1973 Lotus Europa
TC Special 74-3115R
| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | Home | Links | Sitemap |
Dec.
11, 2004.
Had some
trash that the usual guys wouldn't pick up, so had a brainstorm and packed
it in the TCS.
Went to
the local dump, chap at the window; "Wow, a Lotus Europa, haven't seen
one of those years,
knew a
guy who had an Elan". I smiled and explained that I want to get it weighed.
"Of course you do, Lane #1".
860 kg
in, 830 kg out. Let's see now... 830 kg x 2.2 = 1826 lbs.
Minus me,
160 lbs and minus 50 lbs of tools, fire extinguisher and supplies = 1616
lbs.
That's
fuel tanks half full, spare tire in front, rear trunk not installed. Sound
about right.
Then went
for a short drive in the back country. Sunny day, about time. Lot of rain
this fall.
Oct.
29, 2004.
The speedo
quit working this week, it was bouncing and chirping before... but
it finally quit on Tuesday.
But still
made the occassional chirp, however zero mph. Went investigating today
and pulled out the speedo.
Yup, the
cable is bust... snapped about 18" from the speedo. Guess I have to replace
it now.
While I was at it, I compared
the S1 steering wheel to the TCS wheel.
The splines and nuts are the
same, but the hubs-flanges are different. Even the columns are not
the same.
Think early Spitfire, late Spitfire.
TSC on the left, S1 on the right.
Oct.
19, 2004.
Nothing
to report. Busy driving.
July
24, 2004.
Replaced
camshaft seal and cork gasket.
Also replaced
the rubber half moons in the head, at the end of the camshafts.
Reassembled. Will
start driving it again daily and see what happens.
July
17, 2004.
Removed
catalytic converter and re-installed the muffler.
Replaced
the original steel pulley on the camshaft for the alternator drive, with
an aluminum one.
Looks a
lot nicer and 1/4 of the weight. Topped up the engine oil, and fired up
the twincam.
Yup, still
leaks at the camshaft seal. Guess I should buy a new seal. It's not getting
better.
July
12, 2004
Took 3115R
to a specialist in Vancouver. Hooked it up to their analyzer,
then changed
the needles over to Triumph TR6 ones, B1AF.
Ran too
lean, adjusted a bit, got great numbers, and went to Aircare. Passed with
honours.
Thanks,
everyone.
See table below...
Then adjusted
the B1AF needles a bit richer. Ordered new B1G ones.
Will make
the switch back later when they arrive. Next to remove the cat and replace
the muffler.
The cat
helped a lot, got up to a working temperature with the B1AF needles, but
it's too noisy for me.
Engine
backfires sometimes with the TR6 needles. But glad I finally passed.
Get to
repeat the facade in 12 months time.
July
06, 2004
Noticed
the weight was wrong on my Aircare slip, so did some research. It's also
wrong on my registration.
They have
it down at 1650 kg. I told them 1650 lbs. If I do the math,
that should be 750 kg.
That
means the allowable numbers for the test have changed a bit.
Don't know
why a lighter car is allowed to pollute more, but I'm not going to argue
with them.
So, now
I pass NO and HC in the driving test, but still fail the other requirements.
Oh well...
July
03, 2004
Started
to get serious about passing Aircare. British Columbia's emission money
grab...
Was looking
at Ken's excellent site, http://pw1.netcom.com/~krk/lotus/
He has
an article about how installing a cat helped him to pass his emissions
test.
Looked
interesting, thought I'd try it. What did I have to lose..?
Went to
a franchise muffler shop, asked about replacing the muffler with a temporary
catalytic converter.
They wanted
$500 for the job. No thanks. Then went to an auto parts place and bought
a generic cat for $100.
Next drove
around the corner to a hot rod custom exhaust shop and asked some questions.
Drove home
and removed the muffler, not easy, but got it out.
Went back
to the custom shop... with no muffler, very loud !!!.
Half an
hour and $100 later, drove out. The cat is quite a bit louder that the
muffler, too loud for me...
but this
is a test. If I pass, the cat comes off and the muffler goes back
on till next year.
At least
that was the theory. Did some errands to warm up the engine, then over
to Aircare.
---Failed
Again--- The numbers are lower than the first time, but
not low enough.
Larger, different picture here... http://www.europa24fps.com/cat1.jpg
I did not
touch the timing, nor the points, nor the Strombergs, aside from raising
the idle to 1100 rpm.
Fuel was
part methanol, new oil and filter, new sparkplugs, no air cleaners.
The plugs
are the base of the carbs were removed, hoping the holes would lean out
the mixture a bit.
| Driving test | May 25 | July 3
(cat) |
July 12
(cat + needles) |
Allowable (corrected) |
| Hydrocarbons ppm | 413 pass | 331 pass | 19 pass | 520 |
| Carbon Monoxide % | 8.12 fail | 8.43 fail | 0.00 pass | 5.14 |
| Nitrogen Oxides ppm | 178 pass | 0.00 pass | 455 pass | 5608 |
| Idle test | May 25 | July 3 | July 12 | Allowable (corrected) |
| Hydrocarbons ppm | 2000 fail | 1581 fail | 208 pass | 698 |
| Carbon Monoxide % | 9.99 fail | 9.37 fail | 2.65 pass | 5.54 |
CO, July
12... Yes, it really is zero-zero-zero.
NOx, July
3... Yes, it really is zero-zero-zero.
Idle Test,
HC + CO, May 25... I think those numbers are the maximums on
the scale.
So quite
possibly could have been even higher.
Interesting,
but still annoying. Now I have more work and money to spend before test
#3.
June
26, 2004
Been kinda
busy past few weeks with work. So not much progress with the emissions
problem.
Worked
on the oil leak though. Thought I fixed it but no, not yet. Still seeping
out through the
oil seal
on the camshaft where the pulley is mounted for the alternator. Did more
cleaning above and below.
Had an
aluminum alternator pulley made up. Looks lot better that the original,
and lighter too.
June
06, 2004
Not much
to say, 3115R works.
Took it
through Aircare (BC's emission testing), failed with honours.
Now the
fun starts. Going to lean it out, new plugs, check timing, clean the air
cleaners, change oil + filter.
Filled
the tanks with methanol blend. Most likely will buy a catalytic converter
to
temporarily
replace the muffler. Then try Aircare again. Got five weeks before the
renewal is due.
Gave the
engine a bath on Saturday morning, and cleaned up the garage.
March 28,
2004
Decided
enough was enough, and replaced the leaking coolant pipe. The grommet
in the
frame where the pipe passes through had split, allowing the pipe to rub
against the frame.
I cut the
old pipe at the rear and pulled it out the front. Cut a new piece of pipe
and joined it up.
Eventually
will replace both pipes with stainless, not now though, don't want to lift
the engine.
Everything
seems fine so start driving it again. Weather looks good for a few days.
But 3115R
needs a bath above and below.
| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | Home | Links | Sitemap |
