Lotus 7 S4 1974: light restoration and modification

[Kghaas]

Duratec mapping second impression:

1. Remember to set rev limiter!
The Duratec is very rev happy, and when tuning the higher rpm band it is easy to over do it. I hit 8239rpms at the most. Huge fun, but lucky the engine survived. I had sett all the criteria for rev limit with both soft and hard cut, but forgot to activate. oops..

2. The afterburner is back.
I had a complaint about the Duratec being too quiet. I take it back. Using the rpm band between 3000-7200rpms (where the limit is now set) the engine is noisy enoguh and has a lot of bangs and crackel on decel. Huge fun!

3. The Duratec is powerful
My first impression was that the Duratec is very powerful low down, and has a very useful torqe down low. It is very cruiser and town friendly. On top of this I can add that the Duratec is a screamer from 3000rpms and up and is seriously fast. The power comes on very smooth and is very controllable. If you floor it in first at 20mph it will spin on dry tarmac. Haven't tried any other gear

4. Chassis is stiffer
I added a chassis brace, and the car feels much stiffer on the road. I actual think there is less body roll, but then again it might just be that it is 6months since I drove the car last.

Had a real blast today and got thumbs up from a few motorcyclist. They probably wish that had a Se7en
This is the last update on this thread for a while.

[Kghaas]

Small update:

Changed to Mintex 1144. Way better brake balance
Did a trackday, and was measured at 104db. Limit on the track is 100db, so the scrutineers let me out on the track to do a drive-by test. Got the green and managed to do 42 laps (each lap is 3,2km).

Car works very well. did half of the laps with Brooklands aero screens. Didn't really feel any different but I was driving without doors all day.

Engine and gearbox works really well. I guess the engine is about 160hp area. Future plans are rollbar and free flow exhaust.

Edited by Kghaas on Wednesday 11th June 19:43

[Kghaas]

Thanks

If you by diff brace means the crossmember under the bellhousing, I have indeed had had clearence issues.I hit the edge of my trailer when rolling the car off. I have now made a new which is higher and also removable. I had no clearence issues on the road with the old design.

[Kghaas]

Last trackday was a real disaster. Waterpump broke after 1m! Nothing else to do than putting the car back on the trailer and go 2h back home again. There was also some heats for racecars this day, and some cars form the Seven Eleven class was there. This is a locost class whit a Seven chasis but with a more modern look to it. The colour was nice too







This was the last trackday of the season for me, and I am now planning for the winter projects:
- New workshop, which will be about twice the size of the existing one, with all the right tools..
- Paint the rollbar
- Mabye widetrack, and all new coilover suspention
- New exhaust. I tried once more to get in contact with Raceline, but these guys just don't know how to answer phones and mails. Amazing customer service! I will probably make one local or buy OEM from Caterham
- New cams
- Oil cooler
+++

Edited by Kghaas on Saturday 19th January 13:32

[Kghaas]

New workshop...

[Kghaas]

[Kghaas]

Thanks guys

Drawing package is Sweethome3d, and all the models are converted from Sketchup.

[Kghaas]

[Kghaas]

I guess one or two things has happened since I posted here. I just think there is too little feedback in this thread for me to post on a regular basis. But requests will of course be honored

The bunker is now done. I have started on the interior and the emphasis is on a working garage, not a showroom. So at the moment I am building about 50m of shelves to store stuff in. I have a tendency to never throw away stuff...

Som pics:


The car is outside under a cover. It is only for another couple of weeks


Fresh concrete creates a lot of dust. You can ses the different passes with the vacuum cleaner. About 10 kilos of dust!


When all dust is gone, you can put on 2K epoxy. I was thinking also considering tiles, but ended up with epoxy as best option for a working space


Bought some interior from Bauhaus, but it was a pain in the arse to assembel. I was also not happy with the design or quality, so I returned som pieces and bought some IKEA stuff instead.


I had already assembled the workbenches. If I was to do this again I would go IKEA for the lot. The Bauhaus stuff is bespoke garage interior in metal, but I just think the IKEA is better for a hobby garage where space is of the essence.

Today I received the two post lift. One package of 550kg! It was delivered 3 meters outside the garage, and I spent 3 hours to wrestle it in!!!
Hopefully I will have it up by this weekend

[Kghaas]

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.

[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..

[Kghaas]

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