Restoration of our 73 TCS - 043392R

[Quebec_Europa]

Hi people, I decided to create that threads to document and discuss our process of restoring our Lotus Europa TCS Federal.

Right now the car is on jack stands. We removed the carbs, exhaust system and the complete head.

We've discovered some weird stuff on that head, Coolant turned in jelly located in the #2 and #3 exhaust ports. I should have taken pictures I know.

But long story short, we've found a source to buy a weber head. We're going to meet the guy today.

Who has done the Elan Weber head conversion on a Lotus Europa? I know it can be done but I'm looking for advices.

Here's a picture of how the car stands right now:

[jbcollier]

The heads are completely interchangeable.  You just have to get Weber carbs, air box and reroute the throttle cable to come up underneath.

Look up the specs and measure the replacement head's thickness to make sure it hasn't been shaved too much.

[TurboFource]

Doesn't an Elan head need machined so the cam can drive the alternator in a Europa?

[EuropaTC]

Yes, you're right, an Elan head will need the cam recess machined in at the rear to match the cam cover.  Apart from that it should be fine.

Brian

[jbcollier]

Duh!  Thanks for catching that.

[Quebec_Europa]

Thanks guys for your comments.

Yesterday we purchased the weber head. It's one of the latest catsing 2B type of head that was most probably on an Elan.

It also does not seem to be a "BIG VALVE" specs head, per our measurments. But we don't really care.

The head we got is in really good condition. It does not seem to have received any machining in its life. So that is good news for us.

The price was somehow a little over what we were expecting, but compared to a brand new one, it was a deal we could not pass on.

Our next step is to have it renewed, with new valve guides. Ho and also to have a groove machined for the intake cam shaft output seal.

I'll post some updates soon.

Ho and before I forgot, if some of you find pictures of an Elan groove machined head, I would really like to see them.

[TurboFource]

Top pic - Europa
2nd pic - Elan
3rd pic - next to each other

Europa casting is different.....seal is .298" thick ....

[4129R]

As it is holding an oil seal, not a bearing, it is not taking any stress in any plane, so thin walls to the groove is not really a problem.

My problem was finding an engineering shop which had the machine to cut that groove.

[4129R]

The heads are completely interchangeable.  You just have to get Weber carbs, air box and reroute the throttle cable to come up underneath.

Look up the specs and measure the replacement head's thickness to make sure it hasn't been shaved too much.

With 40 DCOEs, you don't need a choke cable. 3 pumps on the throttle pedal when cold, or 1 pump when hot, is normally enough to get it started unless you are in Arctic conditions, but driving a Europa on ice is not recommended.

[TurboFource]

Agreed with it just being a seal. Valve cover is different but you have one from your other head

[Quebec_Europa]

Thanks guys for your comments and pictures.

But since I now have both heads, I was able to take my own measrements.

What I would really like to see is pictures of an Elan weber head that was machined for the output seal to fit on an Europa.

I understand and agree that the oil seal is not taking any stress, or load. But I'm a little worried about removing to much material of the head thus creating really thin walls. (where the oil seal sits I mean).

[Pfreen]

It looked really thin to me from the photos.  Perhaps you could weld in some aluminum filler in that area.  I don't think warpage would be a problem.  A good welder could do it no problem.

You also could probably make a small seal retainer plate that attached to the outside of the head with small screws.  Just machine the head with a like 1/8" seal stop on the inside and bore through to the outside for the seal.  Then just attach the seal retainer.

Good luck.

[Quebec_Europa]

You also could probably make a small seal retainer plate that attached to the outside of the head with small screws.  Just machine the head with a like 1/8" seal stop on the inside and bore through to the outside for the seal.  Then just attach the seal retainer.

Good luck.

Wow, there you're good. I thought of exactly the same solution

[TurboFource]

The valve cover will help hold the seal in place, maybe the thin wall wouldn't even be a problem.....

[EuropaTC]

The valve cover will help hold the seal in place, maybe the thin wall wouldn't even be a problem.....

I'd agree, providing it's a tight fit and lined up properly so the cam isn't trying to move it then I reckon it would hold there with a dab of Loctite and no wall.