Lotus 7 S4 1974: light restoration and modification
Discussion
Ordered all bushings for front and rear for the S4 from Redline. Received all today, so they were very quick indeed. Price incl shiping was £180. So my experience was very good.
Now I am waiting for the rear disk kit to arrive. Quess I'll start working on the S4 during the first week of jan.
Now I am waiting for the rear disk kit to arrive. Quess I'll start working on the S4 during the first week of jan.
Hi Neil,
I have ordered a set of brakes from http://www.arrowautoengineering.co.uk/page5.htm
The smallest set with Alloy callipers. I should be getting them within a week or two.
I will post pics and my assessment of the kit.
I will also weigh the complete disk Vs drum setup so that we can put that discussion to rest once and for all
Currently not much happening, but will take out the rear axel this weekend and prepare for bushing and brakes.
I have ordered a set of brakes from http://www.arrowautoengineering.co.uk/page5.htm
The smallest set with Alloy callipers. I should be getting them within a week or two.
I will post pics and my assessment of the kit.
I will also weigh the complete disk Vs drum setup so that we can put that discussion to rest once and for all
Currently not much happening, but will take out the rear axel this weekend and prepare for bushing and brakes.
Never thought of the LBN calippers to be Chinese. I assumed they were second hand from some other car. I don't have any second thaughts about that. The Chinese makes some realy good stuff, but also some bad stuff... My worst experience in car parts quality are American....
I guess that Andy which supplies these have checked the quality since he does most of the upgrades for the customers.
Anyway: The stuff is in the mail and we will just have to wait and see. As I said; I will post details and impresions.
As for the bgdevelopements guys: Relay nice project but way out of my league. Remember, the S4 is more or less a locost. I am keeping it that way
I guess that Andy which supplies these have checked the quality since he does most of the upgrades for the customers.
Anyway: The stuff is in the mail and we will just have to wait and see. As I said; I will post details and impresions.
As for the bgdevelopements guys: Relay nice project but way out of my league. Remember, the S4 is more or less a locost. I am keeping it that way
This is relay not a big project. Just take it slow and learn by doing. That's the way i did it.
As for progress, there is not much happening. Need to do some other work on the Porsche so the Lotus is being a bit neglected.
But I did receive the stuff from Arrow engineering. So far i think it looks really good indeed. The calipers are alloy and really light! Haven't had time to take all parts off the rear axle, so no weights yet. The kit looks very complete!
The caliper
The only modification needed to fit the kit is that you have to reduce the drive shaft flange down to 130mm. Since I don't have a lathe, I just used the grinder. 3rd gear on idle kept the flange spinning at an ok speed. 7 minutes on each side and voila!. Maybe not as accurate as an lathe, but way more effective. Tolerance is within 0.2mm
So now rear axle is ready for a good cleaning, disassembly and paint before i put the stuff back on.
I also had a problem with one of the bars. The bolt is rusted together with the steel center of the bushing. I will see how I go about that later.
As for progress, there is not much happening. Need to do some other work on the Porsche so the Lotus is being a bit neglected.
But I did receive the stuff from Arrow engineering. So far i think it looks really good indeed. The calipers are alloy and really light! Haven't had time to take all parts off the rear axle, so no weights yet. The kit looks very complete!
The caliper
The only modification needed to fit the kit is that you have to reduce the drive shaft flange down to 130mm. Since I don't have a lathe, I just used the grinder. 3rd gear on idle kept the flange spinning at an ok speed. 7 minutes on each side and voila!. Maybe not as accurate as an lathe, but way more effective. Tolerance is within 0.2mm
So now rear axle is ready for a good cleaning, disassembly and paint before i put the stuff back on.
I also had a problem with one of the bars. The bolt is rusted together with the steel center of the bushing. I will see how I go about that later.
Edited by Kghaas on Saturday 19th January 13:33
Allen screw..... I knew that....
Anyway, the washers was to center the caliper. I could of course fabricate a spacer plate or make the whole bracket 4mm wider, but that would just take too much time and effort. Besides the strength is all good anyway. Best and fastest solution is just to weld it in place. I might do that at a later stage...
Anyway, the washers was to center the caliper. I could of course fabricate a spacer plate or make the whole bracket 4mm wider, but that would just take too much time and effort. Besides the strength is all good anyway. Best and fastest solution is just to weld it in place. I might do that at a later stage...
Thought I just include some interesting links to other S4 projects:
Widebody S4(SteelBros) in NZ:
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?414...
Superbly documented restoration in US:
http://cnx.org/content/m36959/latest/
Dutch restauration:
http://www.kitcarclub.nl/forum/index.php?/topic/18...
If you have any other links to interesting S4 projects, please share
Widebody S4(SteelBros) in NZ:
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?414...
Superbly documented restoration in US:
http://cnx.org/content/m36959/latest/
Dutch restauration:
http://www.kitcarclub.nl/forum/index.php?/topic/18...
If you have any other links to interesting S4 projects, please share
You can get those suits in all the stores. It's the high fashion here in Norway 
Lost another day on the project since the primer was too thin in places, so I have decided to have another go with primer before paint. I realy don't have time since there is other projects waiting. But then again, I won't paint the car in 5-6 years so lets do it right first time!
Target now is to have the paint finished by Friday
Ready for next layer of primer:
Lost another day on the project since the primer was too thin in places, so I have decided to have another go with primer before paint. I realy don't have time since there is other projects waiting. But then again, I won't paint the car in 5-6 years so lets do it right first time!
Target now is to have the paint finished by Friday
Ready for next layer of primer:
Nice to see that there is some interest
if anyone is passing by in the Oslo area, you are most welcome to drop by.
As for colour, I am going for RAL2004 solid orange. One of the original colours was Orange but this colour should be more in the line of the current Caterhma orange.
I put on the last layer of primer today and will go for color and clear tomorrow. And yes, I do all work myself. I like to learn, so i try all kind of stuff. I have done some painting of wheels and different parts earlier, but this is first time doing a whole car. If you can call a Seven a whole car....
Stay tuned, pics of freshly painted S4 should be up tomorrow 8 of March(late..)
if anyone is passing by in the Oslo area, you are most welcome to drop by.
As for colour, I am going for RAL2004 solid orange. One of the original colours was Orange but this colour should be more in the line of the current Caterhma orange.
I put on the last layer of primer today and will go for color and clear tomorrow. And yes, I do all work myself. I like to learn, so i try all kind of stuff. I have done some painting of wheels and different parts earlier, but this is first time doing a whole car. If you can call a Seven a whole car....
Stay tuned, pics of freshly painted S4 should be up tomorrow 8 of March(late..)
Nice model
I spent the afternoon in the paintshop. 3 layers of Orange and 5 layers of clear. Too early to say if it is good or not but at least it is ORANGE!
When puting on the orange I realised that I actualy does not have enough light. Some of the areas are paintet without actually seeing the details.
One good thing was the plastic coversheets. These are static charged and actually draws the spray dust.
Ready to go!
It is Orange. Not orange-ish or touch of orange, but god dame orange!
I spent the afternoon in the paintshop. 3 layers of Orange and 5 layers of clear. Too early to say if it is good or not but at least it is ORANGE!
When puting on the orange I realised that I actualy does not have enough light. Some of the areas are paintet without actually seeing the details.
One good thing was the plastic coversheets. These are static charged and actually draws the spray dust.
Ready to go!
It is Orange. Not orange-ish or touch of orange, but god dame orange!
With 3 kids, bussy jobb and 3 other projects waiting I have no time to hang arround. Spring is almost here so I need to keep going.
In the daylight I got the opportunity to inspect the paint job. The base color is realy good, but I was too eager with the clear. 4 realy bad cases of running paint. Needs to be sanded down one way or another. Hopefully I dont have to put on another coat of clear. Part from that the paint is realy good. I will give myself 6 out of 10 for the job.
Over the weekend I will assemble the car and put it outside so I can fix my oldest sons brakepipes.
In the daylight I got the opportunity to inspect the paint job. The base color is realy good, but I was too eager with the clear. 4 realy bad cases of running paint. Needs to be sanded down one way or another. Hopefully I dont have to put on another coat of clear. Part from that the paint is realy good. I will give myself 6 out of 10 for the job.
Over the weekend I will assemble the car and put it outside so I can fix my oldest sons brakepipes.
Unfortunately it did not pass its MOT, I got 1(!) fault and that was the handbrake not beeing firm enough. Since it is now a diskbrake setup, I have to look over how i did the wires one more time.
Should be easy stuff, and the car is comming together nicely.
One thing that puzzles me is that the car has quite good ground clerance. It is actually much higher than my Porsche. Might want to lower the car some day...
Pic with freshly painted wheels.
Should be easy stuff, and the car is comming together nicely.
One thing that puzzles me is that the car has quite good ground clerance. It is actually much higher than my Porsche. Might want to lower the car some day...
Pic with freshly painted wheels.
Edited by Kghaas on Saturday 19th January 13:35
The "ghost" will stay. I have seen some cars which have blended them in, but I think it is too much work. Besides, it makes the conversion ireversible. I like to keep it simple.
I have also seen some which has highlighted the edge, but I didnt like that either. So for now I just keep it like that.
I have painted the the original grille same colour as the wheels and will put that in as a starter. I also have some other options if it doesnt work out.
I have also seen some which has highlighted the edge, but I didnt like that either. So for now I just keep it like that.
I have painted the the original grille same colour as the wheels and will put that in as a starter. I also have some other options if it doesnt work out.
Edited by Kghaas on Tuesday 10th April 23:02
Ok then, I'll keep posting but then i need some help:
I would like to test the car at a track an would like to mess around with the camber. Is it possible to adjust? I doesn't look like it is adjustable without changing hardware. Any tips?
Since I need to overhaule the front suspension I would like to go wide track. Can someone point me in the right direction? Is there any wishbones that fit? Any pics of how they are attached?
I am afraid it is a cut and weld job, and I am not sure I want to do that....
I would like to test the car at a track an would like to mess around with the camber. Is it possible to adjust? I doesn't look like it is adjustable without changing hardware. Any tips?
Since I need to overhaule the front suspension I would like to go wide track. Can someone point me in the right direction? Is there any wishbones that fit? Any pics of how they are attached?
I am afraid it is a cut and weld job, and I am not sure I want to do that....
Thanks for the feedback. Some black stonechip protection is coming on at some point. For now I will just use the car. All mods will be done in the winter. Might do a zetec conversion, but then again the Sound of this xflow is just fantastic! I smile everytime I lift of the gas. So much bangs and pufs. Love it!
Just a test with my mobile. Press to play
Anyone have some feedback on the zetec and choice of induction. I realy would like the rough rally sound like the xflow.
Just a test with my mobile. Press to play
Anyone have some feedback on the zetec and choice of induction. I realy would like the rough rally sound like the xflow.
Edited by Kghaas on Saturday 28th July 22:16
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