Parts, More Parts, And a Car Fire (Europa Update)

"64Mali" (ctaaffe64) 07/15/2015 at 11:30 • Filed to: Lotus Update, EuropaLock

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The good news is it wasn’t one of my cars that caught fire this time. Though Towburban doesn’t like 99Deg weather in traffic (more on that later).

So last post I mentioned that I was going back for more Lotus Europa parts. This was that trip, but first I played around Powder Coating the wheels that were picked up previously.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

A little taping and a little powder coat and BAM. Pretty 13” wheels.

Blank Ink Powdercoat, and even the inside barrel was coated to hide brake dust.

Woke up early Sat AM and the plan was to get down and back before it got too hot as Towburban has no A/C. Maybe one day I’ll fix it, but probably not. Started her up picked up my buddy Lurv and off we went. 40 min later than schedule we arrive at the guys house again. Money exchanged and while Lurv is loading the truck I start building a rough crate for the motor.

Fun Fact: Most engine stands are at the right height to slide a motor into the back of a 99 Suburban. It really simplifies getting one in and out of the back of the truck.

After listing to the guy talk for 30 min, great stories but man we wanted to get going it was hot out, we finally started heading back to Mass. We fly up 84, stop in Sturbridge for some awesome BBQ (BT’s Smokehouse, seriously try it), get on the Mass Pike, and stop..... We see this in the distance and Waze starts going nuts. Reports of a disabled vehicle 5 miles ahead.

This can’t be good, now its almost 100 out, and remember no A/C this is going to get interesting. Waze now reports an RV fire.

So of course on an old truck with a mechanical fan she starts to get warm unless I keep revving the motor randomly, that and she wont idle when hot. Did I mention the distributor is broken so its stuck at -5deg timing. So now its hot out, no A/C and I’m running the heat to keep the engine cool. Do I look happy? I should mention I got one of the worst trucker arm burns ever. I looked like the Stig’s Lorry Driving Cousin.

I should mention I got one of the worst trucker arm burns ever. I looked like the Stig’s Lorry Driving Cousin.

Finally we get up to the fire, which by this point has been put out. Anyone else not surprised it was a jeep that caught fire? Yes it was being towed but still..

After that it was smooth sailing all the way back. Temp came back down on the truck and we were good to go. We get back to find my Dad had been stripping more parts from the Europa to clean and fix. It looks like the seats had sat in some water as part of the bases were rusted through but on such a simple seat frame fixing it is no issue.

Now its time to unload all the parts. We pulled the head off the motor to move it as it was not even bolted on. Since its going to be a while before the rebuild of the Twin Cam engine happens it went onto a dolly, sprayed with WD-40 and wrapped in a bag.

Now for some pictures of what we picked up. We are still going through it and cataloging everything we got of which there is a ton. Including a full rebuild of the TwinCam motor with .040 pistons.

1973 Special Edition badges

Bonus points if anyone can tell me what is odd about the Shift Knob in this picture.

I would say I only have pictures of about 1/2 of what we got.

Stay tuned for next time.

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:33

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Loving these wheels!

64Mali > CKeffer 07/15/2015 at 11:34

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They are so tiny I can fit 5 in the back of the Fiesta.

deekster_caddy > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:36

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Shift knob for a 5 spd?

We need a MA Oppos get together! Where are you?

64Mali > deekster_caddy 07/15/2015 at 11:38

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I’ll travel all over MA but right now I’m in Westford and routinely in Lexington for work. And yes its a 5speed shift knob, but gotta leave it to the Birts on where 1st gear is.

deekster_caddy > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:39

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Sweet. I work in Lexington, on the bedford line. Our parking lot is under the approach to the airport, I could throw a rock and hit a plane some days.

TxBrumski > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:40

5

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:40

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Lol, sounds like the Miata’s wheels. 14” wheels are interesting to find performance tires for btw

64Mali > CKeffer 07/15/2015 at 11:41

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For the Europa’s 13” I found decent all seasons for now. I can get autoX only tires but they are 250/ tire.

TxBrumski > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:41

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Bonus points if anyone can tell me what is odd about the Shift Knob in this picture.

Is that from a Porsche?

64Mali > TxBrumski 07/15/2015 at 11:42

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Honestly no idea the guy was on his 4th TVR and collected random British car parts.

64Mali > TxBrumski 07/15/2015 at 11:42

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You know the joke,

Why do the British drink warm beer?

Because Lucas made the coolers.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:43

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Dogleg shifter?

64Mali > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 07/15/2015 at 11:44

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Yeah but who puts 1st down to the left not up to the left...

LongbowMkII > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:47

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instead of needing to use all 3 gates to shift from 2-5 you only need 2. I assume it makes it a bit simpler when 1st will be rarely used.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:49

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190E Cosworth
Porsche 928
Datsun 310
Ferrari 308

64Mali > LongbowMkII 07/15/2015 at 11:50

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I’m sure it works but if you got into that car after driving a modern 5 speed, your going to go the wrong way the first time out.

64Mali > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 07/15/2015 at 11:51

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Its probably from a Cosworth derived car then. Thanks for the list.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:53

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It’s far from complete. A lot of cars with racing-derived transmissions used dogleg first gear because second through fifth were used far more often.

Dogapult > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:56

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mmm... dogleg first gear....

64Mali > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 07/15/2015 at 11:56

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It makes sense, I’ve just never seen it. But my manual knowledge is limited to modern day cars and motorcycles.

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 11:56

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I wound up getting a set of Dunlop ZII’s for pretty rasonable through tirerack since they were being phased out in favor of the newer ZII star spec. 185’s are so freaking skinny :D

64Mali > CKeffer 07/15/2015 at 11:58

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http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSear… those are the hi performance 13” available.

Also Stock Europa size is 155/80-13 were going with 175/70-13. The wheels have to tuck in the rear so cant go too wide.

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 12:03

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Lol hello r-comps! Well, they will certainly be sticky as hell, but yeah none of those will last real long.

64Mali > CKeffer 07/15/2015 at 12:05

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I’m not even sure they are street legal...

64Mali > deekster_caddy 07/15/2015 at 12:06

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I drive by that area on the way home pretty often. I pass the 2A gate to Hanscom, I’m consulting over at Shire right now.

deekster_caddy > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 12:31

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I’m right around the corner on Maguire Rd.

64Mali > deekster_caddy 07/15/2015 at 12:44

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I know exactly where that is, my Dad ran a company at the office park next to Margaritas years ago.

deekster_caddy > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 12:47

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send me an email at my username here plus yahoo.com if you want to say hi next time you are in the area! If you let me know a day before I can try to bring my MG in so we can talk old british car stuff!

64Mali > deekster_caddy 07/15/2015 at 12:55

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Email Sent. Hopefully I got it right.

Brickman > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 12:55

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automotive equivilent of a wolf spider in your bathroom. :P

64Mali > Brickman 07/15/2015 at 12:56

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It looks like a squid with the plug wires attached. I should have gotten a full picture. I want to mount it on the wall as a reminder of darker times.

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 13:24

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They have tread! ....technically

64Mali > CKeffer 07/15/2015 at 13:27

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Did you read the warning?

WARNING: DOT labeled Hoosier Racing Tires meet Department of Transportation requirements for marking and performance only and are NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE . It is unsafe to operate any Hoosier Racing Tire, including DOT tires, on public roads. The prohibited use of Hoosier Racing Tires on public roadways may result in loss of traction, unexpected loss of vehicle control, or sudden loss of tire pressure, resulting in a vehicle crash and possible injury or death.

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 13:42

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warning labels are for pansies and slicks are fine in the rain :D

64Mali > CKeffer 07/15/2015 at 13:43

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How bout you try it and tell me how well it goes. Remember I live in New England.

CKeffer > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 13:51

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Meanwhile in TX we drive on summer tires year round. Also, even with the ammount of track experience I have, I’ve never actually driven on R-Comps.

TxBrumski > 64Mali 07/15/2015 at 17:38

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Or, heard from an English gentleman I met once: “I have had a Lucas pacemaker for years and have never had any tro-”