SENC

:rofl: Always good to have two-wheeled deer-sweepers! Actually, these 2 passed me about 5 miles earlier, headed for this same stretch of road. They were just getting off their bikes for a quick break when I turned in - so we had a good long chat as they wanted to know everything about the little car they hadn't quite shaken. I was pleased with how it handled. I did the front end alignment using the string method and based on how it felt I'd say I hit pretty close. I'll recheck it after checking all the fastenings to confirm. I think the engine is running a touch rich, so will tweak a bit more on the jets, but overall it pulls extremely strongly and smoothly.

Other than a little rattle I haven't been able to locate, yesterday's shakedown drive was a major success, with no significant issues identified until I pulled back into my driveway. On attempting to backup into my garage and on my ramps, I couldn't find the reverse gear. It had been a little wonky at a stop 15 miles before for a hot dog (the world famous Paul's Place, if you're ever in Rocky Point, NC - and a stand I've been stopping at for well over 40 years), but had worked. So , I pulled in forward and let her cool over night. A preliminary assessment of the reverse problem was job 1 for today - and I knew I got lucky as soon as I opened the tunnel - the dome/cup that holds the lever in place in the remote had worked its way free, so lifting the gear lever was pulling it out too far. A little cleanup and a dot of blue loctite on the threads and I should be good to go - may even have been some of the rattle I was hearing! I changed the gearbox and engine oil to give me a chance to inspect, both looked pretty good. A few brass specks in the gearbox oil, but very minimal debris of any sort. The engine oil wsa a bit dark, but no metal or debris. I'm debating pulling the engine and transmission this winter to take a good look inside, but with what I'm seeing plus how she drives I'm not sure I'll need to. I'd like to get a few hundred miles on it this Fall then see how both look to decide. Looks like a rainy week to come, so will take time in the evenings to check and retorque nuts and bolts on the suspension and brake systems since this was the first meaningful or stressful mileage since rebuilding them - but otherwise feeling more comfortable with this little old car on the road.

Took my Seven out for its first drive of any length, a shakedown drive on the suspension and carb work - a little over 80 miles and a couple hours of smiles. Also took the opportunity to experiment with a GoPro - next time think I'll mount higher and a bit forward. The video is a 7-8 mile stretch in the middle of my drive (I need to learn how to cut/trim). We don't have much in the way of "twisties" in ths part of the world, but this little piece of road had been recommended to me (and to a couple of motorcyles I came up on at the start). A fun little jaunt.

spectacular!

Installed a new tonneau cover from Redline today, looking more and more like it did in 1966... And finally got my little yellow car home and out of hibernation, after making some space in the garage.

That would be great, Ron, I'd love to see. When you have time, no hurry.

Ron - what are you using in your 62 Seven? Mine doesn't have any belts, and at some point I think I will add some.

Great pictures, sorry the weather didn't hold out.

Starter rebuilt and reinstalled, so back to tuning and tweaking. Also learning how to record better sound while playing.

Great pictures, thanks for sharing, and sounds like a great day. Hope you get a full day in tomorrow and look forward to seeing more!

Excellent! Need a video and some sound!

Looks fantastic, can't wait to hear about the drive!

https://www.berlinetta-auctions.co.uk/weekly/car-detail/lot-116-1963-lotus-seven-series-2-america?fbclid=IwAR0WxP6q5gndDzrWpZZQeyGhJp2zaZgGL9nEqxmkuah8wXIuAxqPxdGuagU

Agree, looks like fun and a heckuva a buy!

Look forward to the report. Changing jets is dead simple if its better but not perfect and you want to keep tweaking yourself. I'm experimenting with Keith Frank's emulsion tubes and various main fuel and air jets as well as idle jets (actually I'm on hold while I rebuild my starter), and happy to share bits once I get settled on the right mix for mine. I will say that his emulsion tubes are an improvement over the Weber F16s, at least on my setup.

Good, brief overview, thanks for sharing!

First, let me recommend a couple great resources for historical pictures and descriptions that are helpful if interested in older Lotus 7s and identifying originality - lotus7register.co.uk and simplesevens.org. John Watson runs the first and John Donohoe the second, both are extremely knowledgeable. Second, I think this car looks like a good one and most have been modified or upgraded over the years, so don't mistake my comments as critiques. Croc pointed out several things already - specific to the rear wings, the S3s were wider than the S2s to accomodate a wider (and beefier) axle. You'll find many S2s with S3 wings because they upgraded from the original Standard10 axle to an Escort or other axle. The engine is a Kent crossflow engine (intake and exhaust on opposite sides) - I'll have to look further to see if there were any crossflow Cosworths, but I don't think so. There were only a few S2s with crossflows, generally called S2-1/2s, and they all had single carburetors to my knowledge. In S3 form, these engines were eventually tuned up by Holbay, not Cosworth. The 681 Ford block pictured would have been 1967 or later (early S2s with Kent pre-crossflows would be 105E, 116E andd 120E) The chassis plate shown is SB2317 - I believe the last S2 was SB2310, made in 1968. This plate did not come from a 1962 car. The Weber carburetors are appropriately 40DCOEs, but they are 151s, which are a much later carb (still in production, I think). S2s and S3s came with 40DCOE2s, I believe, so these would not be original carburetors. The gauges are later for sure, the revmeter and speedometer look like S4 vintage. The tunnel is flat, S2 and S3 tunnels (all I've seen) are rounded humps. Originally would have had a horizontal (and awkward) handbrake under the passenger side dash, not the vertical handbrake pictured. The louvred bonnet is late S2 or S3, not early 1960s. The headlight arrangement looks to be later. The triangular mounts for the aero screen are later - the Lotus windscreen mounts were 3 piece - this is a common Lotus v Caterham tell. The S2 currently on Bring-A-Trailer looks to be quite unmolested and would be a good comparison for you... and the pictures on both Johns' sites are hugely valuable.

Nice looking car, but agree there isn't much 1962 or S2 left, if there ever was any there.

SB1942 - another old school! https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-lotus-seven-5/

Given that, my first look would be at the idle jets. I'd pull them and blow them out first. What # idle jet are they? And what size choke do you have? I'd also inspect to see how the progression holes look as the butterflies open.

Is it hesitating on WOT between idle and 3k, or on gentle acceleration, or both?

At risk of being called soft like the Caterham lads, I've upgraded my fuel gauge and added some rain protection for when not moving.

So we need to hear more about your video consultant's advice, the video and audio are quite good.

While the guys with new toys were out adjusting their vibrating day/night mirrors and plugging in fuel injectors, I made progress in my analog world. Removed the bushing with a hacksaw blade (slow and tedious work to avoid damaging the end cap) and made the brush removal simple by drilling them out. Cleaned everything with CRC electric terminal cleaner and about ready to start putting things back together.

What's next, power steering!?! Looks like a great day!