Lotus 7 - S4

Author
Discussion

rene7

535 posts

83 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Tassie
2 other S4's HUH - you lucky ladsmile
Are there many S4's in Tasmania?
Rene7

mrvman

20 posts

114 months

Sunday 21st January 2018
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I am still looking for a windscreen surround? Hajo was making screen surrounds, seats and just about every other S4 part. No replies from Hajo, I hope he is well or on winter holiday? What is a reasonable copy of the S4 rocker switch on the instrument panel. I think originally from some type of Ford Capri, pricey and rare now. Need a rocker switch that looks close (Reliant?). I figured out the S4 side screens, found both types, vinyl bottom and solid bottom. Solid bottom side screens have a clever, adapted, quick release quarter turn fastener on the outside. Perhaps screen surrounds are being made in New Zealand? Are UK parts interchangeable with the New Zealand cars?
Thank you for the time and information.
Steve V. S4 In USA.

rene7

535 posts

83 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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mrvman
Hajo's on facebook [so he told me awhile ago - can't comment on FB coz I'm NOT on there] you may get a reply from him on there, also winter's here, so less activity on this thread, at the mo.
hope this helps
rene

Tassie

7 posts

99 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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The NZ car is identical to the UK car and is plated with a Lotus chassis tag, they were built under licence with major components supplied by Lotus or the Lotus supplier. Lotus chassis are made by Arch Motors, a new jig was made for the NZ cars which have an identical chassis. 100 engines, transmissions, axles, weather gear, instruments, wiring looms etc were purchased and I think 97 cars built. A couple of minor changes were made to strengthen weak areas during production, otherwise the same.
Regards
Wayne

Batwing 7

63 posts

137 months

Monday 29th January 2018
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My S4 at a local show a few weeks ago.


dlkoiter

10 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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Hello All,

Last weekend I got a Lotus Seven S4 :-) It is a factory build LHD car, first registered in Holland.

The car is in bits and needs a full restoration. I would love to find out more about it. Where should I expect to find the chassis number? How can I tell what engine was in the car when new? (no TC engine, the bonnet has a bulge)

Does anyone know how many LHD S4's were build?

richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Thursday 8th March 2018
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Hello David

The Lotus Seven Register (www.lotus7register.co.uk) may help with your question about the number of LHD S4's built.

You should have a manufacturers plate riveted to the steel bulkhead behind the engine, stating the model and type. Mine says S4/3091 GT, meaning it was originally fitted with a Ford 1600 GT cross-flow engine from the Mk2 Cortina etc. My chassis number is just below on a steel tag welded to the bulkhead.

I think all S4's had the bonnet bulge, including twin-cams.

The most useful books on the S4 are the official Lotus Seven workshop manual and Lotus Seven by Tony Weale

Hope this helps.

Below is a photo of my recently completed S4, waiting for some better weather before venturing out again!

Regards Richard


swompy62

28 posts

104 months

Monday 12th March 2018
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Nice car Richard, Please tell me where you got the rain cover, I'm in need of one,
my car 1971 S4 is nearly ready after full restoration just waiting in the xflow its in for a re-bore.

richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Tuesday 13th March 2018
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Hi Swompy

You look to be making a first class job of your car.

I was surprised to find that Redline had the hood in stock. Luckily the previous owner found the hood frame in his ex-wife's loft! This pram-type frame has a spring mechanism to tension the hood.
The front edge of the hood has a pocket for a flat metal bar that engages in the top edge of the windscreen. The rear part uses Tenax fasteners.

Do you have side window frames? I only had the glass-fibre lower parts so had to make the frames with fixed polycarb windows.

I did 50 miles today. Very pleasant if you can avoid the pot-holes!

Regards,
Richard

swompy62

28 posts

104 months

Tuesday 13th March 2018
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Hi Bud, yes got the frame and window frames plus the fiberglass bottoms, really looking forward to getting it on the road for the summer.

richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Hi Swompy

What make are those new tyres on your car?

Mine came with Yokohama Advan 032R at 175/60 R13 77H. They look new but are 16 years old and the rubber seems very hard. You can see on the attached photo they look like a wet racing tyre.

Black Circles have some good prices for 175/60 R13 and 165/70 R13 but I've no idea which are ok on the S4. I'm only wanting a safe and comfortable ride; not ultimate performance.

Anyone else have advice on tyres?

Richard

swompy62

28 posts

104 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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hi Bud, They are 165/70 R13 79T Dunlop Street Response 2
hope this is of use, I wanted something retro looking.

richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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The Dunlops look like a good choice for performance and value.

I'll probably go the same way.

Thanks Richard

swompy62

28 posts

104 months

Monday 19th March 2018
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Any good people out there can help me with a few items I'm scratching my head about, which way around is the wiper motor
I have the assembly but no idea how it fits also the hand brake, also have it.
Photos will be appreciated as I cant find any information and the only other S4 I know of is ANP's and he is not answering my texts.

richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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Hi.

Photos of handbrake and wiper motor position attached. Also a page from Tony Weale's book showing all handbrake parts.

Hope this helps. Richard

richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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richardl7S4

37 posts

101 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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Not good with uploading photos!

swompy62

28 posts

104 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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Hi Richard, I can figure it out now, I have the book but its limited information,
happy days now I know which side the wiper motor sits.
Many Thanks.

Le Sept

6 posts

110 months

Tuesday 27th March 2018
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For anybody looking for the Series 4 Manual, all 182 pages can be found on this link
http://barnblinker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/...




Chassis Number 3211

rene7

535 posts

83 months

Wednesday 28th March 2018
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LE SEPT
Great post - love the pdf version of the manualsmile
Here's the old fogie style paper versions:-
1. The Genuine Lotus print of the S4 manual which I bought from Caterham cars in 1973
2. The 'Pinkbook' reprint done by Redline spares I bought this from them in 1999 cost £21+the dreaded VAT.
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The only difference in text is the opening page as shown above.
The Redline version looks amateurish - 'home made'