Newbie needs help with Series 2 transmission tunnel question

[Oddbrit]

This is a photo of my car right after purchase.  If you look closely at the rear of the transmission tunnel you will notice a panel rivetted to the top curved area of the tunnel.  It is about 8" long and goes down onto the flat sides about 2-3 inches.  It has a flange on the back that riveted to the rear bulkhead aluminum.  It this a stock panel or was it an attempt to fix a problem?  I'll looked through Tony's book and can not find anything "specific" on the Series 2 cars.  It appears the later Caterham had a panel here but not sure about early cars.

 

Also is the tunnel round on top or does it flatten somewhat starting behind the shifter to a more flat top with rounded sides scenario.  Again I don't know if mine was altered over time or if it is correct.

 

Thanks in advance, Jim

[Joe Petty]

That looks original.

 

I have attached a picture of the belly pan and tunnel I removed from my '62 Seven and which I believe was original and appears very similar to yours.

 

We were discussing the tunnel to handbrake clearance over in "WTB Handbrake Lever" and it seems that there are some differences in the shifter cover plate, but they all seem to go from rounded to flat as they go toward the firewall.

 

My frame is by Universal Radiator, so there may be differences due to the supplier.

 

Regards and Good Luck - Joe

[7Westfield]

Could that rear panel simply be intended as access for the u-joint?  In my Westfield, it would be damn near impossible any other way.

[Oddbrit]

Thxs Joe - It looks just like mine which is also a Universal Radiator framed car.

 

Not sure why it's there but access to driveshaft/u-joint area is a good guess.

[IamScotticus]

Rear hump panel very standard.  Front of tunnel changed wirh the different shifter extensions used.

[Joe Petty]

Not a very accessible access panel for the u-joint, I think you would just pull the driveshaft and do both u-joints rather than try to change one in place!

 

I'm not sure how the tunnel was formed, but I think all the flanges are simple 90 deg. bends.  The rear top of the tunnel requires the 90 deg. bend and some stretching since it is curved.  Probably simpler to manufacture with the rear piece separate and rivet it in place.

I've seen mention that the tunnel is structural, so I would suspect that there is a reason for the design!

 

Good Luck - Joe

[7Westfield]

37 minutes ago, Joe Petty said:

Not a very accessible access panel for the u-joint, I think you would just pull the driveshaft and do both u-joints rather than try to change one in place!

 

I

 

 

it's for access to the bolts on the flange

[Joe Petty]

The Lotus does not have a tray under the rear axle, so the rear flange is easily accessed from under the car.

 

 

[joe7]

There's several pictures of the tunnel, handbrake etc on the 7 that sold on Bring a Trailer in October 2022. That should give you an idea of how things should be. Forgot to add. Look at the pics of the spare parts. There is a trans cover there. That one was made for the Ford remote gear change.

Edited January 16 by joe7
For got to add info.

[jbcollier]

Both the S2 and S3 Lotus Sevens have a "long" cover over the gearbox.  It tucks under part of the front bulkhead and is secured by a single screw at the back.  It also likes to vibrate at some engine rpms.  The cover has a hole for the gearshift lever to poke through with a boot to restrain air leaking in.