Lotus 7 - S4

Author
Discussion

mrvman

20 posts

113 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Concerned, have not seen a posting from; "7s4whatelse (Hajo) in some time. Is he doing well? on holiday? Hate to bother, hope Hajo is well. Am in need of an S4 Seven Windscreen surround, front headlamp brackets, seat frames, windscreen wiper assembly, interior heater, and would be nice to have the later side screens and updated hood (top). This is my starting list of parts. I am in Arizona USA. Thank you for the time and information.
Steve V. S4 7 in Arizona USA

James.Burton

22 posts

91 months

Thursday 4th August 2016
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I'm lookig to buy an S4. Saw this one http://finance.autoexposure.co.uk/classicdd.cfm?Ac... from panorama bay cars.
I'm a car (and bike) lover, but not a great spanner man. Also I live overseas in Austria, so getting parts / expert help will be challenging. Any advice you can give would be great.
You all seem to be experts, and I'm wondering if me dreams of relatively trouble free motoring (apart from fuel cap issues...) with the odd winter job, might be unrealistic.

James

Equus

16,770 posts

100 months

Thursday 4th August 2016
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Given the very long period in storage, and notwithstanding the recommissioning work that has been done, I'd expect that car to require a certain amount of debugging before it becomes reliable again.

It'll probably be trivial stuff, in the main (bad earths, perished bushes, brake components, that sort of thing), but the costs might add up if you're not comfortable doing the work yourself.

James.Burton

22 posts

91 months

Thursday 4th August 2016
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Thanks for the thoughts. Yes I guess there will still be bugs to find.

swompy62

28 posts

103 months

Friday 5th August 2016
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Hi People, how strict are the colours on a Lotus 7 S4, Mine was originally blue, however its looks lighter 'more sky blue' than another I have seen in a Photo. I would prefer the lighter colour, any objections or advise.
1971 s4 GT with 1600 xflow. you may have seen this colour in my previous posts.
Anp I would still like to meet up to see your car for those tips how things go together.

uglyduck

17 posts

137 months

Wednesday 10th August 2016
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mrvman said:
Concerned, have not seen a posting from; "7s4whatelse (Hajo) in some time. Is he doing well? on holiday? Hate to bother, hope Hajo is well. Am in need of an S4 Seven Windscreen surround, front headlamp brackets, seat frames, windscreen wiper assembly, interior heater, and would be nice to have the later side screens and updated hood (top). This is my starting list of parts. I am in Arizona USA. Thank you for the time and information.
Steve V. S4 7 in Arizona USA
I have a wiper assembly and headlight pods/brackets, sidescreens and wind screen frames.

mrvman

20 posts

113 months

Thursday 11th August 2016
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Uglyduck,
Thank you for the reply, interested in your parts. Sent a private email message just now.
Steve V. In Arizona USA

mrvman

20 posts

113 months

Thursday 11th August 2016
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Forgot to ask, Is there a source for Lotus S4 7 tops/hoods? Or are tops/hoods to be made individually? Once again, thank you for the time and information.
Steve V. In Arizona USA

mrvman

20 posts

113 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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Trying to put together my Lotus S4 Seven LBS4/2894/GT Questions:
Front and rear spring rates, and free lengths of springs
Do Lotus Europa front sway bars fit?
Source for Top/hood? Or are they individually made?
Does the Steele Brothers windscreen surround fit the Lotus S4? Does anyone have a screen surround? I need one or will make one.
How does the top/hood attach to the screen surround? Snaps or groove in surround? Is there a metal insert in the front of the top/hood?
Are the top/hood sticks attached to the top/hood?
Heater assembly. Would a modified Triumph Spitfire heater work? What fan in heater?
Many questions to come. This is good start. Thank you in advance.
Steve V. Lotus S4 Seven in Arizona USA

S42652GT

11 posts

159 months

Monday 5th September 2016
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Hello to all,

My S4 (WPW544H - S42652GT) is about to be painted ! But i try to find the composition of the color, we decide to repainted it in is original color, an red/orange, some of you have an information for me ?
Thanks by advance
Ben

uglyduck

17 posts

137 months

Tuesday 4th October 2016
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Well, never did find and good quality original lower wishbones for my 7S4 so I made my own. They use the standard metalastic bushings and are designed to accept standard suspension configuration. These are tubular, made out of 1"OD .059 wall seamless 4130 tubing. Machined ends are mild steel and the shock mount is 3/4" DOM thick wall tube reamed to 1/2" bore. I tested them last weekend at the track. Unfortunately I did contact the fall with the front right side, but i was pleased that the damage was confined to a scraped fender and a bent vertical link so repair was quick and easy. I replaced the vertical link and was back on track for your next session. If this had happened with the OEM lower wishbones the suspension would have completely collapsed and may have possibly damaged the chassis as well.

Edited by uglyduck on Tuesday 4th October 19:55

Michael2829TC

1 posts

88 months

Tuesday 29th November 2016
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Hi everyone

I'm new to this Forum and glad to have found this thread. About o month ago I purchased a Seven S4, fitted with a TC engine (and the corresponding early flat bonnet), hardtop and lotus brand alloys. The car was part of a car collection in Andorra an therefore has not hit the road too often during the last 17 years. All the parts are present and brakes, engine and electrics work so far, but the car is still in need of a restoration, as all the rubber parts have dried out and the steel panel on the passenger side (it's RHD) shows some corrosion.

I reside in Switzerland. Faced with the incredibly high hourly rates of swiss restorers and due to the fact that there are very few Lotus experts, I am considering to restore the seven myself or to let it undergo a rebuild somewhere abroad (i.e. in the UK, Germany...). As it's a kit car, i am not planning a concours restoration with everything powdercoated or chromed. I would like the chassis to be looked at, a respray and the engine to be checked and rebuilt if necessary.

Can anyone recommend me a good and not too pricy restorer?

richardl7S4

37 posts

100 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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Hi Michael,

I'm gradually restoring a 1972 Lotus 7 S4 T/C and would recommend you have a go yourself.

These cars will not make big money so the cost of getting the job done professionally could be prohibitive. If you prefer to let someone else sort the car, then companies that restore Elans and Europas would have no problem working on a Seven.

In the UK, Redline are the main source of Seven parts, but for the engine you have a choice of several specialists including Burton etc. Check out "elan.net" as a really good forum for the Twin Cam.

Good luck which ever way you choose to go.

Regards, Richard

Mick O'Malley

20 posts

137 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
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Hi All

After some soul searching, I've decided to sell my S4 Seven project as I've simply got too many on the go and an example of my dream car (of which only 74 were made) has been offered to me FOC!

It's completely dismantled (since 1981, apparently) and the only work I've performed in the 5½ years I've owned it is to buy a windscreen and frame and new wings; have the chassis frame blasted to bare metal; paint it with red oxide and put it back in the shed. I took the head off the seized 1600 x-flow engine in 2011 and poured some aggressive penetrating fluid in the bores. I haven't checked it since. The spare wheel bracket/number plate holder is missing.

It's correctly registered in my name with DVLA - ***7J and I have its ownership history. I collected it in a long wheelbase van.

If anyone's interested please e-mail me.

Regards, Mick

Edited by Mick O'Malley on Saturday 14th January 12:04

swompy62

28 posts

103 months

Monday 16th January 2017
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Hello Good people, My 1971 s4 1600 gt build is progressing but I have a few questions,
what radiator, better still a part number
what front hubs, what are they off, in a previous post I showed my modded spitfire ones
but originality would be better.
Thanks.

frogeye181

1 posts

85 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Hi - I realise this was posted a long time ago but do you still have the scanned manual? If so I'd appreciate it if you can email me a copy gordonsmth50@gmail.com. Thanks

MARKS6900

306 posts

201 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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Mick O'Malley said:
Hi All

After some soul searching, I've decided to sell my S4 Seven project as I've simply got too many on the go and an example of my dream car (of which only 74 were made) has been offered to me FOC!

It's completely dismantled (since 1981, apparently) and the only work I've performed in the 5½ years I've owned it is to buy a windscreen and frame and new wings; have the chassis frame blasted to bare metal; paint it with red oxide and put it back in the shed. I took the head off the seized 1600 x-flow engine in 2011 and poured some aggressive penetrating fluid in the bores. I haven't checked it since. The spare wheel bracket/number plate holder is missing.

It's correctly registered in my name with DVLA - ***7J and I have its ownership history. I collected it in a long wheelbase van.

If anyone's interested please e-mail me.

Regards, Mick

Edited by Mick O'Malley on Saturday 14th January 12:04
I sent you an email regarding your car but no reply.

LuckesGTV6

9 posts

85 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Hi Guys,

Just trying to help clear up some points on the Seven Series 4 thread.

Firstly, my credentials:-
In 1969 I had just been promoted to Senior Design Engineer at Components and the Type 60 (7 Series 4) was my first project after completing the work I had done with Dave Baldwin on the S3 (and other projects).
I was responsible for the 'Package design' of the vehicle (body layout and all mechanical components including weather protection & hood). The body design was completed by Alan Barrett who also made the excellent body moulds for the self-coloured shells (Mirror Finish, no filler possible).

I'd like to correct a misleading statement in Graham Arnolds book on the Seven, where he stated that Dave Baldwin designed the vehicle, this has caused much confusion, and annoyance!
Dave Baldwin was involved with the S4 insofar as his advice was sought on a couple of occasions and also driving the prototype twincam to a F3? race in Germany where he sneaked off on a jolly with Emerson Fittipaldi who gave it a blast around the Nordschleife. Dave said that Emerson was quite impressed, particularly as it was on road tyres.

As far as I know Chapman could have been aware that the car was underway as a type number had been allocated and a suitable section of the workshop had been partitioned and was under lock & key (3 keyholders only = M.D.W.W, A.B and self).
Chapman usually trawled the drawing boards 'out of hours' but he was a bit preoccupied at this time and also I had been asked to keep any 'evidence' off my board.
The project lead time was also extremely short, the layout package and running 'skate' design started early July 1969 and 10 cars were required by Jan 7th 1970, so this could explain his surprise at the presentation!
Although there were 2 development cars, yellow & blue, available at the time I thought that only one car was used, a red 1600cc pre production car. (might be a case of brain fag though)

It's a shame that innacuracies creep in over time. Perhaps the above will help put a bit of the record straight?

Picture is of the quarter scale model made to my original layout drawings. Note the non-production rear wing shape to take upright elliptical rootes group rear lights.


Edited by LuckesGTV6 on Tuesday 21st February 17:08

LuckesGTV6

9 posts

85 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
swompy62 said:
Hello Good people, My 1971 s4 1600 gt build is progressing but I have a few questions,
what radiator, better still a part number
what front hubs, what are they off, in a previous post I showed my modded spitfire ones
but originality would be better.
Thanks.
Hi swompy62

1969 ..... Long time ago - but my first thought was the Triumph Vitesse radiator..

The hubs were definitely specials, first designed for the Series 3 to suit the 5 1/2 J Cortina wheels.
I believe that even the bare castings were special to Lotus as they needed more metal due to the larger PCD, although they were otherwise very similar to the Standard-Triumph part. Both were quite heavy though, being cast iron and, of course, unsprung weight is an issue with 7's generally!
If Caterham do an equivalent alloy hub for the same stub axle & wheel it might be the cheapest way to go although your adaptor solution should be OK if it is adequate mechanically and if the increased track is acceptable - but both compromise originality.

Hope this helps.in some way.

Kghaas

173 posts

150 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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LuckesGTV6 said:
Hi Guys,

Picture is of the quarter scale model made to my original layout drawings. Note the non-production rear wing shape to take upright elliptical rootes group rear lights.


Edited by LuckesGTV6 on Tuesday 21st February 17:08
How fantastic to have one of the developers commenting in this thread!
Do you have any more period pictures?
Do you have any info or pics of the clubman prototype?