confused, clarify?

[4380r]

Confusion seems to be part of Europa ownership.

In the 9 months or so I've owned my car I've only had occasion to jack the whole rear end up at once using the hoop at the trans mount.

Was inspecting what I THOUGHT were the factory jacking points, just to see what kind of reinforcement is there.

I have a 74 special. If I understand correctly, the jack point for the rear is the front of the rear wheel arch, or in other words the rearward portion under the rocker panel. In manuals for S2's it looks like you jack at the BACK of the arch.

Looked inside and could tell there was a crack in the fiberglass wheel well wall on the right side. Crack all the way through. Ok, won't be a big deal to patch and it's out of sight. BUT that entire panel, which would take the vertical load when jacking, is virtually paper thin. There is no way it wouldn't collapse completely and catastrophically if I tried to jack the car up there.

Can somebody link to a diagram from a manual showing the TC Special jacking point? I can't seem to locate.

Thanks

[EuropaTC]

Hi there,

I don't know if it's given in the workshop manual, but the handbook for the TC shows a jacking point. 

Having seen the thickness of some of the layups on Lotus cars from the 60s/70s, I've always tried to use the chassis as the jacking point. Either the rear steel hoop or under the front steel cross member when I've lifted the car. If I just want to do one side, then I've used a wooden block underneath the box section trailing arms as well.

Brian

[Nitwit]

Section "G" Wheels & Tyres shows jacking points which I don't use.  2x6 on the floor jack at rocker panel and wheel arces, and listen to glass splintering yet prefer the rear hoop and front cross Tee with wood block at front.

Whit

[Grumblebuns]

I currently have my 73 TCS rear jacked up for some suspension work. With a 365 transaxle, it's very difficult to use the rear trans hoop due to the trans mount bracket being in the way. I'm using the trans mount bracket for my jacking point. If I have to work under the car without the need to remove the wheels, I'll set the car on ramps. For some reason, I don't feel safe using just jack stands. In the rear, if I have to remove the wheels, I use an ATV lift which has a mechanical lock on which to set the weight of the car per the photos.

Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca 

[4380r]

Hi there,

I don't know if it's given in the workshop manual, but the handbook for the TC shows a jacking point. 

Having seen the thickness of some of the layups on Lotus cars from the 60s/70s, I've always tried to use the chassis as the jacking point. Either the rear steel hoop or under the front steel cross member when I've lifted the car. If I just want to do one side, then I've used a wooden block underneath the box section trailing arms as well.

Brian

Thanks, Brian. In that diagram the area immediately above the jack, in my car, is literally paper thin. I believe I could poke a finger through it. I am going to glass over from the inside just to give it some rigidity, but there is no way I could jack my car in that spot.

Guess my spare tire with restored wheel, and refinished OEM jack will be in the car for purely cosmetic reasons.

[cal44]

Like the others, I have learned/learnt not to use the jacking point in front of the rear wheel.

About a year ago I did a minor write up here on repairing the section, as mine suffered the fate as many with the weakening of fiberglass/glassfiber.   

I purchased Balsa wood from the glass shop.  The same small squares they use under the decks of glass boats.   Formed a reinforced L design and attached it to the inside of the long in front of the wheel well wall.  This means cutting out the section of the long just in front of the rear wheel.
Gawd I hope that made sense. 
I was going to do the other side and do a better job taking photos and posting in case anyone else ran into this............but then we had an influx of more Elan Plus 2's and haven't had the chance to get to it.

After my long winded writings..........the bottom line is that area is ten times the strength is was from the factory and yes the car can now be lifted from the there.......but I don't....it's not wise to do so.   Joji's ATV lift is now on my list as that is a stable idea.
mike

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