Discussion
Hi folks, I’m restoring a series 4. 
It’s come on a little since this picture. I’m looking for a windscreen and some sidescreens and seats in any condition. I’m aware of good old redline and will call them soon. It’s a crossflow model which suits me just fine.
Could someone remind me what the handbrake umbrella mechanism was from please?
Thank you all.
It’s come on a little since this picture. I’m looking for a windscreen and some sidescreens and seats in any condition. I’m aware of good old redline and will call them soon. It’s a crossflow model which suits me just fine.
Could someone remind me what the handbrake umbrella mechanism was from please?
Thank you all.
Handbrake is from renault16
Windscreen glass is flat laminated, so any decent glass supplier
Windscreen support brackets, and original 'extruded' aluminium windcreen frame - unique to S4 are unobtainable - have been since mid 1970's, I've seen some s4's with later caterham type frame and supports, though if you use these you'll need a caterham type hood, custom made for an S4, the hood fixing on S4;s using the original extruded frame is light years ahead of the crappy [still current] caterham item, and much better at keeping the rain out
Sidescreens were originally leathercloth on a steel frame so ought to be simple to make though you'll need the windows welding in. later s4's had aluminium frames with sliding windows!! and a vacuum formed plasticlower half, these have also been unobtainable since mid 1970's.
Good luck finding them - let us know how you get on.
Other s4 bits unique to the car which are imposible to find are the steering wheel, most had a plastic rim, but leather was an option, only car i've ever seen with the leather wheel is mine, the centre boss is also different on leather wheel to the shiny plastic rimmed wheel boss, seats are unobtainable but you may be able to get some made if you can source the correct material - good luck
Windscreen glass is flat laminated, so any decent glass supplier
Windscreen support brackets, and original 'extruded' aluminium windcreen frame - unique to S4 are unobtainable - have been since mid 1970's, I've seen some s4's with later caterham type frame and supports, though if you use these you'll need a caterham type hood, custom made for an S4, the hood fixing on S4;s using the original extruded frame is light years ahead of the crappy [still current] caterham item, and much better at keeping the rain out
Sidescreens were originally leathercloth on a steel frame so ought to be simple to make though you'll need the windows welding in. later s4's had aluminium frames with sliding windows!! and a vacuum formed plasticlower half, these have also been unobtainable since mid 1970's.
Good luck finding them - let us know how you get on.
Other s4 bits unique to the car which are imposible to find are the steering wheel, most had a plastic rim, but leather was an option, only car i've ever seen with the leather wheel is mine, the centre boss is also different on leather wheel to the shiny plastic rimmed wheel boss, seats are unobtainable but you may be able to get some made if you can source the correct material - good luck
Update - regarding the S4 sidescreens
I was contacted by 'Mal' - aka 'S47' the OP of this great PH Lotus 7 - S4 thread, [Apparently he's been prevented from posting within it for many years by the PH moderators - DUH - FFS he's probably the most knowledgable S4 person on the planet!!?? ] - he emailed me these photo's of his car with what he called the 'series 1.5' sidescreen fitted, which have the alloy sliding window frame top half, and a Cloth bottom half to the sidescreen - see the photo's.
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Apparently only a few cars were made with what I called the 'Mark 1' S4 sidescreen [all cloth on a steel frame] many were made using the mark 1.5 version in Mal's photo's - the later 'Mark2' version with the moulded solid plastic bottom were the best & most common, since these allow extra elbow room, as previously mentioned within the thread, these haven't been available since mid 1970's. After all this babble - What you may be able to make for your car is the mark 1.5 version. though you will need to source some alloy frame 'W' extrusion and get it welded into the correct form & shape, then get some perspex windows cut to suit your frame - hope you understand all this and it helps
I was contacted by 'Mal' - aka 'S47' the OP of this great PH Lotus 7 - S4 thread, [Apparently he's been prevented from posting within it for many years by the PH moderators - DUH - FFS he's probably the most knowledgable S4 person on the planet!!?? ] - he emailed me these photo's of his car with what he called the 'series 1.5' sidescreen fitted, which have the alloy sliding window frame top half, and a Cloth bottom half to the sidescreen - see the photo's.
>
>
>
>
Apparently only a few cars were made with what I called the 'Mark 1' S4 sidescreen [all cloth on a steel frame] many were made using the mark 1.5 version in Mal's photo's - the later 'Mark2' version with the moulded solid plastic bottom were the best & most common, since these allow extra elbow room, as previously mentioned within the thread, these haven't been available since mid 1970's. After all this babble - What you may be able to make for your car is the mark 1.5 version. though you will need to source some alloy frame 'W' extrusion and get it welded into the correct form & shape, then get some perspex windows cut to suit your frame - hope you understand all this and it helps
Solid door bottoms are still available from NZ.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-acces...
I have a tire (yep, I’m in the US) question for S4 owners. In the US, at least, 13” tires are increasingly scarce. My S4 was originally fitted with 165/80-13 Goodyear G800s. It currently wears 175/70-13 tires that are old and hard. When I search for tires in either of those sizes, I only find off brand all-weather tires. But if I go a bit wider, and look at 185/70-13 tires, I have more options. An added benefit would be a bit (0.6” or so) additional ground clearance, which would be welcome.
So my question is this: have any of you mounted 185/70-13 tires on the original Brand Lotus alloy wheels? Do they fit inside the rear body shell, or do they rub under suspension compression? There’s clearly enough space in front, but less in the rear.
Bonus question: any recommended performance tires? Again, I’m in the US. But I’m not completely opposed to sourcing tires in the UK/Europe if I have to.
Thanks,
Ken
So my question is this: have any of you mounted 185/70-13 tires on the original Brand Lotus alloy wheels? Do they fit inside the rear body shell, or do they rub under suspension compression? There’s clearly enough space in front, but less in the rear.
Bonus question: any recommended performance tires? Again, I’m in the US. But I’m not completely opposed to sourcing tires in the UK/Europe if I have to.
Thanks,
Ken
Batwing 7 said:
Solid door bottoms are still available from NZ.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-acces...
- or available from germany, - Hajo https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-acces...
Edited by 7s4whatelse on Monday 24th July 07:33
Hajo - 7s4whatelse -
Hi we've never met, but Mal who started this thread told me all about you being a German solicitor and all!!! - He, - 'Mal' can't post herein anymore, he's been banned by mods. but he still has his 7, he thought you'd passed away - He hasn't seen you posting here for a awhile, and he's lost your contact details he still reads the thread tho', and now he's an old git he actually uses the Side screens you swopped him
Nice to see you posting
Rene
PS
if you are using 185/70x13" tyres then the ones to buy are Yokohama ao21r's - awesome tyres the best bar none in this size
Hi we've never met, but Mal who started this thread told me all about you being a German solicitor and all!!! - He, - 'Mal' can't post herein anymore, he's been banned by mods. but he still has his 7, he thought you'd passed away - He hasn't seen you posting here for a awhile, and he's lost your contact details he still reads the thread tho', and now he's an old git he actually uses the Side screens you swopped him
Nice to see you posting
Rene
PS
if you are using 185/70x13" tyres then the ones to buy are Yokohama ao21r's - awesome tyres the best bar none in this size
Edited by rene7 on Monday 24th July 15:22
Hi old and new friends, just stumbled across this thread as I get mentally ready to start on a few tasks for my car https://www.simplesevens.org/2921/2921.htm . Most things will be straightforward except for the following which I could use some advice on if you have already been thru it!
- replace original wiring. I've asked autosparks.co.uk if they can make a harness for this car. They do the other 7s and said to ping them if any other series is needed. We'll see if they are able to do.
- replace brake lines and change to a double master cylinder for safety
- clean up the windshield, hopefully get some new glass and seals
- get a better radiator with a fan!!!
- replace original wiring. I've asked autosparks.co.uk if they can make a harness for this car. They do the other 7s and said to ping them if any other series is needed. We'll see if they are able to do.
- replace brake lines and change to a double master cylinder for safety
- clean up the windshield, hopefully get some new glass and seals
- get a better radiator with a fan!!!
Hello, Nathan!
My S4 (https://www.simplesevens.org/2925/2925.htm) is very similar to yours, including the twincam bonnet, GT scratched out and overlaid with TC, etc. Mine does have a big valve twincam sourced from a wrecked Europa. I’ve spoken with the original owner, and he tells me that it was delivered with the TC bonnet and he sourced the engine.
Please do let us know if autosparks.co.uk is able to make a harness. That would be amazing!
Could you tell me how your boot cover attaches in the front (behind the seats)? I’ve got the original cover, but across the front portion where it looks like it should attach behind the seats there are holes where (presumably) snaps used to be. And on the car itself, immediately behind the seats, there are no snaps/rivets/attachment points.
Thanks,
Ken
My S4 (https://www.simplesevens.org/2925/2925.htm) is very similar to yours, including the twincam bonnet, GT scratched out and overlaid with TC, etc. Mine does have a big valve twincam sourced from a wrecked Europa. I’ve spoken with the original owner, and he tells me that it was delivered with the TC bonnet and he sourced the engine.
Please do let us know if autosparks.co.uk is able to make a harness. That would be amazing!
Could you tell me how your boot cover attaches in the front (behind the seats)? I’ve got the original cover, but across the front portion where it looks like it should attach behind the seats there are holes where (presumably) snaps used to be. And on the car itself, immediately behind the seats, there are no snaps/rivets/attachment points.
Thanks,
Ken
I have another S4-specific question for this august assembly.
Lifting the Seven S4: where and how?
At some point in the past, someone has used the front sheet steel crossmember on my car as a lifting point. The resulting dent proves that wasn’t the best choice. To get my car off the ground, I currently roll it onto a pair of ramps (front), then put a jack under the differential housing to lift the rear, and finally slide a pair of homemade blocks (made to prevent the car from rolling forward or backward) under each of the rear wheels. This works ok, but:
- it doesn’t let me remove the wheels while the car is off the ground
- it doesn’t get the car very far off the ground (the ramps are 6” tall, and I made the rear wheel blocks match in height), so I’m still very space-constrained when working underneath the car
So I’m wondering if anyone has better ideas/techniques/jacks/lifts. I’d like to have a proper car lift, but that’s not an option in my garage. I’ve looked at these scissor lifts (https://www.quickjack.com/car-lifts/3500slx/), and they’d fit between the wheels. But I’m still unsure where “safe” jacking/lifting points are.
Before I go to the effort of convincing my better half that a scissor lift is a necessary investment, I thought I’d ask or hate S4 owners how they get their cars off the ground.
Thanks,
Ken
Lifting the Seven S4: where and how?
At some point in the past, someone has used the front sheet steel crossmember on my car as a lifting point. The resulting dent proves that wasn’t the best choice. To get my car off the ground, I currently roll it onto a pair of ramps (front), then put a jack under the differential housing to lift the rear, and finally slide a pair of homemade blocks (made to prevent the car from rolling forward or backward) under each of the rear wheels. This works ok, but:
- it doesn’t let me remove the wheels while the car is off the ground
- it doesn’t get the car very far off the ground (the ramps are 6” tall, and I made the rear wheel blocks match in height), so I’m still very space-constrained when working underneath the car
So I’m wondering if anyone has better ideas/techniques/jacks/lifts. I’d like to have a proper car lift, but that’s not an option in my garage. I’ve looked at these scissor lifts (https://www.quickjack.com/car-lifts/3500slx/), and they’d fit between the wheels. But I’m still unsure where “safe” jacking/lifting points are.
Before I go to the effort of convincing my better half that a scissor lift is a necessary investment, I thought I’d ask or hate S4 owners how they get their cars off the ground.
Thanks,
Ken
Does anyone know if the Redline web page is going to come back? I only see a image that indicates they are working on the web site. I am looking for a complete wiper system and I understand they carry the components for this. I will need a lot more than this but I need to start locating parts houses to order from.
I made cribbing to hold the car up on it's wheels and I can get anywhere under it easily on the creeper. The engine compartment is just under chest height so I can easily reach anything I need to top or bottom of car. I had to get it to height in 2 lifts supporting it on jack stands partway up and repositioning the jack on blocks to lift higher. It is very secure once on the cribbing.
Was wiping the oil from the engine today so I could try and figure out where it is leaking from. Not sure what a proper rear main oil seal is supposed to look like but I'm pretty sure this isn't it. Appears to be melted to the point of touching the crank. Not sure what could cause this. ![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/QwWjvAk5.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/Vh77kuUA" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Vh77kuUA.jpg)
I would like to swap out the points distributor for an electronic one. It appears I can get one with a vacuum advance or one with a centrifugal advance only. It appears that there is not an opportunity to have full vacuum as the ports are not connected and there is a threaded bushing for vacuum in the front port only. Has anyone done this in the past and what style distributor did you go with- vacuum or centrifugal advance?
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