Help! Anyone out there with a Europa S2?

[petrolhead500]

Is there anyone near Lichfield, Staffordshire who has a Europa S2? I have recently bought a 1971 Europa to restore, this is my first Lotus and I would be grateful if I could take a look at a running example to figure out where some of the bits go. At the moment I am trying to sort out the wiring loom. If you can help then drop me an email or give me a call on 01889 504040 (Steve).

[S2/S3]

Give Richard Winter a call at Banks Engineering 01704 227059
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/index.php
I managed to get a coloured wiring diagram from him when I rewired my car. He knows practically everything you need to know about Europas.

[Esprit2]

Steve,

Can you give us some specifics. Even if we aren't in your neighborhood, perhaps someone will have some answers for you.

Regards,
Tim Engel

[gary_tholl]

If you're not already, get onto the yahoo groups Europa list.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotuseuropa/

Lots of good guys (and gals) on that list. Someone will be able to help you out.

Gary

[petrolhead500]

Thank you for responding, your advice is much appreciated.

The car I have bought is an unfinished restoration. The chassis, brakes and suspension have been done but the interior and the original wiring loom have been removed. I am no mechanic, so I would like to take a look at a finished car to figure out how some things go back together, particularly: -

- The route the loom takes through the car
- The throttle cable is loose on the passenger side, what route does this take to the engine?
- There is no firewall behind the seats, what is this made off? How is it fitted?
- Where does the battery go and how is it secured?
- There is a square hole cut into the body behind the drivers seat (looks like it has been cut out) any idea why?

Thanks again for your help.

Steve

[Esprit2]

petrolhead500 said:

- The route the loom takes through the car
- The throttle cable is loose on the passenger side, what route does this take to the engine?
- There is no firewall behind the seats, what is this made off? How is it fitted?
- Where does the battery go and how is it secured?
- There is a square hole cut into the body behind the drivers seat (looks like it has been cut out) any idea why?

Steve,

The wiring harness lays along the top of the chassis tunnel. It passes through the firewall in the right rear corner and fascia (?) the the front left. Just behind the firewall, the harness splits left and right. The ignition coil, some relays, etc, are mounted to the right. The starter, fuel gauge sender, etc are on the left.

The throttle cable runs on top of the tunnel. Initially along the left side, then diagonally, bridging across the oval access hole, to the right rear corner where it passes through the firewall. It loops around the right side of the engine, up and over the valve cover to the carb linkage.

The OEM firewall is made of a manufactured wood fiber product. In the USA it's called Tempered Hardboard. One brand name is Masonite. When it's perforated with a bunch of holes, we call it peg-board. I'm not sure what it's called in the UK, but does any of that sound familiar. I believe the firewall is 1/4" thick. It's bonded in with glue and fiberglass tape & resin. A thick layer of sissel/felt on the engine bay side serves as sound deadening. Masonite and felt may not sound very structural, but it works and is very effective. FYI... the Esprit used plywood.

Battery location will vary with vintage. My mk 65 has the battery in the front right corner of the engine bay, sitting on the lip of fiberglass that wraps over the top of the chassis leg. In my Twin Cam, the battery was similarly positioned on the left side. The early S1-S2 manual says it goes in the boot. In any case, it's secured with a typical battery hold-down clamp.

The OEM, pencil-thin battery cable really chokes off the starter. Installing a large, HD cable makes a significant improvement in how fast the starter cranks the engine.

A square hole behind the driver's seat... ?? Does not compute, you'll have to say more about it.

Do you have the manuals... both Workshop and Parts? There are a lot of gaps in the information, but they are still the best written resource. There are no non-factory manuals covering the Europa.

As has already been mentioned, the Europa mailing list on YahooGroups is a strong resource. Also, get to know Jerry Johnson's Europa website:
Home
http://lotus-europa.com/
Online Manuals
http://lotus-europa.com/manuals/

...and Richard Winter's Europa Engineering at:
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/index.php

...and for the fun of it, check out Flamer at:
http://www.fusiontechnology.com/europahomepage.htm

Regards,
Tim Engel