SENC

I have the same engine in my 65 Seven. Distributor Doctor in the UK is the best bet for a correct distributor rebuild (or to build up a new one with the right advance). It would not have had the vacuum connected if originally a Cosworth 1500. There should be a notch in the crankshaft wheel and timing marks just behind it. I think I uploaded a few documents that reference timing and may have pictures but will look and if not will submit for reference. IIRC offhand, the gap between the 2 raised marks is 8TDC and the engine was originally tuned about 10 or 11TDC - regardless, get it to the marks as a starting point and adjust/advance as needed. Also check and adjust the dwell on your current distributor. With those 2 things done, I agree with the others some carb work is likely next - and you'll likely need to go back to timing to tweak as you get other things right. I also agree that with a dry sump you likely have other upgrades/updates - and if that includes radical cams that comes at a cost to manifold vacuum and to steady idle. I would suggest you do a compression test and also a leakdown test - those will give you insights into current condition that may help you avoid a few wild goose chases.

LOG41 was fun, albeit a little disappointing in that the weather forecast turned bad late in the week and I suspect that contributed to fewer Sevens showing up than had signed up. It did, in fact, start raining Saturday afternoon and through the night, with areas of rain in the area continuing Sunday morning. I managed to get in one good drive Saturday afternoon before it fully set in, but not nearly as many mountain miles as I'd hoped. I did get to meet some good folks and see a lot of different Lotus, including the new Emira (a really great looking and sounding car). I was also a bit disappointed at the car lineup/group photo that the Caterhams were at the back and the Lotus Sevens at the front. I think organizers were trying to go from oldest to newest overall, but separating the Sevens made no sense to me and because I didn't realize that until later I didn't get to meet the Caterham owners. I hope future organizers will get this righted. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed going - great cars and great people. Next year LOG is in Knoxville with easy access to Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway - so maybe a good excuse for many on this forum to join. Henry

Section N of the Manual is "Overhaul and Rebuild". I suspect this is what is referred to generally as disassembly instructions. See the S2 manual in the downloads section.

I have a kwik-lift and have been very happy with it - it gets the car just high enough to work on and under comfortably (on a creeper), and is easy to drive on and off so I keep either my Elan or Seven on it all the time. It is a great fit for a small space that can't accommodate a hydraulic lift. I glanced at their website and it appears they aren't making them right now due to high steel costs - but I do see them pop up for sale used from time to time.

My son is to head to business school at University of Glasgow for a postgraduate business degree next month and is learning that the University is not going to be able to honor its guarantee of housing for international students. It seems other housing options are few and far between and going faster than he can find from here in the US. Does anyone here have any good connections in Glasgow that might be a resource for finding housing?

I'd been trying to come up with a use for the connecting rods and pistons that came out of my Seven at engine rebuild, and needed a paper towel holder in the bathroom at the shop... Have you made alternate use of any bits off your Sevens?

Indeed it is - I wasn't sure where you are. I understand there will be a good gathering of old Sevens, and will make sure to get and share pictures. You're in one of my favorite parts of the world. My daughter went to Tulane so we got to spend a fair amount of time in NO, and we lived in MS and have lots of friends scattered across Louisiana. Hot place for a Seven, though!

Beautiful Seven! Are you bringing it to the Lotus Owner's Group meeting in West Virginia in September?

Different, but in case it helps the pre-crossflows did not utilize a t-stat. When I got mine a prior owner had installed one at the swirlpot inlet, presumably to quicken warmup. I was noticing some borderline overheating and checked then changed the t-stat (drilling the new one) with limited impact, so ultimately just removed it since its real purposes is keeping temps above a certain level, not below any level. Doing so did seem to reduce/eliminate spikes, though, presumably just because all restriction was removed and the system flowing as intended. I just have to be a bit more patient warming it up. Even in hot weather and in town, I don't see temp rises approaching a worry point.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144655852811?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l3160&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=e6bfc1d9dcbb4bf393e738759589e25b&bu=44278349486&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20220723015151&segname=11021 Must be summer Seven cleanout week!

...and Fisker takes the lead!

Your car, you do whatever you'd like and enjoy it! Who cares a wit what someone else thinks, but as far as I'm concerned all these cars are offshoots of Lotus (legitimate and bastard alike) and I think it is great when they tip the cap to Lotus in some way. I think it only goes too far when someone tries to sell a car as a Lotus inappropriately. My 2 cents.

Congratulations! Jacob Engineering make high quality steering wheel repros. https://jacobengineering.co.uk/index.php/steering-wheels-2/ RD Enterprises or Dave Bean are US sources for motor mounts - I'd recommend the heavy duty version. They may have other items as well, but for whatever they don't have Chris Mintoff at Redline, Mick Beveridge at xtraspecialsevens, and Tony Ingram at lotus7.com are leading suppliers.

Can also recommend Mick Beveridge at xtraspecialsevens.co.uk as a great source for other bits for old sevens.

Looks like a fun project that will yield a hugely fun car! Gauges, I think, may be the hardest to source, but they do pop up from time to time.

They do, or did when I ordered a set a few months ago. I also found the Standard Motor Club forum helpful, and have a Standard 10 owner's manual if you want any schematics or service notes.

Love the old pictures of your car, great history! Will look forward to more as you restore it!

Croc - I'm fairly certain this is an old/stale listing that LOONY just hasnt taken down. If I'm not mistaken, this is the Seven @sportscarnut acquired a couple years ago.

10'3" from end of the tire carrier (sans the license plate light) to the tip of the front nose tab.

I can grab a real measurement tomorrow if you need one, but I believe full chassis length will be just shy of 10'. Regardless, I think you could fit it. Heck you could take a pickup truck and get everything in the bed and just strap the chassis down to the top of the tailgate and top of the cab! Plenty have transported a bare chassis just on a roof rack!

This is the engine going back into my 65, I'd guess the necessary angle would be similar for yours. On thes older ones, the front brake lines run along the top chassis crossmember, and need protecting as the engine makes a close pass and can easily swing and damage. I use a piece of rubber hose spilt longways, or pipe insulation, to wrap around it.

Thanks MV8! I'm definitely going to drive it a bit more before pulling it, so will see if I can duplicate the symptom well after a shift, good recommendation. Re oil on the cam cover, I'm pretty certain now it was splash rather than pressure/spray. The piece of tin I fit into the filler neck to block a direct line from the filler hole to the underside of the cap has prevented any further leaking through the cap. I have not yet refitted a road draft tube to the breather tube in the block (the breather tube I have is not a great fit for the road draft tube connector), but it seems to be breathing OK even without that bit of venturi pull.