author Topic: Restoration of 2358R  (Read 185516 times)

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Offline BDA

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #345 on: Monday,October 16, 2017, 10:34:20 AM »
My TC cam cover was black with aluminum ribs. It was my understanding that all the big valve motors all had this cam cover (see attached pictures) but I might have heard of a big valve motor with the un-ribbed cam cover that I think you're referring to. Since the ribbed cam cover had "BIG VALVE" cast into it, they should have only originally been installed on big valve motors but then with Lotus, who knows what might have happened!

As I was searching for a good picture to post, I was astounded at how long it took for me to find one like the ones I was used to (at least as found on all the Europa TCs I've seen in the US)! There are clearly many different versions of them and owners often paint them (or not) to their taste.

Offline Certified Lotus

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #346 on: Monday,October 16, 2017, 02:07:19 PM »
Things are moving pretty fast! That's great!


Are you going to have a radio? If so, where will you put the antenna?


I don't remember if you said what you're going to do about door hinges? r.d.'s stainless steel set or Richard's brass set?


So are you painting the cam cover to match the car, going with the original black, or something else?


Can't wait to see pictures after you get the body back!

No radio (I pulled it out and had a new dash made with a blank plate). I like the sound of the Weber’s and Twin Cam engine along with a throaty exhaust!

Bought the stainless steel door pins from RD Enterprises.

I am having the valve cover powder coated black with the BIG Valve, Lotus and the ribs all left aluminum color.

Offline BDA

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #347 on: Monday,October 16, 2017, 02:20:24 PM »
She's going to be great!

Offline Certified Lotus

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #348 on: Monday,October 16, 2017, 03:54:45 PM »
Thanks Jim. I’m kind of fanatical about my rebuilds. I like performance oriented sports cars that I can tweak and make just a little bit better. That is the best thing with sports cars that are 30+ years old, you can do almost anything you want and it’s road legal  :beerchug:

Offline Roger

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #349 on: Tuesday,October 17, 2017, 01:56:02 AM »
The standard Big Valve, low-compression Federal TC engine had a red ribbed cam cover.

Offline Certified Lotus

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #350 on: Tuesday,October 17, 2017, 03:47:18 AM »
I was wondering why the majority of the valve covers seem to be red and then a smattering of black ones are around. My original engine for this car (with less than 6000 miles on it) had a red valve cover and the Weber head TC Europa engine I bought to build a performance engine also had a red valve cover.

Never the less, I like the black with silver lettering and ribs so that’s what I’m doing.

Offline Roger

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #351 on: Tuesday,October 17, 2017, 12:07:08 PM »
I was wondering why the majority of the valve covers seem to be red and then a smattering of black ones are around. My original engine for this car (with less than 6000 miles on it) had a red valve cover and the Weber head TC Europa engine I bought to build a performance engine also had a red valve cover.

Never the less, I like the black with silver lettering and ribs so that’s what I’m doing.

Dead right, your car, whatever you like best. My post was meant to be a reply to BDA. In any case, your engine is far from standard  Federal TC spec!

Offline tedtaylor

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #352 on: Thursday,October 19, 2017, 02:46:22 PM »
My experience finding many original Lotus cars is that Europa Big Valve engine covers were Black, but the "ELAN" big valve engine covers were Red.   Go figure! :)
TED
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owned nearly 50 Lotus cars over the years!
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Offline Certified Lotus

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #353 on: Thursday,October 19, 2017, 04:24:39 PM »
The plot thickens!

Offline Pfreen

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #354 on: Thursday,October 19, 2017, 05:17:33 PM »
My 73 Europa Special has a black ribbed valve cover.  I have owned it since 1986.  I do not think the previous color was red since the paint wasn't great when I bought it and I have stripped it a couple of times over the years and never found red.

Offline Pfreen

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #355 on: Thursday,October 19, 2017, 05:19:04 PM »
BTW, my Europa is Federal spec.

Offline Sherman Kaplan

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #356 on: Thursday,October 19, 2017, 06:52:54 PM »
Regarding the Federal cars I believe that the twin cam had the red valve cover and the special had the black.  All Federal cars had the big valve engine.  I had a 1972 twin cam and it had the red cover and I now have a 1973 special and it has the black cover.

Sherman

Offline Pfreen

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #357 on: Friday,October 20, 2017, 04:51:13 AM »
Interesting!

Offline Bainford

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #358 on: Friday,October 20, 2017, 08:20:48 AM »
FWIW, my federal '73 Special has a big valve Twin Cam with its original black cam cover.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline Roger

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Re: Restoration of 2358R
« Reply #359 on: Friday,October 20, 2017, 08:51:08 AM »
Regarding the Federal cars I believe that the twin cam had the red valve cover and the special had the black.  All Federal cars had the big valve engine.  I had a 1972 twin cam and it had the red cover and I now have a 1973 special and it has the black cover.

Sherman

Exactly! Miles Wilkins doesn't mention the Federal TCS engine, but my observation suggests they were black originally. I don't know if there are any other differences between the Federal TC and TCS engines,  but I don't think so. I think both were Stromberg, low compression, type C camshafts etc.
« Last Edit: Friday,October 20, 2017, 08:59:25 AM by Roger »