New Member - New Europa JPS owner

9881 Views 41 Replies 9 Participants Last post by EuropaJPS, Jan 26, 2015

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · Jul 25, 2014 (Edited)

Hi guys,

Just a quick post to say hi as I am new to the forum, and to ask for some advice.

My father recently passed away and left me his treasured Europa JPS, owned by him since 1978.

The car is a JPS, with the badge on the dash and is currently off being completely restored back to it's former glory. I can't wait for it to be finished!

Anyway, the car currently has Wolfrace Slot Mags on which I am intending to replace with the original Brand Lotus wheels - which came thrown in with the car when my dad purchased it those years ago (even have the original 40 year old rubber on!).

Obviously, they need refurbishing, but I found yesterday that one of the wheels has had the stud holes widened - presumably by the previous owner to use on another car?! What a plonker!

I was therefore wondering on all your opinions on what to do about this. I know that it is possible to fill the elongated stud holes with weld and re-drill, but I am very conscious of what the heat required to do this would do to the structural integrity of the wheel etc.

Do you guys have any ideas on what to do? Am I better off trying to buy a second hand single wheel to replace the damaged one? If so, anyone have any idea where I could look? I don't want to buy a brand new replica etc unless I have to, to avoid mismatches with the other 3 perfectly good wheels when they are refurbished.

Thanks in advance, love the forum already!!

21 - 40 of 42 Posts

BDA

· #21 · Jul 27, 2014

TheKid#9 said:
Original Wheels are the way to go. Your wheel does look pretty bad but I'm sure you'll be able to find a replacement or find someone to fix it if possible. You'll have a blast driving her once the restoration is over, I know I did when I first drove mine after it was finished.

Hey Kid,

I agree that the Lotus Brand wheels are one of the best looking alloy wheels there is, but I still think 13" tires are hard to get and won't get any easier. They will always be made but they will just be more of a pain to get (now, if someone would just make a 15" version!). Actually, I don't think it will be too long before even 15" tires will be harder to find, but I think that will be a few years away.

Enjoy them while you have them! They look great on the car!

TheKid#9

· #22 · Jul 27, 2014

BDA said:
Hey Kid,

I agree that the Lotus Brand wheels are one of the best looking alloy wheels there is, but I still think 13" tires are hard to get and won't get any easier. They will always be made but they will just be more of a pain to get (now, if someone would just make a 15" version!). Actually, I don't think it will be too long before even 15" tires will be harder to find, but I think that will be a few years away.

Enjoy them while you have them! They look great on the car!

I agree! Tires are very hard to find but they are out there. I love the original 13" wheels, the style is amazing. My dad and I were thinking to get some minilites for road use and save the originals for show.

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · #23 · Jul 27, 2014

Do any of you europa owners have any experience of the toyo r888 tyres? They seem to be quite easy to get around my neck of the woods...

4380r

· #24 · Jul 27, 2014

EuropaJPS said:
Do any of you europa owners have any experience of the toyo r888 tyres? They seem to be quite easy to get around my neck of the woods...

I was considering them for my car, as they can be had in the proper sizes.

I was warned off of them for street use as their grip comes on when heated up, and for street use they really don't get to temp. Don't know if they person knew what he was talking about, but I wound up getting something else.

BUT...there is another guy on here who has them on his Europa and he's quite happy with them.

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · #25 · Jul 27, 2014

Hi 4380r, what did you end up going for? Are you happy with them?

I have heard conflicting reviews of the r888 - some say they are great for grip on the street, others say they aren't so good until they get warm.

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bfm01

· #26 · Jul 27, 2014

On my special, I loved the Pirelli CN36's...I think they are available again?

4380r

· #27 · Jul 27, 2014

EuropaJPS said:
Hi 4380r, what did you end up going for? Are you happy with them?

I have heard conflicting reviews of the r888 - some say they are great for grip on the street, others say they aren't so good until they get warm.

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I wound up with Kumho Solus. I wouldn't autocross with them. But they are proper size (although I went with 185's all the way around instead of 175 up front/185 rear). Very good touring tire, not bad looking. Decent grip on back road runs.

BDA

· #28 · Jul 27, 2014

4380r said:
I was considering them for my car, as they can be had in the proper sizes.

I was warned off of them for street use as their grip comes on when heated up, and for street use they really don't get to temp. Don't know if they person knew what he was talking about, but I wound up getting something else.

BUT...there is another guy on here who has them on his Europa and he's quite happy with them.

They look like they would be diabolical in the rain. I can believe they are better when they heat up but I would think they are probably pretty good as long as it's dry. They would probably be good for autocrossing.

Loki250

· #29 · Jul 27, 2014

BDA said:
They look like they would be diabolical in the rain. I can believe they are better when they heat up but I would think they are probably pretty good as long as it's dry. They would probably be good for autocrossing.

I've been running R888s on both of my running S2s for a couple of years on the street. The grip is absolutely outstanding. Granted, this is in So Cal in warm dry weather. I have not run them in the wet or cold, so can't comment on their wet capabilities. The Toyos are the only street high performance tires that I'm aware of available in 13" size. In colder climates, may want to use these for summer use only.

BDA

· #30 · Jul 28, 2014

Loki,

What sort of mileage do you get with them?

I don't have any recent information, but when the cars were new with the Dunlop tires, the front tires lasted for 60,000 miles (which was forever in the mid seventies) and the rear ones would last for 20,000.

Loki250

· #31 · Jul 29, 2014

Over the last couple of years, I've only put less than 1k miles on both cars. The fronts look pretty new, the rears a bit more worn. Once I put more miles on them, I expect them to be similar to the old Phoenix Stahlflexes from the 80s. I was getting from 8k to 12k miles on rear running them on my daily driver TCS.

I'm running very low air pressures 16#/18# for street use on my 20 mile round trips to town and back.

QQROPA

· #32 · Jul 30, 2014

JPS "Badge" europa

I hope you trust your restoration shop with your car and that the JPS numbered badge doesn't "disappear"! That badge is the only difference between a regular Special and the JPS version. I just sold my #185 and got a premium price largely due to the badge. The car otherwise was in better than average condition, but not mint, however I got the final sales price for the car as if it were mint. I'm convinced it was the authenticity of being a genuine JPS. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I cannot over emphasize enough to protect and keep that badge. I was always nervous, even at car shows, that someone would steal it.
There are "non-numbered" badges that are replicas or reproductions, but not individually numbered. Definitely register on the Lotus-Europa-Central website your car and badge number. You should keep that badge in a safe place until after your restoration shop is finished and when you get it back. Then, you can mount the badge back onto the car.
OK, i'll get off my soapbox now....
BTW, my badge was mounted on the center console (thus giving credence to various badge placement).
Also, go find another wheel for refurbishment....they're out there.

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XHILR8N!

· #33 · Jul 30, 2014

Very good point. Ours has a "fake" one that's sorta similar, as she is a clone originally Ford Tawny color.

4380r

· #34 · Jul 31, 2014

EuropaJPS said:
The car is being restored by Richard Winter at Banks Europa - plus I have lots of photos of it as proof!

You could not have your Europa in better hands than Banks. It should be something when they are done.

Are you going to do ANY upgrades that improve performance or reliabilty?

Example, the electronic ignitions (Pertronix are popular in the U.S.) is a very good upgrade. I had the Ignitor INSIDE my distributor...visually it looked OEM.

Also, assuming your car is a 5 speed, sooner or later you may have to face that the speedometer gear IN the transmission fails. Not made anymore, they are next to impossible to source (although if anyone can find one, Banks would be the guys) and if you do find one they are priced like unobtainium.

Happened to mine and I had to go away from OEM, so I had Speedhut put together a GPS speedometer which was virtually identical to the OEM. Worked great, except for in tunnels or anywhere else you drop GPS.

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · #35 · Jul 31, 2014

4380r said:
You could not have your Europa in better hands than Banks. It should be something when they are done.

Are you going to do ANY upgrades that improve performance or reliabilty?

Example, the electronic ignitions (Pertronix are popular in the U.S.) is a very good upgrade. I had the Ignitor INSIDE my distributor...visually it looked OEM.

Also, assuming your car is a 5 speed, sooner or later you may have to face that the speedometer gear IN the transmission fails. Not made anymore, they are next to impossible to source (although if anyone can find one, Banks would be the guys) and if you do find one they are priced like unobtainium.

Happened to mine and I had to go away from OEM, so I had Speedhut put together a GPS speedometer which was virtually identical to the OEM. Worked great, except for in tunnels or anywhere else you drop GPS.

Hi 4380R,

No, no upgrades planned - I want to keep it completely original as far as possible - I know that will mean reliability may suffer but given that it is so "Special" to me (forgive the pun!!), I wouldn't be able to bring myself to modify it I don't think.

I am trusting that I will be advised accordingly throughout the restoration as to what the best thing to do is with regard to any problems that may crop up.

The car is the 5-speed, so the problem you highlighted may well crop up, so thanks for the heads up! No doubt there will be many issues as everything on the car, apart from the aftermarket alloys, is original.

To be honest I have no idea what a well sorted Europa is like to drive, and I don't really know what to expect in terms of maintenance, but I am handy with a spanner, and had the Europa in bits in my teens when me and my dad took the body off of the chassis to rust proof etc over ten years ago. So hopefully I can maintain the car properly once it is complete!

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · #36 · Jan 26, 2015

Hi Guys,

Apologies for resurrecting my old thread!

My Europa is now complete! It was delivered on the first week of January, which has been torture as I have had to wait until the weekend just gone to drive it due to the wet weather. I can't bring myself to get it wet - it is so stunning and clean!

I took it out for a run on Saturday just gone and can honestly say I was petrified! Other cars looked like monster trucks and the handbrake was...well interesting. If nothing else, I think my clutch control will improve!! I have a fast daily driver for commuting, but it felt so detached in the corners on the way to work this morning! Due to the engine rebuild and learning the knack of the car and the gearbox, it was a steady drive on Saturday, but boy was it a lot of fun!

The restoration cost a lot more than I had anticipated due to a full engine rebuild. Originally it was intended that the water pump would be changed and a service would be enough but on further inspection, there were water marks in the cylinder etc. So the twin cam was completely overhauled! Ouch!

The car has had a vast amount of work done by Banks, including a new (genuine Lotus) chassis, new suspension, new brakes including lines and servo, new (recon) radiator and transfer pipes, engine and head rebuild including water pump etc, rebuild of the De'llortos, new starter motor and much much more!

Originality has been key to the restoration - probably at the cost of finances and also efficiency (for example not changing to elec ignition) but I think it was the right thing to do - especially as it is a JPS and it deserves the attention and care it received!

Anyway, sorry to waffle on, I'll stop for now! If anyone would be interested in pics of the finished product I can upload some to the thread.

All the best!

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4380r

· #37 · Jan 26, 2015

EuropaJPS said:
If anyone would be interested in pics of the finished product I can upload some to the thread.

All the best!

Congrats...and a question isn't really a question if you already know the answer...POST PICS!!!

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · #38 · Jan 26, 2015 (Edited)

3

Sorry, stupid question! Hopefully these pictures look ok! They are from a phone camera so aren't the best quality unfortunately.

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Coupé Sedan

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Coupé Classic car

Engine Vehicle Auto part Car

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BDA

· #39 · Jan 26, 2015

Very nicely done! When you posted that Banks did a lot of the work, I new it was going to be good! She's a peach! Congratulations!

EuropaJPS

Discussion Starter · #40 · Jan 26, 2015 (Edited)

Thanks BDA. Banks did all of the work on her - I have some fantastic restoration photos that Richard took for me as it was being done.

He has done a superb job on the car - I cannot recommend him highly enough.

I must get out with the proper camera the next time the sun is shining as the phone camera photos don't do it justice! It really is immaculate - almost to the point that I'm frightened to drive it, but my confidence grew a bit on Saturday with the first drive!

I can't wait to put some miles on it now!

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