I've just got a 72!

[Roger]

No, not a DFV-engined single-seater, nor another Elise, but a 1972 Europa Twin-Cam.
I guess that'll keep me busy!
Does anyone know of any expertise in the Houston area, please?

[Alphonse]

Roger,

It's your lucky day and congrats on your new hobby. Plenty of europa owners in the Houston area. Go to the Yahoo groups site and you can find a site dedicated to Europa owners. That should be your first source.
also look up Lotus Owners of south Texas (LOST), join the group and state your case. Two gents there that can be very helpful are John Pels and Brent Powell.

good luck!

[kestrel74]

Awww...you could've bought mine !!!

[...m...]

...wow - congratulations!..europas are so totally cool...

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

Roger,

It's your lucky day and congrats on your new hobby. Plenty of europa owners in the Houston area. Go to the Yahoo groups site and you can find a site dedicated to Europa owners. That should be your first source.
also look up Lotus Owners of south Texas (LOST), join the group and state your case. Two gents there that can be very helpful are John Pels and Brent Powell.

good luck!

Thanks. I already joined LOST when I got my Elise, but have only been to a couple of meetings.
Perhaps I may attend more often in future!

[Cegan09]

Congrats. any chance of pictures?

[scorpio408]

Was that the red one from Humble,Texas?

[Roger]

Originally Posted by scorpio408

Was that the red one from Humble,Texas?

That's the one.

[Roger]

OK, so this Europa I just bought has ineffective brakes. I expected this, the seller told me so beforehand, but now I'm starting to look at them - I like brakes.
These are VERY squishy, but will "pump up" somewhat. Before I start to bleed them, my next logical move I think, I was wondering if there are any "gotchas" lurking. See, I only have the Europa workshop manual, not the TC, and its different. For a start, this has twin vacuum boosters in the engine bay. Now for some reason, the top one has no vacuum line to it - the line has been deliberately plugged. I don't know yet if that's the front or rear brakes that are unboosted - for that matter I don't know if either booster works properly!
Any hints or tips before I dive in?

[RacyTracy]

Yeah.....you shoulda bought Kestrel's.








Sorry, couldn't resist.

[khamai]

Originally Posted by Roger

OK, so this Europa I just bought has ineffective brakes. I expected this, the seller told me so beforehand, but now I'm starting to look at them - I like brakes.
These are VERY squishy, but will "pump up" somewhat. Before I start to bleed them, my next logical move I think, I was wondering if there are any "gotchas" lurking. See, I only have the Europa workshop manual, not the TC, and its different. For a start, this has twin vacuum boosters in the engine bay. Now for some reason, the top one has no vacuum line to it - the line has been deliberately plugged. I don't know yet if that's the front or rear brakes that are unboosted - for that matter I don't know if either booster works properly!
Any hints or tips before I dive in?

Fed Europas had twin boosters, front & rear. The blocking off of one of the vacuum boosters is not unusual, but not the best solution. Replacement boosters are pretty much made of "Un-obtainium". Rebuild kits are still available.

However, by bypassing one of the boosters you need to put a tandem master in place and bypass the brake fail switch.

In all cases a "squishy" pedal is a indication of "issues" that need fixing.

I highly recommend replacing the old rubber brake lines and replacing them with braided steel.

Also there a lot of resources on the Europa on-line:
Lotus Europa Central -- Home Page
Lotus Europa Home Page
GOLDEN GATE LOTUS CLUB - Lotus Car Club
lotuseuropa : A Mailing List Lotus Europa Enthusiasts

Here's a couple tech articles on the GGLC website -
Europa Brake Info
Europa Rear Disc Brake Conversion


Cheers,
Kiyoshi

[...m...]

...it's funny, because despite my first impressions of a quirky, awkward, gangly, anachronistic relic, i've found myself gazing longingly at classic europas more and more often of late - i suspect that i'll be sorely tempted to pick up well-sorted example after i've paid off my elise...

...they're just so darned cool...

[kestrel74]

The C/D is a lot lower ( .29 I think ) ......they handle different...( NO body roll at all ).......ehh...they have their quirks tho... but everything does.

[khamai]

Originally Posted by ...m...

...it's funny, because despite my first impressions of a quirky, awkward, gangly, anachronistic relic, i've found myself gazing longingly at classic europas more and more often of late - i suspect that i'll be sorely tempted to pick up well-sorted example after i've paid off my elise...

...they're just so darned cool...

And consider that they can still be competitive... 35 years later!

Here are the AutoX results from the WCLM AutoX (dry course) by well driven cars.
Elise (R-tires) 30.408
Elise (AD-07s) 30.562
1974 Europa TC on street tires 30.593

That's pretty impressive, a 35 year old car running times that are virtually equal to modern technology.

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by ...m...

...it's funny, because despite my first impressions of a quirky, awkward, gangly, anachronistic relic, i've found myself gazing longingly at classic europas more and more often of late - i suspect that i'll be sorely tempted to pick up well-sorted example after i've paid off my elise...

...they're just so darned cool...

A well sorted vintage Europa. That's a good one! Even the best sorted ones don't stay sorted for too long! Part of the charm, I guess.

(Former owner of a 69 S2, a 70 S2, and a 74 TC Special)

[lotustype74]

I got rid of my74 TCS to get an Elise. The Elise is a better car but I loved the TCS. As far as the brakes go I got rid of the boosters and when to a smaller bore master cyclinder. Dave Bean Eng will know what size to go with. Thesteel brake lines will firm the pedal and check the "H" swicth to make sure the shuttle has not moved to one side or the other.The H switch is not a brake balance but a safety device in case there is a brake line failure. mine was stuck to one side so I pulled out and made short brake line to make a bridge untill I found one untill I got a replacement. The brake parts are cheap enough that you might as well replace all of the parts that might be dodgey.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by lotustype74

I got rid of my74 TCS to get an Elise. The Elise is a better car but I loved the TCS. As far as the brakes go I got rid of the boosters and when to a smaller bore master cyclinder. Dave Bean Eng will know what size to go with. Thesteel brake lines will firm the pedal and check the "H" swicth to make sure the shuttle has not moved to one side or the other.The H switch is not a brake balance but a safety device in case there is a brake line failure. mine was stuck to one side so I pulled out and made short brake line to make a bridge untill I found one untill I got a replacement. The brake parts are cheap enough that you might as well replace all of the parts that might be dodgey.

Thanks a lot - that does seem to be the consensus view, and besides, removing those servos will add lightness. Got to be a good thing!

[lotustype74]

PM when you go to switch the master cyclinder also always use Castrol brake fluid DOT4 Remember this is a 70s car so the new fluids and so on don't work.Also unless your head has been rebuilt with hard valve seatsyou will need to add lead to the fuel.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by lotustype74

PM when you go to switch the master cyclinder also always use Castrol brake fluid DOT4 Remember this is a 70s car so the new fluids and so on don't work.Also unless your head has been rebuilt with hard valve seatsyou will need to add lead to the fuel.

Thanks for the advice!

[kestrel74]

I went with 10 1/2 inch Wilwood discs all around, but I wouldn't recommend the conversion.....there exists an easier conversion out there, but I don't remember what it is. Here's a TEASER picture of a Gordini Turbo in a 1969 Europa ( local guy ) :