new member

[BDA]

Well, it looks like you're making progress!

I don't remember how I edited the registry for my car. Then when I went there to try, all I got was an Internal Server Error. Oh well, Maybe Dan can fix it or maybe you have to email him with your changes...

Good luck on your further progress. Hopefully, you'll get out of the driveway soon!

[rascott]

ahha!
found an email address, and will contact.
thanx

curious112915
bit of a problem- the bundy pipe for the rear brakes(btwn splitter block and left side)seems to be leaking where it crosses over the chassis.
it also seems to be nicely held in place by the body, and probably only accessible if the body is removed?
not a part that gets replaced often, i guess..........

[BDA]

Are you talking about #21 in this picture? If so, you may be able to change it with the body still attached, but I think you'll have to reroute a new line.

[andy harwood]

Steve, on RatRopa.com addressed this same repair.
http://ratropa.com/brakelinefix.html
Great work on your car, BTW

[rascott]

haha! it's not a unique problem!
steve's reaction to the leak was familiar, and i am scrounging parts to do bypass surgery.
i appreciated the link- the pictures validated my understanding of my situation!
richard

[rascott]

well............
i completed successful bypass surgery on the rear brakes, stuck the wheels on, put enough functional lamps on it, license plate- enough to make it sorta legal, and drove it around.
found out my fuel gauge really was working by running it out of gas(hike to the gas station), otherwise the motor runs fine.
couple of oil leaks- camshaft seal and valve cover gasket(new! hmm).
transmission shifts nicely thru all gears, and the clutch seems o k.
brakes are kinda odd, but still effective enough, and the tires are square.
think i'll put the windscreen in it.
i'm quite pleased.
i will add some pics of the brakeline thing when i figure how-

picad120615
hmmm. email pics from phone to self. oldguyfix. sorry about the head tilt for the brakeline pics.........
include maiden run toast.

[3929R]

Woo Hoo!!

[BDA]

It's great to get it back on the road!!!   

[rascott]

i have been falling down a rabbit hole.
the lotus needs tires.
current wheels are steel 13x5 rims, that may be stock, and 175x70x13 tires(maypops).
they seem to fit well enough, but i'll never put hubcaps on them, so they will always look bad.
i could see using one of the rims for a spare, but want to put new tires on nicer rims.
i was gifted a pair of tc alloys(13x5.5), and see that the increased width shouldn't interfere with anything, and perhaps allow more flexibility in tire sizeing/types. so far, i haven't been able to make a set, so i'm looking at new stuff.........

seems to be few aftermarket wheels in the 13" range?
panasport makes 13x5.5 wheels, but only for race(formula ford?) use, not DOT certified.
the rep. says to use 14x6 rims w/185x60 tires, but i'm not keen on the lower profile tire.
minilite doesn't make 13x5.5 wheels.

any thoughts on tire/wheel replacements?

[BDA]

13" tires are getting harder to find. I elected to go to 15" wheels when I built my car but I'm not sure tires are any easier to find. r.d. used to sell Panasport wheels. I think he redirects you to their site to order. I would expect Dave Bean would have wheels also. I know he used to have reproductions of the TC (Lotus Brand) wheels. Richard has the same or similar reproductions too. You might give JAE a call as well as Sports Car World outside of Dallas. I would venture to guess that places like Moss, Victoria British, or British Parts Northwest would have a line on wheels that fit.

If you stay with your steel wheels, I think you can still get hub caps, but maybe not.

Good luck!

[EuropaTC]

If you stay with your steel wheels, I think you can still get hub caps, but maybe not.

If it's any help, the "Lotus" embossed chrome hubcaps come up on UK Ebay quite frequently. I don't know if they are old ones or new reproductions, but they are available.

The 175's will fit no problem on 5" rim, the Cosmics I had for many years were 13x5" and they ran with 175/70 & 185/70 tyres. In fact I only realized they were 5" when I decided to paint them and found the stamp on the rim.  I'd always assumed they were 13x5.5", which proves what they say about "assume" 

[rascott]

i'm not sure if these are stock steelies.
tried a 185x70 carcass on one- it fit, but was a bit balloony
one of the tc wheels(thanx again) has a 175x70 tire on it and the difference in sidewall bulge is noticeable.
i'll bet tc owners often run wider than stock tires?
also- VTO performance wheels? any experiences?
i plan on throwing money at this, one way or another, and tc alloys seem rare(lugs are gold plated?), so new seems not much more expensive, + i'll have a spare.
note that i have not mounted a tc wheel on the car- the extra width doesn't appear to present a rubbing problem. didn't want to buy the lugs(@$60/wheel!) until I had 4.......

sorry about the neck-twisting picture. i'll get it figured out someday.

[EuropaTC]

They aren't standard Lotus wheels, the cut-outs are wrong. At a guess I'd say they might be Triumph wheels, maybe Spitfire ? If they are, they may well be 4.5J rather than 5J section.

I don't have a picture handy of the standard bolt on wheel used on the Europa, but to give you an idea the Elan steel wheels have similar cut-outs, in the shape of the triangular part of the Lotus badge.  The bolt on wheels have 3 (?) lugs on the raised section of the wheel below the cut-outs which hold the chrome trim disc and of course 4 holes to bolt them on, but the general designs at the outer edges of the main section are similar.

Brian

[Grumblebuns]

Richard, Lotus alloy wheels are not that rare. Check ebay, Craigslist and the GGLC classifieds on a frequent basis. If you want new wheels now, check out VTO wheels.

http://www.vtowheels.com/Europa_c_67.html

Personally, I like the looks of the classic four spoke Revolution and Libre wheels. For 13" tires, Nexen and Federal still make 185/60R/13 tires. If you're looking for more performance, Toyo has the R888s.

[Grumblebuns]

Richard, found these Cosmics on Craigslist, Simi Valley area of LA.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/pts/5334995080.html



Joji Tokumoto