A lotus. I must be an idiot.

[DDS]

This is a '69 Lotus Europa S2 I bought this weekend. The engine is not stock, but a later Lotus 'Big Valve" twin cam. 1.5 litres, 126 hp, 1400 lbs.
I must have a weakness for lost causes and ugly mid engined cars. Anyone know of any Lotus links or reference material? Any advice?

Dave

[Joe Bob]

Keep a fire extinguisher handy.....Lucas electrical is....interesting....

[rdvnac]

And a prayer book from the religion of your choice, which you'll use almost as much as the fire extinguisher......

They are a blast on the occasional days they decide to run well, though. Good luck.

[jnp914]

Two friends with Lotuses, Lotusi, Loti...Limey plastic cars. Based on their experiences, frustration will become your predominate personality trait. To save a lot of cash, duplicate the joy of ownership by smacking yourself in the head with a hammer for a few minutes, then enjoy the bliss when you stop.

Maybe you could roll it into a corner of the garage, surround it with brass stanchions and velvet rope, add tracklights and call it an homage to the genius of Chapman. At least you wouldn't have to suffer the humiliation of having the wiring harness toast itself in front of all your Porsche driving friends.

[SteveStromberg]

My buudy commuted for years in an Elan. It had some minor electrical bugs but that for the most part was solved by swapping out the Lucas Gen. for a GM Alt. The funnest job on them is replacing the Roto couplers on the Half Shafts, It took two day untill I figured out a slick trick using Screw clamps. 1.5 Twin cam now that a motor. Webers or Stromberg Carbs? Steve

[DDS]

Ahhhh a partisan crowd I see!

Actually, it is a pretty cool car in a lot of ways. The Europa and the 914 were contrmporaries and it's interesting to see how by comparsion the 914's performance was compromised for practicality, and the Lotus's practicality was compromised for performance. Lotus TC reviewed at 0-60 in about 7 seconds...


Hey SCCA racer - I'll take the bait: - owning (well restoring anyway) a 914 is kind of like that too, except you hit yourself half as much and rip up $100 bills in the intervals!

Steve, One of those joint is shot on this car BTW. The carbs are Strombergs unfortunately- any relation? I've gotta find some info on refurbing those, or a deal on 45DCOEs. That engine is very cool indeed, part of why I grabbed the car. It really puts the pre-war tech of the T4 in context.

Speaking of which, where DO you put the fire extinguisher in a Europa? The car is tiny - they have power windows 'cuz there's no space to swing a crank. Make the 914 seem like Mikez's Dad's Buick space-wise.

Hey, on this whole fire hazard thing - Fire estiguishers are also recommended in 914s are they not? People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones! I should have said I have a weakness for ugly mid-engined cars with a tendency to spontaneously combust!

The Europa has a fiberglass body and steel seats believe it or not.

British eccentricity vs teutonic pragmatism!

[maf 914]

DDS,

Cool car. I have always liked Lotus cars, even though they may have had their share of problems. I see yours is an early model with the high rear sail panels. One question. Are you sure it's a 1.5L? I thought the Big Valve DOHC was a 1600 based on the 1600 Ford Kent crossflow block with a Lotus cylinder head. Just wondering.

Also, is the bolt pattern of the Stromberg carbs the same as for Weber DCOEs? Is the intake manifold integral with the head, a single casting? You might check this before picking up those DCOEs.

Mike

[Joe Bob]

Still stinging from the Buick joke, huh....

Most 914s need the fire apparatus due to racing requirements. Plus it's a good idead in most cases for 30 year cars.....when Lucas electrical was new...it had the fire problems. If it lasted this long, could be OK.....

914s, have a problem if the owner does not check high pressure fuel lines. 30 year old braided cloth rubber lines can rot and pop with the hi pressure that fuel injection needs to run right.

Carbs as you know only need 3-5 psi.

[DDS]

Still laughing actually!

maf914 - you're right, the TC special was the car with that engine and mine is an S2 - I believe 1969. the engine is a transplant, and what I can't determine is which tranny is in the car. the linkage looks very different than a '69 that is at a friend's shop (he's an ex Lotus dealer) and when I asked him about whether he thought that mine had the later linkage (ie entire powertrain transplant) he stated that it was entirely possible that two '69s could have a different linkage! I bet the whole thing was swapped.

WRT the carbs, there's the head, then an alloy manifold, then a cast iron thingee with a linkage (like a choke or throttle plate linkage) but directly coupled with the throttle and tubes feeding it from the exhaust, (pollution stuff?) then the carbs. I don't know about the bolt patterns at all.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Mmmmm, Europa. I really like those things. Very funky-looking, and supposed to be even better handling than a 914.

Rembmer, MikeZ, that 914s would also burst into flames when they were sitting on the dealer lots back when they were new. The Germans recalled them and replaced some fuel lines (and other stuff) because of that--a lot tougher for the Brits to recall everything with Lucas electricals, though...

All 914s are advised to have a fire extinguisher on hand. There's always the chance that someone missed one of the old fuel lines. Or that something came loose in that last corner, and now it is abrading its way through your new fuel line. (BTDT, it was not fun.)

--DD

[willard]

Is that the Lotus where the chassis & body cant be separated or is that a different model?? what were they thinking??... I mean one good hit & I guess you'd have to write it off for good. speaking of fire extinguishers, where's the best location as far as the 914 goes.

[mejulihn]

There is no magic about where to locate a fire extinguisher as long as you have one that you can get to easily. The most common location I have seen is on the floor just in front of the passenger seat. Some mount it in the space between the seats if you do not have a center cushion. I keep mine on the floor behind the driver's seat since I do not need the seat fully back.

[DDS]

The ones with the bonded chassis and body were the first generation, known as the S1 (series 1) Apparently insurance costs caused the design of the S2. The body lifts off the chassis in one piece.
Here's another shot of the engine - don't know if the induction is clear, but the carbs are off and you can see the iron bit and the manifolds on the right. I got a hold of an original factory manual (!) from the above mentioned friend, so I should be able to sort all that out.

[WOODPIE]

DDS,

I don't think this makes you an idiot. I don't know a great lot about the Europa, or art, but I know what I like. You now own what I always thought of as a very exciting and enticing looking sports car. Congratulations, good luck, and most of all, have fun with it.

Ed

[CamB]

For lots of Lotus stuff try Dave Bean and [url=www.banks-europa.co.uk]Europa Engineering[url]. Dave Bean's catalogs are very useful.

How does it handle compared to the 914??? It must seem very light! Lotus' were known for their handling, if not their longevity.

A friend has an Elan Plus 2 and we have been, uh, "rebuilding" the engine. It is in bits at the moment and if we are very lucky we will remember how it goes back together.

Here is a picture of the engine - it is a big valve with twin dellortos (from the factory):



As you can see it is still covered in the Lotus factory rust protection... ok, so it is covered in leaky oil .

I think there are issues converting to Webers - check with Dave Bean - the intake manifold are cast onto the head.

Lotus' are a lot of fun, but they are less of a daily car than a Porsche of the same age.

[DDS]

Thanks for the encouragement, much appreciated.

My comparison:

As far as its behaviour on the road is concerned, it is lighter so that is an advantage, particluarly when your tow vehicle is only a V6. I'm sure that my windstar's fuel economy was better towing the lotus as well, though reliablility is a concern as a rear wheel bearing got kind of hot and I had to call a flatbed anyway. My 914 towed without incident. . As far as putting it up on blocks is concerned, the lotus has a significant advantage in that the wheels lift off the ground when the car when it is jacked. Perhaps this is a Porsche safety feature. The lotus is also easier to cover with a tarp, but accesibility to the interior for parts storage is compromised, creating a problem for larger parts like extra seats, sway bars and the like. The 914 interior and trunks can hold about .5 of a parts car, the lotus, less than .3.
It does seem as though it will be more fun than any other car to drive on a curvy road, but is probably impractical for anything else. HUGE grin factor - passers by honking, waving etc.
I looked through the manual last night and can confirm what you guys indicate about those manifolds and carb conversions - its part of the casting. She stays under the tarp till the teener is done!

PS - I like that - "sensitive new age pimp" thing Cam, You sure you're not an Aussie?

Dave

[BKOMAR]

try www.carlynx.com this site is a veritable wealth of sites for ALL types of cars....it is incredible....some killer Porsche stuff too!

[CamB]

Originally posted by DDS
PS - I like that - "sensitive new age pimp" thing Cam, You sure you're not an Aussie?

Dave

Hahaha, I get hassled by my friends because I also drive around in a '78 Jag XJ6, which (in New Zealand, with few big ol' American cars) pretty much meets the definition of Pimpmobile. So I figured if I am gonna be a pimp I better be one the ladeees can relate to.

Cam

[Efrain68912]

Loti.....sooo cool. I race a Sprite with VARA and there are a few Elans that race, plus an occasional Europa. And I didn't see one of them DNF this year! Of course, now you must learn all the British car jokes. My favorite:

"The parts falling off this car are of the finest British Quality"
(And now the new Mini has the best German engineers to bolt them back on. Cheater.)

Efrain
68 912 Coupe

[DDS]

Good one. I think the car will be pretty cool, even if as those who know suggested above I'm stuck with the strombergs for all practical purposes. (cast in and siamesed manifilds.) It will cost less to restore than an equivalent 914, that's for sure. Rubber seals alone...

I'm deficient in the joke department too. I know one Lucas ("Prince of Darkness") Electrics joke only:

Why do Brits drink warm beer?

'cuz Lucas also makes refrigerators.