new to group

[Johninpebble]

hi all, new to the group and am looking forward to sharing the ups n downs of getting my 1970 Europa back on the road. I have some hesitation to spend too much on the car since it has the Renault engine and 4 speed.  I picked it up last weekend and brought it home to Vista Ca (North County San Diego).  Last time it was running was 1975, so it has some work needing to be done.  I called David Bean's shop and ordered the ignition tune up kit.  While waiting for parts I sprayed WD40 in spark plug holes and turned the motor over using wrench, then after cleaning fuses and connectors got the ignition to crank the motor.  No spark but at least it spins over.  It reads 25,000 on odometer... not sure if its 125,000 or just 25,000.  Doors sag, broken fiber glass in rear quarter, head liner pretty all gone, seats ok, master cylinder frozen, but motor and tranny may be ok.

Other cars I own-
1937 Austin 7 (little English car that weighed in at about 950lbs and had a 10.5 hp motor).  the cool thing about the Austin 7 someone back in the 80's took the Austin 7 body and mounted it to a Lotus Elan frame.  So it has the twin cam motor, 4 wheel disc brakes and 4 speed.  Working to get it done this year some time.

A bunch of Austin Healey bugeye sprites and one Mrk ll Sprite with less than 2,000 original miles.

John

[Johninpebble]

uhmm, I forgot to add photos on my first post.  Here is a link with some photos and as I progress I plan on adding more each week.

http://bugeyeparts.com/photo/albums/lotus-europa

[BDA]

 

I wouldn't poo poo your Renault powered Europa (as I used to). I've been amazed at the number of people who have them and it should move out very nicely when you get it all setup. If you're more adventurous, a lot of people have experience with cool engine swaps like Zetec and Toyota 4AG so that might be interesting for you. Having experience with British cars will be helpful - if for no other reason that the patience you've certainly acquired born of past frustrations! 

Dave is a great resource for parts and information (he built my BDA engine). r.d. enterprises (http://www.rdent.com/) and in England, Richard at Banks Service Station (http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/index.php) are others. They're all great guys. Richard has done so many things on the Europa platform, I think he probably knows more about them than any one person. He has a very nice door hinge set up that you might want to check out. Other sources that are occasionally useful are the people you're probably used to dealing with already: Moss Motors, Victoria British, etc.

I would guess that yours has 25000 miles on it. I've heard of Europas that have more than 100K miles on them but not many.


Good luck and don't forget to post pictures of your progress OFTEN!! 

[Grumblebuns]

Another welcome to the group and another North county Europa owner to boot. There are a few Europa owners in the San Diego area, two regulars to the forum. I am no means an expert on Europas but if you need assistance on your resto always glad to help. I have two running S2s for reference.

I hope you didn't use the camshaft pulley bolt to turn the engine over. The workshop manual is specific in not using the camshaft pulley, there is a good chance that you will break it.

Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca

[Lou Drozdowski]

Welcome to the collective of Europa owners. We fortune few who will labor countless hours, spend more than we need to and learn to swear in multiple foreign languages only to find out we have accomplished little. There are the days that you will truly enjoy...and that makes the difference...good luck..ld

[Johninpebble]

/Users/johnfelt/Desktop/IMG_1361.jpg[/img]
Thanks for the replies so quickly.  I wanted to see if the couple of photos I tried to add showed up.  Also a questions regarding the Motorola box, its small about 2 inches x 3 inches, mounted just aft of the coil and has 5 wires coming out of it (black red green and two yellow ones).  One of the yellow wires is cut.  Any idea where it would go? Being that I have a Motorola alternator would this be a Voltage regulator?
Thanks again for the replies.  Not sure yet if this is a keeper yet.  So many lil projects, but I do have a soft spot for lil cars with lil engines.  Its amazing how well a lil car goes and stops once it gets sorted out.  My AH Bugeyes are a ton of fun.

John

[Grumblebuns]

Your VR may have been rewired in the past. The wiring colors on your car are not OEM. My S2 has the original wiring still intact. Looking at the attached picture, the top wire is a small brown/green wire going to the alternator exciter, below that are two black grounds from the rear lights and the final wire is a larger brown purple wire going to a black relay box below the VR. This is going by the colorized wiring diagram on Lotus Europa Central. All of the wire from the VR goes into a wiring bundle so I can't trace them directly.

http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/misc/electrical/s2-diagc.gif   

[Bainford]

  Welcome to the forum, John. Sounds like you've got some interesting machines, there. The Austin 7 on an Elan chassis sounds mad. I love it. There is lots of help, or at least sympathetic ears, for your Europa trials and tribulations on here. Cheers.

[3929R]

 
Really cool Austin 7!
I look forward to reports on your S2 project.

[StephenH]

Austin 7s come in all sorts of 'standard' models.
This is one built by a friend that I ran in some sprints a couple of years ago.
Quick little thing too (supercharged and weight of a flea).

[Johninpebble]

I have been fiddling with the Europa some and even though it will occasional turn over by using the key and ignition switch there is not spark.  It seems it only works with key when I am also running a hot lead to the resistor on the coil.  I was able to pull the ket switch out from under the column and saw loose wires....main brown wire was hanging down disconnected.  Reconnecting to the correct post did not seem to help.  I am now going to check all connections and grounds.  Just have to uproot a few more black widows 

There are a few photos of my Austin 7 here -http://bugeyeparts.com/photo/albums/1937-austin-7
I believe my model is the Opal roadster.  The twin cam has been rebuilt and dismantling has begun on the body.  All in all the parts are all in remarkably good condition, rust was not an issue and all panels are straight.  Lotus frame and suspension are all in great condition too.

I tired again to add photos of the Lotus here in the forum this time using the attachment option but was not able to do so.   
As I work on the car I take photos and post them here - http://bugeyeparts.com/photo/albums/lotus-europa

[jbcollier]

Don't turn the engine over using a wrench on the camshaft pulley.  Put it fourth gear and push to turn the engine without using the starter.

[LeftAngle]

Welcome John.  Lots of nice people here.  Sounds like you've got a great car.  25,000 miles is just about broken in...  I bet your 1970 S2 will be on the road long before mine is (I bought it in running condition 2 years ago).  I'm sure you're familiar with shipwrights disease, which I have a terrible case of... Anyway, I'll race you... On your mark, get set, GO.   

Bruce

[cal44]

Guess he didn't like it.

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/4454472259.html

[Johninpebble]

Hi all,
I sold the Europa.  I considered my options and thought if I can sell it now without putting in a ton of time and money I would be better off.  Hard to see it go.  I did get it to start, thanks for the help and support.  I have four bugeyes that I am currently working on and then there is the Austin 7 on a Lotus frame with the twin cam.....  I am thinking of hunting down a Lotus body and bring it back to life as an Elan.

Anyway, it may not seem like I appreciated the group and the advice.  I just want to say thanks again you guys were quick to help me out.

John