1970 s2 0453R Reassembly

[BDA]

Thanks for the pictures, dakazman! That black looks great and it sounds like you have some interesting ideas about your firewall. I'm looking forward to pictures of it when you're done!

[buzzer]

I used a lightweight 5mm thick honeycombe fibreglassed on both sides bonded into the body then a thin sheet of aluminium alloy riveted on the engine side

[dakazman]

Thanks buzzer and bad.
Primed the body / front and back luggage trays, the front was terrible, so many small divers in glass
Engine compartment looking good  the black is 9900 base black , any other black looks light in it .
The bad part is it needs to be cleared 30 minutes after spraying . Cleanup on two guns afterward, is well worth it . The cardboard cutouts were for my perspective of a clean compartment. The firewall  will still be in its original place. The addition of two removable side engine panels will hide a lot of  unfinished areas. I placed the fuel tank in and took measurements of the panel behind seat .
Dakazman

[dakazman]

    First coat of paint and clear on luggage compartment.

    Forward compartment ,engine compartment and spare tire area coming along ..
I can’t stop .. helppppppp.
Dakazman

[BDA]

Progress is addictive! It feels good! Keep going!

[dakazman]

Ok firewall supports installed and the panels coming along.

Then on the lighter side , are there drain holes in the forward
Luggage compartment and if not should I add two?

Dakazman

[BDA]

The front luggage compartment is supposed to be dry so you can put luggage in there!

[EuropaTC]

Then on the lighter side , are there drain holes in the forward
Luggage compartment and if not should I add two?

to follow on from BDA, not only will the front compartment probably be the driest part on your Lotus (don't laugh, "Dry" and "Lotus" can work together    )  but it's also supposed to be sealed around the edges to act as a plenum chamber to pressurise the fresh air and heater vents into the car.  So in theory anything other than the blower inlet and cabin outlets would reduce the efficiency of the design (now you can laugh....   )

Brian

[dakazman]

Thanks guys, I was just wondering how dry it stays. I saw the seals and gaskets in many pictures
But the monsoons we get here I thought it might be a good idea to check with others who actually drive their car. I also found I forgot to add the drain under the headlight assemblies .
Dakazman

[EuropaTC]

It stays dry because of the lip in the bodyshell around the edges. As long as you have a decent gasket in the compartment lock you will be fine.

But talking of leaks from that end of the car I did have an odd one where the lock fits into the bodyshell just below the windscreen. There should be a little rubber moulding behind the metal plate/slot into the bulkhead which seals the interior and mine had worn away over the years. Water drips down the bodywork, lands on the locking plate from the lock mechanism and then wanders inside your car - a Lotus is always interesting.....

[4129R]

But talking of leaks from that end of the car I did have an odd one where the lock fits into the bodyshell just below the windscreen. There should be a little rubber moulding behind the metal plate/slot into the bulkhead which seals the interior and mine had worn away over the years. Water drips down the bodywork, lands on the locking plate from the lock mechanism and then wanders inside your car - a Lotus is always interesting.....

I always wondered why that black rubber was there. Mystery explained.

Another mystery is an aluminium plate on the edge of the bonnet (hood) opening just by the radiator fan. It was only fitted to 1974 models.

[BDA]

That was to keep water from draining from the rain gutter on to the fan motor. The US club, Lotus Ltd., used to sell them back in the day. I suppose they or something similar was sold in the UK also.

[4129R]

That was to keep water from draining from the rain gutter on to the fan motor. The US club, Lotus Ltd., used to sell them back in the day. I suppose they or something similar was sold in the UK also.

Thanks for the explanation.

All that extra weight. Add the weight of the water in the front by where the spare wheel has been taken out, and the power:weight ratio has been ruined.

All these extra things to stop water getting in the bonnet lock hole, or dripping on to the radiator fan, when the windscreen and the doors leak like a sieve.

Plus water get on the the cylinder head where the front two plugs are, and the casting between 2 & 3 is not drilled to drain to the rear, like it is open at the back behind #4 plug.

[BDA]

The car leaks pretty much everywhere. I've seen some put an aluminum cover over the valley between the two cams on the TC to keep the water out a little at least.

[dakazman]

 

Quote
The car leaks pretty much everywhere.
Lol that’s exactly what I’m looking for, a sore spot....someone
Drilled a hole in the little stiffener just above the drivers leg in the forward luggage bin , I repaired that. I would love to here more.
Dakazman