Author Topic: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years  (Read 4351 times)

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Offline TurboFource

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #75 on: Sunday,August 14, 2022, 03:36:43 PM »
Definitely looks better!
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline Footer

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #76 on: Monday,August 15, 2022, 03:02:23 PM »
Nice looking car 69Merc and now that you’ve leveled it I like even more.  Mine has the same, level stance.
One of your pictures of the motor shows individual, chrome air cleaners for the Stromberg’s.  Do you happen to remember the brand or where you got them?  The only ones I found were by K & N and we’re pricey.

Offline 69merc

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #77 on: Monday,August 15, 2022, 05:14:30 PM »
Thanks!

They are Ram-flo brand from Australia.

https://www.lynxauto.com.au/ramflo-air-filters.html

They came with the car ( probably purchased in the late 70s) so not sure what they cost now.

I did buy new filter material for them.

I like them, but may put the stock air cleaner on. :confused:

Offline Footer

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #78 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 05:45:49 AM »
Thanks for the info!  I will look into those.

Offline Bainford

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #79 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 08:52:12 AM »
Your Europa is looking good. It sits very nicely.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline 69merc

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #80 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 10:15:16 AM »
Thanks!  I am a firm believer that stance can make or break a cool car  :beerchug:

Before

After

Online BDA

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #81 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 10:51:05 AM »
I may not be remembering correctly but your before picture looks a lot more nose-happy than they were originally. You made a big improvement. How does it drive? Did you measure the rate after you cut the springs? Did you do anything to the rear springs to balance the stiffer front springs?

Offline 69merc

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #82 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 11:52:06 AM »
Yeah, I thought it sat higher in the front than an original stock TCS did.  What I think happened was, the original owner put some adjustable SPAX shocks on it in the late 70s but used the original springs  :confused:

Maybe this made it sit higher in the front than normal.  When I took the springs off, they measured about 13”, and I cut them to about 9.5”.  The adjustable spanner is all the way down, so I have room to raise the front if needed.

I drove it a bit last night and I noticed it tracked the same but seemed to have a better ride compared to when it sat higher.  (I think the front was very stiff with the springs being compressed too much)
And didn’t notice any bottoming out when going over rough roads in the front.

I didn’t measure the spring rate before or after and did not adjust the rears at all.

Offline Bryan Boyle

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #83 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 03:09:20 PM »
Thanks!  I am a firm believer that stance can make or break a cool car  :beerchug:

Before

After

Hope mine settles down where it belongs...but I have the 115 front springs from RD and spax...so it should go down to where it belongs. 
Bryan Boyle
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Commercial Pilot/CFII/FAA Safety Team
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Currently working on 3291R, ex 444R, 693R, 65/2163, 004R, 65/2678
http://www.lotuseuropa.us for mirror of lotus-europa.com manual site.

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #84 on: Tuesday,August 16, 2022, 04:05:16 PM »
If it doesn't settle down I think you should cut another coil for the stance's sake..... ::)
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline 69merc

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #85 on: Sunday,August 21, 2022, 06:20:47 AM »
Made it to its first cars and coffee  :beerchug:
The pictures don’t show it, but these cars draw a crowd :huh:

Online BDA

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #86 on: Sunday,August 21, 2022, 08:22:29 AM »
Get used to it. People will stop in their tracks, ask to see you get in it, leave notes on the windshield… Very few cars draw the attention a Europa does and the ones that do cost 10 times what a Europa does.

Offline 69merc

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #87 on: Sunday,August 21, 2022, 02:25:15 PM »
Made a couple of YouTube videos for funsies  :beerchug:

https://youtu.be/NzRTArpaIs8

https://youtu.be/QulpTKVcoz8

Online BDA

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #88 on: Sunday,August 21, 2022, 02:56:02 PM »
Nice videos of a nice car! She looks great, 69merc!!

Just a little FYI, your wheels are not Cosmics. They are Brand Lotus wheels. Still one of the prettiest wheel design IMHO!

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years
« Reply #89 on: Sunday,August 21, 2022, 03:03:24 PM »
Nice!
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!