jbcollier

I haven't driven my 69 Lotus Seven yet but plan on doing at least a few long trips (5k+). This will be my first car without any screen demisting. Are they draughty enough even with the top up that it isn't an issue? Zip out rear window help? RainX anti-fogging help? Can I/Should I fit a heated screen? TIA

Can the newer tops be fitted to a 69 S3? - a bit higher than originals/zip out rear window/ obviously you would need the frame as well) Same for the newer doors that store much more easily? Thanks

Sorry, already spoken for.

Set of front and rear Carrera coil-overs from a 1969 Lotus Seven S3. Visually they look good, actual condition and specifications are unknown. They seem a smidge long at the rear as the axle rests lightly on the lower chassis tube when the car is jacked up by the chassis. * Oh, what the heck, free to a bad home, too.

Should mention it is a tight fit in an 80mm tach. I had to slot the side of the housing. Make sure you seal it up with good tape and then just tilt as you reinstall the tach.

Cheap as chips and works like a charm: https://www.clocks4classics.com/tachometer-repair-kit-details.html Put one in my Smiths tach. Two thumbs up.

The mic can be VOX (voice operated exchanged) or PPT (push to talk). This controls when the mic turns on. When the mic is on, it picks up everything, period. You have to shield the mic to reduce ambient sounds in relation to voice.

I first used this intercom unit: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/flightcom2sx.php Now a unit built into the dash: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/av/intercoms_sigtronics/spa4sintercom.php Both work very well. I started with a the SPA rally stuff. It worked well but the sound was dull and flat. Fine for just communications but really, really poor with music. They cost several arms and legs but the Bose A20s are bullet proof and amazing performers. Reading all the above posts has me thinking they will work just fine. Now just to figure out where to store them when parked! Thanks for all the comments.

Not illegal here in Alberta, Canada, but illegal in surrounding jurisdictions. Appreciate the feedback. I can see how mic-ing will be a problem. Definitely have to go to PTT.

My "other" car is a S1 Lotus Europa and it is very noisy inside. It's pretty cool for about an hour or so; after that, it gets annoying. On long trips, I run an intercom system with Bose A20s. They're noise cancelling and it all works very well. However, the Europa is not an open car. Anyone have experience using noise cancelling headsets in a Seven? Do they work in a draughty cockpit? If so, I'll set up the Seven with an intercom as well.

Glad to hear they have improved. I used them when they were current and liked them a lot. Rather not have the tube now though as it complicates roadside repairs.

Go fast types, you can stop reading now. Finding quality tires in the smaller sizes is getting more and more difficult. Even Vredestein dropped some of their classic 13" offerings. 10 years back I ordered a set of Michelin XAS tires from Longstone. They were vintage re-pops made in India. Frankly they were the worst set of tires I had ever seen in 35 years of wrenching, preposterously out-of- round and true. Though I was once bitten, I decided to try again. This time I ordered the Pirelli CN36s in 165/80R13, again from Longstone. They arrived moderately quickly and shipping costs were reasonable. These tires were made in Argentina. I took the old wheels, Dunlop mags and no-name 185s, and the Pirellis to my tire shop and had them mounted. The shop said they ran straight and true, and, here's the amazing part, only a 1/2oz of balance weight for all five wheels! That's very, very good. Astounding even. I won't get a chance to drive on them until April and expect they will be slippery, given their diminutive contact patches, but that sounds like fun to me. YMMV

Anytime after noon and before 3:30. Cheers

We had a very mild fall so we were driving/riding right up to Halloween. Usually the roads clear up mid-April or so but you want to wait until after the first rain as they use a brine solution in winter around here. BYOB as I'm an umbrella drink drunk. I never really got serious about my drinking problem, sigh.

My Lotus S3 is up on stands, its entrails exposed and open to visitors. Sunday afternoon Dec 11 works for me if anyone would like to pop by.

You can get fibre washers at most industrial/truck/automotive suppliers and many hardware stores. There are also several million listed on amazon.

Croc, the "owner's manual" -- it's actually a mishmash of an owner's, parts, service manuals and a self-help book. It's not very thorough at any of them but it is a lot better than nothing. This one is a reprint from Redline (says so right on the cover). There's pdfs of original copies in the USA7s download section. The missing piece is the Ford 2250 engine manual and you can find that here: http://www.varen4u.nl/pdfs/ford/ford_2250.pdf

I have been doing a lot of googling of Lotus Sevens and I found two other cars pictured with the same air cleaner. There's nothing to "wear out" in these wire-mesh "filters" so I suspect it is original.

It's under wraps right now until I finish off other projects. Here are photos from when I bought it. Came out of Toronto where it was originally sold. I'm the third owner. https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Seven-S3/

I'm in Edmonton, Alberta and just bought a 1970 Lotus Seven. It's mostly original with a crossflow and downdraft. I refurbished, and now happily drive, a S1 Europa but decided I wanted an open car again. Plan on a sympathetic mini-overhaul and hope to be driving the Seven first thing in the spring. There are a number of other Lotus Sevens in Canada and quite a few Caterhams and others as well. They show up at various Canadian Lotus club sites and pages.

The first question to ask is why is it leaking oil? I had an engine with an aftermarket valve cover that was pumping oil out the breathers. At first I put a catch can on it, at least the oil wasn't hitting the ground anymore. I then got to looking and found there wasn't an adequate oil separator built into the valve cover. I made a SS tank with a hole in for each breather and a single air out the top. Put copper mesh between the two inlets and the outlet. I had room to put it above the valve cover so any oil that condenses out just drains back in. Oil consumption went from a 1/2 litre in 1K to zero. Just food for thought.

And one other thing, ANY oil is better than no oil. Had a customer running his Peugeot 504 diesel on Esso 20w50HDX. He had an on-going leak that he managed by periodic fill ups. Got to one station and they only had Esso 20w50HD. Decided not to "risk" using an "obviously" inferior oil and kept driving. He, or the engine rather, didn't make it to the next Esso station. Another amusing oil anecdote was with my best friend growing up. His family had a VW van. They ran the cheapest oil possible, and ran it twice as long as recommended. When changing oil, they drained it and then filled and ran it on solvent a bit before draining again and filling with fresh oil -- no, I am NOT making this up! I used to bug him about this all the time. Engine finally blew up and I ragged him pretty hard. He then pointed out that the money they had saved on oil changes had paid for the new engine. I sat down with a calculator and damn if he wasn't right! No, I do not follow his methods now ;-)

Just be aware that an oil's specifications will change over time. Motorcycle oils were a popular choice but now even Harleys have cats and phosphorous levels have lowered. Diesel oils are formulated for engine conditions entirely different from what is found in a gasoline engine so tread carefully there. There are sites that do periodic testing so you can double check. Finally, remember that there actually can be too much sometimes. An oil formulated for short, intense uses may not have an additive package suitable for road use.

For a detailed, practical analysis, I found this one to be most interesting: https://www.teae.org/cooling-the-sunbeam-tiger/

I never discount actual, practical, experience. Thanks, I appreciate your comments.