Lotus 7 S4 1974: light restoration and modification

[JB052]

Fantastic garage, very envious.

[JB052]

Fantastic garage, very envious.

[7s4whatelse]

Thanks a lot for the update, Knut. Well done and you can now see the light in the end of the tunnel.
Best ever investment I did was installing a two post lift. That really makes the difference even on hobby basis. And it is good for the own back. We´re getting older....
I think most of us have the tendency to keep things and to look for starage. I have a third S4 in the shelves.

[mickrick]

Proper!

[7s4whatelse]

Knut, I think you should be happy now...

Any S4 news now?

[Kghaas]

No news on the S4. I still have a lot of things going on with the garage/house project; new apartment, new garden, new driveway, new plumbing +++. I will probably not do anything with the S4 before summer.
I did however start a new Lotus project last week, but it is a much smaller car. Maybe I should start a new thread..

[7s4whatelse]

Kghaas said:

No news on the S4. I still have a lot of things going on with the garage/house project; new apartment, new garden, new driveway, new plumbing +++. I will probably not do anything with the S4 before summer.
I did however start a new Lotus project last week, but it is a much smaller car. Maybe I should start a new thread..

Or just tell first words here..... and THEN start a new thread

[Kghaas]

First words:
Lotus Super Seven S4 1:2 scale model. Pushcar racer....

[bobde1989]

Hi - I'm trying to get my Series 4 on the road here in Michigan. I've owned the car since 1981 but it hasn't been on the road in more than 20 years. I need to get axle and pinion bearings and seals for the rear axle which is at a shop for a rebuild. I've read in some forums that it is an Escort Axle, but it looks like a Cortina axle. Do you know what type of axle it is, and where I might get parts? Dave Bean Engineering in California has Cortina axle parts so I'm set it is a Cortina axle. I've uploaded a couple of pictures of the axle while it was in the car. Appreciate any info. Thanks!

[rene7]

Hey Bob
the axle is similar to mine [See photo] - Mine is an 'english' axle - this was fitted to Mk1 & 2 Escort - Mk 1 &2 Cortina, and ford Anglia 105E, and many others. I suggest taking the old bearings with you when you buy the new ones, alternatively measure the width, bore and Outside diameter of the bearing, these will be Imperial sizes [NOT METRIC]
Mine also had the bearing numbers engraved around the edge of the outer race. They are easy to obtain at any Bearing suppliers, here in UK we Have BSL/Brammer, there are similar bearing supply chains in USA.
Hope this helps
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[rene7]

Hey Bob
Whilst we're on the subject I see from your photo that you have the Hugely Ginormous And Heavy 113E nose fitted to you axle, check out the Lotus7-S4 thread in the Caterham section for more info on this:-
Here's a photo showing the difference in the nose castings.:-
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Weight difference is a massive 4kg between the two, this is 'Unsprung weight' - well worth getting the 105E casting if you can,

[Farlig]

rene7 said:

Hey Bob
Whilst we're on the subject I see from your photo that you have the Hugely Ginormous And Heavy 113E nose fitted to you axle, check out the Lotus7-S4 thread in the Caterham section for more info on this:-
Here's a photo showing the difference in the nose castings.:-
>
>
>
Weight difference is a massive 4kg between the two, this is 'Unsprung weight' - well worth getting the 105E casting if you can,

Or, if you can afford one - an alloy housing saves even more weight!!

[unclefester]

Kghaas said:

downsman said:

I'm so envious, your workshop is brilliant

thanks, but the bill might not make you that envious..


Mancave progress:
2 post up, and 50 meters of shelves
Electricity next week.

Hi! Brilliant thread...excellent work.

One question. How much headroom do you have for the two post lift?

I am in the process of modifying a small watermill in France which has had part of it turned into a barn of 87m², and I want to put in a suspended concrete first floor, with about 80m² garage workshop underneath, but I didn't think I could use a hydraulic lift due to height constraints.

Maybe I can? I've not determined the final position of the upper level....it will be walk through from the small house part of the mill, so your dimensions will help me decide what's possible.

I also like your rear view mirror solution....I nearly did the same for mine. My RHD Caterham SV (in France) needed a scuttle mounted mirror on the left side. I had a classic 'bullet' race mirror, but on the short mounting stub that comes with them, it was 100% impossible to get it to point anywhere useful, so I had to make some sort of 4" support for it.

I did it in GRP, with a stainless steel brace to stop kids ripping it out of the aluminium skin while using it as a handle to help them get in.

I'm very pleased with it, it's rock steady. Only works with the little aeroscreen though.
...




I've also swapped wings around on Caterhams, why not? I even swapped cycle wings back to clams, so I could put those little chromed brass Bullet sidelights on.....it looked brilliant.

That was on a 1980 live axle Lotus Twincam engined Caterham.