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I just joined the Golden Gate Lotus club, and was directed to this forum for Lotus lo
I have a newly restored 1970 Europa S2, and am looking for new front springs. These must be an "off the shelf" item from other maker of the day, and hope someone might know which one. Bought car specific units from SJSports in the UK, and they don't even come close to a proper fit.
First, thanks for joining the GGLC! A busy club with lots of drive, meets, track days, autocrosses and more.
Next, about your spring question... In no specific order...
* Join - https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LOTUSEUROPA/info - Europa Group on Yahoo.
* Questions about your car
> Can we assume it's a US car, Type 54?
> What dampers are fitted to the front?
> What do you mean by the units from SJSports don't come close? Too long? Too short? Wrong diameter?
* Stock Springs have:
> 17 coils
> Wire diameter 0.348 inch
> Free Length 12.75 inch
> Fitted Length 7.75 inch
> Spring Rate 100 lbs inch
> Inside Diameter 2.25 inch
Usual suspects for aftermarket springs are (in no particular order):
* Dave Bean Engineering
* JAE
* RD Enterprises
Thanks for the feedback. My Europa is a s/n 65/2621.The spring specs will be very useful. The shocks/ springs from SJSports, the shocks are 2 inches shorter than stock, and the springs are so short, that they have zero preload with the height adjustment nut 1" up from bottom. With the nut adjusted up to proper height, there is not compression room left to absorb bumps, resulting in a very hard (unacceptable ride). Thanks
It is possible to measure the spring, but you may need to remove it from the damper/shock.
Fitted Length = measure the distance from perch to perch with the car's weight on the spring.
Free Length = measure the length of the spring with zero load on it. You may be able to slacken the adjustable perch to the point where the spring is loose.
Wire diameter = with a calipers you can measure the wire diameter
Inside diameter (ID) = again with calipers measure the OD of the collar of the spring perch (again looks like you can slacken the adjustable perch enough to gain access)
Looking at the photo I would be concerned that the body of the shock/damper is too long, thus reducing the amount of allowable travel under compression. By the looks of it these would hit rubber leaving very little travel under bump. Europa shocks typically have a very short body to allow for enough bump travel.
Thanks for the front spring specs. Do you happen to have specs for the rears too? I figure I might as well change all springs while I'm at it as they appear to be original equipment, and 49 years is more than anyone could expect from anything. My front shocks are AVOs and have a unloaded length of 12.5" on center between mounting holes. The replacements from SJS are 10.5", thus lowering the car by 2" right if the bat. Now I have the 175x70 13s scrubbing the fenders when turning. Thanks again.
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