Lotus 7 - S4

Author
Discussion

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
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S47

I live in Hampshire around a mile from Wickham Square in fact. Not quite as prolific on the mileage front, currently doing around 2.5K per year. Less horses means my tyre wear is no where near that bad smile

As I'm not too prissy about originality, I much prefer to have the car as I want it! It was originally a 1300GT I think going by the chassis number, and had been changed around a bit by the previous owner. He installed a 1600 Kent (Which went bang on me shortly after purchase!) and the exhaust. He'd also done a ground up rebuild with a new chassis in 1994. He was looking to race it, but found the problem of only having one hand meant he couldn't get a comp licence, hence the sale - I picked it up for £ 5K in 1996.

Since then, with the help of some good mates, I have rebuilt the engine and bored it out to 1700. Now has Steel internals and a 244 cam, so it's not to sluggish smile

4 years ago I asked Chris W to do a strip down and rebuild with a new paint job and aeros etc, the result I am very pleased with! As I said, I do still have doors, windscreen, hood etc, so could if needed return it to "normal", I just don't see the need at the moment.

Hope the snow clears soon!

Cheers

Mike

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

179 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
Dieter7s4 - Mike
Originality is OK for the anoraks eg [HLR], I need the car to perform as good as poss on Blats. Hence the engine upgrades etc. I've done quite a bit more than is in my simplesevens article - Aeroscreens SCCR 5speed box etc. And the car is now as good as I want, certainly on the power front I have ample for the S4 chassis, probably too much, hence the rear tyre wear.
You say you car was originally a 1300GT does it have the chassis rail running underneath the Sump??
The S4 chassis ain't the most rigid, and I read somewhere that 1300GT chassis omitted this rail under the sump, which certainly wouldn't help in this regard.
Ive stiffened mine up with the front and rear tiebars which makes a real improvement.
Does you car leak from the petrol cap? Mine does and I've tried everything to cure this irritating problem without success. Maybe i'm cornering too fast and that's the probbiggrin
My latest upgrade is a new front ARB & droplinks to try to cure the front brakes grabbing/locking under heavy braking.
My 2 Brother inlaws live near Southhampton though I never make it down to that part of the country.
If you ever get to Wales maybe we can have a blat, be good to blat with another S4.biggrin
Mal

Dave J

883 posts

265 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
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Greetings Mal

Like a bad fart we cant keep you down soapboxgetmecoatwhistle

you out on Thursday ???

ps - I promise not to drink drinktongue out

dj

Edited by Dave J on Tuesday 2nd March 14:57

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

179 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
Dave J
smokinI don't believe itbiggrin
They'll ban you too if they find out you're posting behind their backs.biggrin
I'm up to 12 posts and no aggro so far, why ain't BC like this??
I'll be blattin' this week provided we don't have any more Snow,
How's your Steering Rack - fitted it yet?
How's Lisa? Tell her you passed on the bloody cold to us, Bon & I both have it, and we're blaming you.
How's the steak & kidney's - full to the brim me hopesbiggrin
CU Thursday
Mal

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
Mal,

Yup - petrol filler leaks like Niagara Falls if you brim it eek I normally only half fill unless I'm on a long trip (Le Mans etc). Sevens in convoy behind moan like hell otherwise. I think it's the gasket in the filler cap, but I have not been able to trace a replacement as yet so just live with it!

Yup, I'm pretty certain I do have the strut under the sump, the chassis was replaced in 1994, I don't have the rear strut in the boot that you refer to on simple sevens, but do have the roll bar which stiffens up the back end.

Be good to go for a blat with another S4, the only other one I know about is Brian Soper's wife's car!

Cheers

Mike

EVS777

212 posts

185 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
S47 said:
Hey Al
Good to know you're on the 'Darkside' too, It's begining to feel right homelybiggrin
How's SWMBO performing lately? We missed you both last Saturday - right quiet it wassmilesmile
Are you Blatting Thursday or Sat?
If we get any more snow it's the tintop for mefrown
Mal
Mel is good thanks! I'll probably be in tintop Thursday, whats the details for Saturday?? are they meeting in Usk etc or some place else?? Llanidloes?? Suppose I'll get details Thursday...iching for a good run out!!!

Eugene7

739 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
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Hey Mike, now you've run my engine bits in, can I have them back?

biggrin

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
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Steve, ya don't need them - brand spanking new Zetec and all that, anyway possesion for longer than 12 years equals ownership in my book smile

I'll treat you to a breakfast orange at the classic beer

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

179 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
DieterS47
Yep Brian Sopers wife's car, normally see Him and family at Stoneleigh in May, also saw him at the 50th Bash in Norfolk. Nice guy, last time I was talking to him he'd just fitted the rear strut in the boot of her car.
On the Taffia fish n chip run we sometimes get a yellow S4 who joins the run at the half way point, seen him a coupla times it's a Yellow K reg 1600gt with a side exhaust like yours, but has Alloy side panels? I have a photo of this car somewhere, when I figure out how to get photo's onto PH I'll post it up.
I don't think the petrol leak is caused by the cap seal, I bought a complete new cap - still leaks just as bad, I even welded a hinged flap inside the tank filler hole to try and cure the prob - no chance frown
It's a real pain coz like you say more than half full and the gas leaks like niagara. I really need a bigger tank, my Dutton has a 12 gallon tank which is great for touring and long Blats. At 7.5 gals the 7's is simply too small, although the situation has improved since I fitted the Zetec which is much more frugal than the Xflow.
>
Al
No pre-meet blat Thursday AFAIK, But Saturday is on. If it ain't snowing I may take the 7 thursday, I aint used it since the first week of Decfrown
Mal

Eugene7

739 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
st - 12 years - is it really that long????
Guess they're really well run-in now!

Bugger, I feel real old grumpy

Eugene7

739 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
Mind you - look forward to a breakfast orange or two biglaugh

And a beer in the usual...

Dave J

883 posts

265 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
rack is on its way back but I wont have it fitted in time for sat ......

frown

dampers arrived back home today smile

I also have riks exhaust from the polishers so I'm tintopping thursday .

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
Mal

If the piccy is on your HD click on Upload an Image above the reply box,follow the destructions!

Hmmm..... not sure about the filler cap thing then, as I said, I've been living with it for best part of 15 years now! Must get our heads together to resolve at some point!!!

Steve, Hope the weather's better than 2007 eek

Cheers

Mike

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
And yes - I know the rear number plate fitting is upside down!!!

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

179 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Mike
Here's afew of the S4's Ive seen over pass 10 years.
Hope the photo uplinks OK
Maybe you know the owners?
Or maybe the owners frequent this forumbiggrin
Mal

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Don't know any of them, but interesting to see the yellow one with cycle wings - not sure about that look on an S4!

Mike

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

179 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Mike
Yellow car has all the original bits except the wings and exhaust, the guy rebuilt it himself.
White TC car was very Original/Tatty with the flat tc bonnet only 2nd one i've seen with that style bonnet.
It was for sale on Ebay 2-3years ago, The seller wanted ~£7500 starting price, the car had been welded in front box sectionfrown and needed a new chassis IMO, seller wouldn't drop down on price, and I don't think the car sold. It would've been a fair buy at ~£5K bearing in mind the cost & amount of work to swop chassis.
Red 'Swiss' registered car is a one owner car - Roger Savary I think is the owners name, met him briefly at 50th bash blat.
Blue car was owned by a stuck up pratt who wouldn't talk to me about itmad
Red Uk car featured in the classic & sports car feature on lotus 7's - can't remember the date of publication. And was also at Stoneleigh last year, in fact he parked next to my car I have a photo somewhere, and I think the 2 S4's were also Featured in 'Low Flyin'
The owner of Silver/blue car saw my Simplesevens article and contacted me, he lives up north somewhere 1600Gt it is.
Do you have any photo's of S4's you've seen?
Mal

Dieter7S4

198 posts

193 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Ah.... didn't spot the Swiss reg, I've met Roger Savary a number of times, Roger used to be the chairman of the Swiss 7 club (he may still be?) - did the Swiss meet 4 or 5 times in the 90's. There used to be a fair S4 representation then from the Swiss and the Germans. TBH that's one of the reasons I started looking for an S4 when I sold my Caterham in 95.

I've just looked at their site, Roger is still on the ctte.

All my S4 piccies from then are in a box in the loft - must get round to scanning them in!!!

Some interesting pics on this site including the 2 blue ones you posted, it looks like they were taken outside Freddy Kumschck's garage on one of the Swiss meets.

http://appl.carspecken.ch/Carspecken/picturelsss.n...

Mike

7tastc

21 posts

168 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Hi Mal Hows it going?
Just joined up too

tank this reminds of of the blat you took me and Bridget on in the pooring rain to the fake village with the burnt out tanks

Hope you are both well
Tony

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

179 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Mike
Good link to them photo's
Black car was for sale about 8-9years ago in Switzerland - In fact I almost went to look at it!
Red car pic is from C&SC article.
Pale yellow car is owned by a German who's name escapes me, I met him at 50th bash too though he didn't have the car with himfrown
The B&W Photos car was the original demonstrator, I have an original cutting from Sunday mirror July 1970 which features it;-))
Mal

Edited by S47 on Wednesday 3rd March 19:15