solder_guy

Thanks for the info! I will wait and see what my setup looks like. Do you have a part number for the Grant Quick Release? Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

1970 .. This is for a Lotus 7 .. not Rotus 7. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

That's my transcription of a document image from an eBay auction about 6 weeks ago. (I had to transfer it from my palmtop to my desktop.) Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

LOTUS 7 PERFORMANCE DATA Date of test 29th January 1970 Max Speeds mph rpm Top 103 5700 3rd 90 7000 2nd 63 7000 1st 43 7000 Acceleration from rest mph ........... sec 0-30 **** *2.4 0-40 **** **3.6 0-50 **** **5.1 0-60 7.1 0-70 *** **9.6 0-80 **** **13.1 0-90 **** **18.8 Standing 1/4 Mile 15.5 Accel top * *3rd mph ** sec sec 0-30 5.2 20-40 7 4.5 30-50 ** 7 4.6 40-60 7.2 4.4 50-70 8.1 4.5 60-80 9.4 -- 70-90 11.2 -- Fuel Consumption Overall 19.2 mpg Tank Cap 8 gal Max Range 150 miles GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS Engine Head/block Allow/cast iron Cylinders 4 in line Bore/Stroke 82.6 x 72.8 mm Capacity 1,558 cc Cooling water Valve gear twin ohc Compression 9.5:1 Carburettor twin Weber DCOE twin-choke Max Power 125 bhp at 6,200 rpm Max Torque 116 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm Transmission Type ** *4-speed manual Gear Ratios Top ..... 1.00:1 3rd ..... 1.40:1 2nd ..... 2.01:1 1st ..... 2.97:1 Final Drive 90:1 (limited slip differential) Suspension Front** independent by coil springs, double wishbones, anti-roll bar Rear****live axle, coil springs, trailing arms, A-bracket Steering ***rack and pinion Assistance no Brakes Front *Girling 9" disc Rear***Girling 8" drum Servo* *no Wheels Type** *cast alloy Tyres** 195-13h Electrical Battery 12v, 39 a-h Earth**negative Dynamo**Lucas 42 amp Headlamps Lucas F700 120/90W

ROTUS LTD 7315 Parkview Drive "Eastview" Frederick, MD 21701 ROTUS SEVEN - The Great Get-a-Way Machine The car you have just seen is a Rotus Seven. A car quite obviously derived from the venerable concept of the "wind in the face" English Ford powered Lotus 7. We of Rotus Ltd. have labored to create a motor car with some of the technical and physical problems of that Old English Forebearer and to engineer into our car the legendary reliability of the Japanese Toyota automotive componentry in conjunction with our state of the art formula car suspension geometry. The Rotus Seven is available as a kit car, consisting of every single piece needed to drive your finished vehicle away with about one easy weekend's worth of your own effort in installing a new, used, or rebuilt Toyota Corolla 2T or 3T engine and transmission. If you have an older Toyota Corolla whose body has seen better days, with our kit is is very easy to transform its still healthy mechanical pieces into an exciting Rotus Seven roadster. You may instead wish to source such pieces from your local auto salvage yard where an even lower mileage newer care may lie waiting to be recycled. Although the Rotus Seven has been designed for a bolt-in any of the various versions of the 1600 - 1800cc T series motors, any mechanically inclined individual can fit whatever motor he wants, within reason. Yes, a Datsun, Mazda, Porsche water-cooled, VW Rabbit, Pinto, Chevette, Volvo, MG, Triumph, etc. motors will fit. No, a 350 Chevy, 302 Ford, or Chrysler Hemi won't. There is, however, enough bay space to house one of the new lightweight Cadillac aluminum block V-8's, or one of the old aluminum Buick/Olds/Pontiac V-8's will work - if you simply must have cubic inches. Of the T-series motors, an older stock 1600 of about 70 H.P. will make a reliable, dependable day-to-day fun car. The 1800 cc version of the same engine is about 90 H.P. The Japanese 2T/TEUG (see sources) motor is about 1600 cc double overhead camshaft engine of about 115 H.P. and that engine with a set of 85mm pistons and a 3T crankshaft will end up at about 2000cc which with proper camshafts and a carburetors can produce 155-165 exciting horses. The car was designed with the 3T power train; however, because for many years the "T" series cars were the largest selling models in the entire world and there are many such power trains in late model, low mileage wrecks at reasonable proces and excelleent condition in the salvage yards of the U.S. The most recent version of the 3T motor is found in the home market Toyota Celica and Cressida models where it is doing duty as an 1800 cc double overhead camshaft - 16 valve - electronic fuel injected - Turbo charged - 170 H.P. power plant. The American market will probably receive their version at the latest in 1986 and possibly in a 1985 vehicle. This "strictly stock" engine will undoubtedly transform a Rotus Seven into a veritable Tiger of a road car. The rear light assemblies, radiator hoses, brakes, ignition system, brake and clutch master cylinders, instruments and switches are all stock items from either a used Toyota or new from your nearby Toyota dealer, as are the tires and wheels should you choose not to go the custom after market route. What makes the car outstanding, however, is the inboard mounted coil-over rising rate front suspension system engineered by A. Lee Kaiser. Truly original amongst road cars, it is the common to the finest handling race cars of the world. It is this highly sophisticated front geometry that enables the Rotus Seven driver to drive both safely and swiftly over any road surface. With a modified Toyota Tercel Rack and pinion steering assembly and another pair of famous Koni coil over shock absorbers at the front end of the car, it's superb handling qulities are almost limited only by the competency of the driver. All four fenders and the nose cone of the body are of molded fiberglass. The chrome Quartz - Halide head lamps sit low between the front fenders and the louvered aluminum hood.

Yes .. but .. these are very small lights .. and would require rewiring the fixtures with two element sockets .. and I'm thinking of going with LEDs which means Off/ On will be much more visible than dim/ bright. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

I've been thinking of using the above mentioned bullet lights which are similar to those used on the original Lotus 7s. But the question is .. do I wire them up for side lights or directional blinkers? Well I think that they can be made to function as both. Trailer light circuits which integrates both stop and blinker into one bulb function would work here. Instead I would be using the circuit to integrate both side and blinker. And I have a spare circuit box just waiting for my Rotus to arrive! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

I picked up a small fire extinguisher at NAPA the other day. I think I should have one in my Rotus just-in-case. $9.99 at NAPA. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

So how do these cars handle rough railroad crossings, speed bumps and the new spead breakers? Any possibility of scraping the bottom of the chassis? Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA solder_guy38691.49

I found some more side lights that would be great for the front fender. (Many earlier Lotus 7s have bullet style lights). See here: >Mini Bullet Lights and >More Mini Bullet Lights Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA solder_guy38691.4856712963

smileys/smiley32.gif[/img] <img border=

What do you like about your Rotus dash layout? What do you not like about your dash? What would you change or add? Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

That's what I want! Visibility! The head is off and being redone. BTW: I have purchased the unused Rotus top and sides from Ted! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

Rummaging through Advance Auto Parts this morning I found a Cab light that would fit well on the front fender of the Rotus/Lotus cars. It is aerodynamic and "tear shaped". It is made to fit on a curved surface and a black rubber gasket is included. I saw the same product at NAPA but with a tan gasket. (Think of lights that you would see on top of a pickup.) It looks to be made for monofilament bulbs (1156) .. but could probably be made to work with two filament bulbs (1157) for both turn and side lights. Price: $3.96 each See >Optronics Inc Cab Light part number CB-11AS UPDATE: I decided not to go with this one .. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA solder_guy38725.9349884259

What did you change about the brakes? Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

Q: How do you access the gas tank when this top is on? Might be a little bit of a challenge! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

I too have been intrigued by this picture .. So I'm pleasantly surprised to see that this could be a true option! (Now where would I store it during the summer months??) Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

Here's another Rotus .. in Advance, NC .. Obviously this one is for a dog! smileys/smiley36.gif[/img] </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img src='http://195.92.249.252/~kgb/Caterham7/pics/rotus.jpg' alt='rotus.jpg'></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <edited><editID>solder_guy</editID><editDate>38654.2402662037</editDate></edited></p>

I'm so bored waiting for my Rotus .. So I called Autozone and Advance Auto to see about the front disc pads for the Rotus ('70-74 Corona). Both list them as part number D48. AZ offers a lifetime limited warrantee for $12.99. I will inquire about replacement calipers and discs from them soon.

Where do you keep your registration papers? Tag and proof of insurance? There's no glove box .. so where to put it? Plastic baggie in the engine compartment by the battery .. What do you suggest? Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

Now I see that there are many on eBay for cheap. Which one for the Rotus? I see that my steering wheel (Chassis #14) has 6 screws .. and many of the adapters on eBay accept for 6 screw wheels. And these hubs will put the steering wheel 2.25" closer to your body. Will this be a problem? Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA solder_guy38631.5861574074

Which of you have a quick release hub for your steering wheel which makes it removable for easy in/out of the seat? Sparco makes one: SPA-015R99GN $329. I'm just starting to look .. so any suggestions welcome! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

Red Rotus is to be transported to Dennis' shop today (Friday)! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

I just figured out how to resize these images and print. Two of the pages of the build-up are out of order here. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

I also noticed that the front yellow directional lights come out of the nose cone. In other cars the yellow lights are mounted directly below the headlights (like in the Red Rotus). Hmmm. You ought to get a vintage radio/cassette and mount some speakers somewhere under the dash(?). Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA