Author Topic: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine  (Read 8143 times)

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Offline Pete

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #60 on: Friday,June 11, 2021, 11:57:10 PM »
Not built that part yet. Will do once I lift the engine out.
I plan to take it out today. Any handy tips I should know about?
Europa S2 1970 great car
Me complete novice mechanic..
Let’s see how the restore goes.

Offline Pete

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #61 on: Saturday,June 12, 2021, 11:36:59 PM »
Managed to get it out. Some of those bolts are hard to get too on the side of the engine!
Also made the bracket to support the half shafts. And I’m going to support the drive shafts with zip cords so it can still roll.

I’ll take a better pic once I’ve done it all
Europa S2 1970 great car
Me complete novice mechanic..
Let’s see how the restore goes.

Offline BDA

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #62 on: Sunday,June 13, 2021, 06:38:52 AM »
Congratulations on your big step in your journey!  :beerchug:

Offline Pete

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #63 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 09:01:22 AM »
Copper pipes for the cooling system? Is that normal?
Europa S2 1970 great car
Me complete novice mechanic..
Let’s see how the restore goes.

Offline Pete

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #64 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 09:10:07 AM »
Also. I spoke to a guy who rebuilt the engine from track v road about 11 years ago. He said the gear box is impossible to drive. Only my uncle knew how to navigate the gears.

He said I should 100% replace it. Any suggestions on what to look for? He said something about ng1/2.

It is meant to be a feugo box.
Europa S2 1970 great car
Me complete novice mechanic..
Let’s see how the restore goes.

Offline BDA

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #65 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 09:31:36 AM »
If the problem was finding gears, it sounds more like a linkage problem (very common) than a gearbox problem. Even if it is a gearbox problem, chances are it can be repaired - especially on your side of the pond. If you have the tag for it, you can find out what gears you have by looking here (http://lotus-europa.com/manuals/misc/ng.pdf). If you are happy with them, I'd just have the gear box checked out and look for reasons for looseness in your linkage starting from the shift lever. The nylon bushings between the bottom of the shift lever and the beginning of the linkage are quite often a big problem. SJ Sportscars sells brass replacements.

Offline Sandyman

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #66 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 09:48:38 AM »
The back end of the transmission does not look stock compared to my '70 S2. The original coolant tubes are mild steel. Copper would give a little more heat dissipation. A lot of us have gone to stainless steel.
Sandy

Offline Rainer

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #67 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 11:01:05 AM »
The box looks like a 5 speed  395 or ng1-ng3 .
But as BDA already mentioned its is most likely a linkage problem, especially when you have another row (do not know the correct term) for the 5th gear.
But even if you have play in the box, dismantle it, these transaxles are really nice and simple to work on.

Offline BDA

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #68 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 11:15:25 AM »
The box looks like a 5 speed  395 or ng1-ng3 .
But as BDA already mentioned its is most likely a linkage problem, especially when you have another row (do not know the correct term) for the 5th gear.

I think by "row" you mean "shift fork."

Offline Rainer

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #69 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 11:38:46 AM »
Thank BDA  :beerchug:
thats exactly what i meant

Offline JR73

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #70 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 12:28:01 PM »
Was the guy at Track V Road called Ian? - he used to work at Banks and knows his Europas very well (raced a Banks car and I think still owns it).

The rear casing looks to have a mounting plate welded to it? You can get a gear change linkage kit from Banks (all the way from the stick to the rear casing) for the ng series gearbox, the best description I can give is that it’s like a rifle bolt action when set up correctly but part of the kit involves modifying the selector arm the runs across the rear casing - I doubt that you could use what you have there due to that welded on mounting plate - probably why it was suggested to find a new gearbox…

Offline Pete

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #71 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 01:45:08 PM »
Yes it is Ian. He said he is going to pop round one Saturday whilst I’m working on it as he only lives round the corner.

Yeah the rear end has been welded on.
Europa S2 1970 great car
Me complete novice mechanic..
Let’s see how the restore goes.

Offline BDA

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #72 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 02:20:30 PM »
Good point, JR73. I didn't notice the welded piece on the cover! Yikes! If you get a new end cover, you could get a cross shaft from Lotus Supplies. Another option is to use the standard shift inputs and a cable shift, IIRC, the cable shift setups use the standard shift inputs. Obviously, that requires more work but I do hear that the result is very nice.

Offline Pete

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #73 on: Tuesday,June 15, 2021, 02:32:36 PM »
I do think I’m getting to a point when I need someone who knows about europas to take a proper look at it. As in take it to banks motors or hopefully when/if Ian comes he can help. I’m happy to pay for someone to work their magic.
This forum helps. Cos then I can google and find out what I need.
I just can’t wait till I can take it on the road. Even with its pain in the arse gearbox. Lol
Europa S2 1970 great car
Me complete novice mechanic..
Let’s see how the restore goes.

Offline Dilkris

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Re: My Uncles Lotus. Now mine
« Reply #74 on: Wednesday,June 16, 2021, 12:21:40 AM »
Managed to get it out. Some of those bolts are hard to get too on the side of the engine!
Also made the bracket to support the half shafts. And I’m going to support the drive shafts with zip cords so it can still roll.

I’ll take a better pic once I’ve done it all

Hi Pete - A belated "welcome" - I am following your journey with much interest.
On your above post you include a picture where there appears to be some kind of sleeve /cover attached to the right hand drive shaft by 2 jubilee clips - out of interest what exactly is that?