Lotus 7 - S4

[7s4whatelse]

Hi Knut, as usual Mal is right Spitfire. The bosses are cheap - I paid 10 UKP for one to fit my Motolita Steering wheel.
Did a test video today with a MycroCam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SBgHAbE-w&fea...
"round the block" - should be possible to improve the wind noises...
Hajo

[crafty]

My brother and I picked up these 2 S4's this week down in Australia, we're going to race them in Group S historic racing in OZ.
They are both Steel Bros cars with big valve Lotus Twin Cam engines.
The red one is #3036 and the yellow one is #3083

[mickrick]

crafty said:

My brother and I picked up these 2 S4's this week down in Australia, we're going to race them in Group S historic racing in OZ.
They are both Steel Bros cars with big valve Lotus Twin Cam engines.
The red one is #3036 and the yellow one is #3083

How cool is that !

[Rudy 111]

Steel Bros!!! very nice, am I right that those cars were slightly bigger and have a different rear end. The rear is a bit more rounded in its design, I like it better than the original.
I know that my old man tried to fit the twincam (canted lotus one, 907...?) is his 7 but it wouldn't fit, can you post pictures of the engine? + more pictures in general (rear end).

[S47]

Crafty - Wow nice one;)
2 steel bros - that's a first on this thread great pics keep up the good work and let us know how the racing goes.
I rarely see 2 loti S4 in UK and I've never seen a Steel bros but now 2 steel bros. !!
I guess as the UK/British saying goes 'you wait forever for a bus then 2 turn up at the same time' - you figure it out
Whilst on the subject of photo's My favourite shot of my car was taken the day after I bought it - despite visiting umpteen locations since I've yet to take as good a picture.
Yesterday however I took another shot in the same place as my favourite shot - 9 years to the day after the first picture.
Here they are:-
This is the shot taken in 2003 on a 2mb digicam.
>
>
Here's yeaterdays taken on 18mp:-

>
>
And finally another scenic shot including the great Welsh countryside:-


Come on guys why not post your favourite shots of your S4 on this thread for us all to admire.
Mal

Edited by S47 on Sunday 7th October 13:28

[7s4whatelse]

Hi Mal,

- great photos again.... Always great to see any S4 Photos...
We had been talking about the center caps of the Lotus alloys - could you please direct me to the nowadays supplier? I have restored my wheels and theese are ready to go on my 2nd S4 soon - I need at least two of them - or if good reproductions: a set.

From your last photo: I´m not quite sure: Did you fit spacers on the back axle?

Had a fine 7 tour last weekend..
http://youtu.be/pWrBDXEL9Cc

Cheers, Hajo

Edited by 7s4whatelse on Tuesday 9th October 15:27

Edited by 7s4whatelse on Tuesday 9th October 18:16

[S47]

Hajo
Sorry for delay in reply:-
Heres a link to a UK supplier:-
http://www.midlandwheels.com/Shop/P-1404-DUNLOP-D1...
Their uk phone number is 01926 81744.
the caps they sell are repro but indistinguishable from originals.
The pic in the advert has the Dunlop logo, but you can easily buy Lotus stick on's to replace the 'Dunlop'logo.
Hope this helps
Mal
ps
Regarding the rear axle - I don't use spacers.

[S42652GT]

Hello Everybody,

The restoration is finally restarted on my S4, i make the puzzle Could you tell me the model of the radiator of the S4 please, is it a escort mk1 or a cortina ?
The propeller shaft is a escort mk1 in two pieces or a special parts make by lotus ? Thank you very much for your help… I'll send some pictures of the work asap…
Ben

[7s4whatelse]

Hi Ben, - fine to hear the news... The radiator is a Triumph part (Spitfire) with altered mountings; so cheap to source at a Triumph dealer. Propshaft is a special (one piece) type. I can give you the dimensions if needed. Yes, send photos to see the "steps"... best wishes, Hajo

[crafty]

Rudy 111 said:

Steel Bros!!! very nice, am I right that those cars were slightly bigger and have a different rear end. The rear is a bit more rounded in its design, I like it better than the original.
I know that my old man tried to fit the twincam (canted lotus one, 907...?) is his 7 but it wouldn't fit, can you post pictures of the engine? + more pictures in general (rear end).

Here's a couple of photos I have on file. The car seems to be very original. I ripped the engine and gearbox out and it seemed that none of the bolts had ever been touched. The engine is off for a race build (180+ HP) and the gearbox is getting close ratio, straight cut gears with dog shift.

You can also hear the engine running in this video http://youtu.be/gLDCM5m8H8w

[S42652GT]

Hi Hajo,

Thanks for the precision, you have send me the dimension of yout Prop shaft a few month ago, i'll tried to find it in my archive
Pictures are coming soon…
See you

Ben

[S47]

Crafty
Many thanks for posting the steel bros pictures, the red car looks very original and tidy, only diff I can see from a standard UK S4 TC is the longer gearlever, looks like the car originally had a heater fitted which has been removed and the electric fan motor hole filled in, on a second look I notice a water pipe entering through the bulkhead, so I guess it does have a heater, just not a Normal S4 heater
Looks like youre missing the bonnet stay, easy enough to make one and fit it, worth fitting one coz it saves the bonnet blowing shut and damaging itself.
S42652GT
If you have to buy a new one, Why not fit a larger radiator? In UK it's easy to get a 3 or 4 core rad made up using the existing top & bottom from your old rad, I had one done for £80 a few years ago, My car runs a 2 litre engine and I've had no cooling issues whatsoever.
Standard Rad is marginal when you're giving the car some welly so IMO this mod is a 'No Brainer'
Hope this helps
Mal

Edited by S47 on Tuesday 23 October 12:42

Edited by S47 on Tuesday 23 October 12:44

[S42652GT]

Thankx a lot Mal, but i don't have a radiator yet my car is a puzzle with missing parts

[S47]

S42652GT
If you don't have a rad then have a local Radiator Supplier get one made to your sizes & spec. [Much cheaper than you might expect] Just tell them the External Dimensions and the mount points and which side you want the water in & out, a 3 core will cost a small amount ~£5 perhaps more than a 2 core, the Supplier will use a standard size core whichever you specify. Hence the comparitively low cost, and it will definitely be cheaper than sourcing a standard S4 Rad from Redline or similar lotus dealer, who price the part high because of their overheads and cost of keeping stock on the shelves.
Hope this helps
Mal

[Caterhamfan]

S47 said:

Crafty
Many thanks for posting the steel bros pictures, the red car looks very original and tidy, only diff I can see from a standard UK S4 TC is the longer gearlever, looks like the car originally had a heater fitted which has been removed and the electric fan motor hole filled in, on a second look I notice a water pipe entering through the bulkhead, so I guess it does have a heater, just not a Normal S4 heater

I seem to remember that the UK cars have the battery in the boot while the Steel Bros ones don't - thus giving much more boot room - and no danger of acid on the contents!

[7s4whatelse]

Hi Ben - maybe a little help for puzzeling... (girl NOT included) - Cheers, Hajo

[ncrosty]

Hi All, nice car you have there. I am sure you have it covered but I can provide any pictures or dimensions from my S4. For now, here is the cover of car&driver from November 1971.

[S47]

ncrosty
Good to have you on this thread, whereabouts do you live?
How long have you owned your S4?
It was good to see the Cover of the mag you posted.
I have copies of most published S4 tests & reviews, but I've never read the car & Driver test, any chance you can scan the test and post it up on this thread?
Once again welcome to the Pistonheads Lotus7 - S4 thread
Mal

[ncrosty]

Certainly, I will figure out a way to take some quality pictures of the pages and post them here. I don't want to fold it over and put it in the scanner (I scanned the cover), hopefully my camera will do the job. I am in Michigan, my Lotus talk is usually contained on the 'official Lotus 7' mailing list, this thread just happened to pop up in some search results. So I figured I would put in my 2 cents. I have owned the 7 for 28 years.. which is how long I have been alive Mine is missing the twin cam engine however, which I feel like I will be forever searching for.

[S47]

ncrosty
I posted on the official lotus forum for awhile, eventually got fed up of the rubbish & abuse they wrote about S4's.
Michigan huh! I drove through Michigan in 1982 remeber it vividly, seems like only yesterday though!
Do you know John Donohoe of simplesevens fame?
I met John at the 50th lotus7 anniversary bash in 2007, I believe he lives in Michigan.
Plenty of TC engines for sale in UK checkout ebay uk if you want to buy one.
Once again keep in touch I look forward to reading the 1971 Car & Driver S4 article
Mal