It looks like I just bought a basket case Lotus Europa for $1000. So I have two questions now.
A: It doesn't have an engine or tranny so my options are wide open. Any ideas? B: How do I tell my wife?
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Feb. 20, 2009 10:50 a.m. wayslow New Reader
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Feb. 20, 2009 10:53 a.m. JFX001 HalfDork
Dr. Hess here on the board can point you in the right direction regarding restoration or engine combos and or links to do so.
As for your Wife.....pray.
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Feb. 20, 2009 10:58 a.m. JoshC New Reader
Always remember this quote: "It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." Explain to her what a sweet deal it was and that you simply couldn't pass it up. Also mention that you're trying to do your part to bolster the economy; however, be prepared for backlash as she hits local department stores.
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Feb. 20, 2009 11:00 a.m. belteshazzar Dork
I suggest something zingy with a smooth powerband. The only europa I drove felt so light I thought for sure I could punch my way out of it if accidentally locked in.
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Feb. 20, 2009 11:12 a.m. 914Driver Dork
Plan A:
Do what Tim does and hide it behind a barn, don't let your wife mow the lawn.
Plan B
"But honey, it's cheaper than a girlfriend and I'm not hanging out in dark smokey bars ogling college girls".
Plan C:
Aw c'mon, all the cool guys have one.
Plan D:
Hey, you go along with this or we'll never have sex again.
I have an extra room over my garage when she explains to you Plan F ....
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Feb. 20, 2009 11:27 a.m. John Brown MegaDork
How is the drivetrain laid out in the Europa?
If it is a North South mid engine then I suggest VW 1.8T from a 1999-2005 Passat
If it is an EW mid engine then I suggest a 2.2L Ecotec from a 2002-2007 GM FWD
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Feb. 20, 2009 11:34 a.m. 93celicaGT2 HalfDork
Zingy... smooth powerband?
4age 20v blacktop mated to a 6-speed!
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Feb. 20, 2009 11:39 a.m. Woody Dork
wayslow wrote:
B: How do I tell my wife?
Start a new thread here titled "Was this a smart purchase?". We will fall in line and write about how you stole the car, how we all wish we could find a deal like that, blah, blah, blah, etc. Then show it to your wife.
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Feb. 20, 2009 11:43 a.m. belteshazzar Dork
good call woody.
we got yo back wayslow.
as ugly as those cars are this isn't going to be easy.
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Feb. 20, 2009 12:22 p.m. Winston New Reader
John Brown wrote:
How is the drivetrain laid out in the Europa?
If it is a North South mid engine then I suggest VW 1.8T from a 1999-2005 Passat
If it is an EW mid engine then I suggest a 2.2L Ecotec from a 2002-2007 GM FWD
North-south middy.
I also suggest a Toyota 4AGE mated to a stock Europa transmission. A guy here in Houston makes the adapter. Find a Europa board and look for John (?) Pels.
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Feb. 20, 2009 1:43 p.m. wayslow New Reader
I have to admit that the 4age was the first thing that came to mind. Since I have a freshly rebuilt one sitting on my engine stand right now it's sort of a no brainer. Has a Europa been in the Challange yet?
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:00 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork
Can't help you with the wife thing, sorry.
The powerplant, now there I can.
Since it's a north/south middie and doesn't need a whole bunch of power to be quite entertaining, I'd do a Subaru 1.8 turbo motor (134 HP @ 5900 RPM) and 5 speed box. That way you could lower the 'breadvan' and get some much needed rear visibility and also keep the CG really low.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:04 p.m. driver109x Reader
There you go. Drop the 4ag in. How about a boxer engine?
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:15 p.m. jrw1621 HalfDork
The current Lotus' like the Toyota engine. I thnk it would work well for you too.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:17 p.m. Type Q HalfDork
Winston wrote:
John Brown wrote:
How is the drivetrain laid out in the Europa?
If it is a North South mid engine then I suggest VW 1.8T from a 1999-2005 Passat
If it is an EW mid engine then I suggest a 2.2L Ecotec from a 2002-2007 GM FWD
North-south middy.
I also suggest a Toyota 4AGE mated to a stock Europa transmission. A guy here in Houston makes the adapter. Find a Europa board and look for John (?) Pels.
Didn't the very first Tercels sold in the US have Fwd and north-south engine orientation? That might get you a more readily available transmission mate with your 4AG motor. If my memory is wrong on this someboy please speak up.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:23 p.m. Rustfinger New Reader
I'm pretty sure all the early Tercels were RWD...
although finding something other than that Vichy box the Europa came with would be high on my list of things i'd want changed out when adding more power.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:37 p.m. ClemSparks UberDork
Rustfinger wrote:
I'm pretty sure all the early Tercels were RWD...
although finding something other than that Vichy box the Europa came with would be high on my list of things i'd want changed out when adding more power.
My understanding is that there was never a rear drive Tercel (in North America, maybe).
Clem
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:39 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader
belteshazzar wrote:
as ugly as those cars are this isn't going to be easy.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:39 p.m. car39 Reader
Woody wrote:
wayslow wrote:
B: How do I tell my wife?
Start a new thread here titled "Was this a smart purchase?". We will fall in line and write about how you stole the car, how we all wish we could find a deal like that, blah, blah, blah, etc. Then show it to your wife.
Woody:
Good plan. I'll be counting on your help if the 2nd Miata comes thru.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:45 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
I seem to remember an upgrade for these cars was the turbo engine out of the Renault Fuego.
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Feb. 20, 2009 2:47 p.m. Rustfinger New Reader
ClemSparks wrote:
Rustfinger wrote:
I'm pretty sure all the early Tercels were RWD...
although finding something other than that Vichy box the Europa came with would be high on my list of things i'd want changed out when adding more power.
My understanding is that there was never a rear drive Tercel (in North America, maybe).
Clem
OK...maybe i'm thinking of the Starlet then.
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Feb. 20, 2009 3:46 p.m. Winston New Reader
mad_machine wrote:
I seem to remember an upgrade for these cars was the turbo engine out of the Renault Fuego.
That's true, because the Turbo Fuego transmission is the same (though beefed up, I believe) as the Europa. The Turbo Fuego engine is an evolution of the Renault mill found in the early Europas (pre- Twincam).
To those suggesting boxer engines -- that would require altering the rear chassis section of the Europa in a ridiculous way. Heck, even a small I4 like the 4AGE requires a small notch in the chassis on one side. You'd have to build an entirely new rear chassis section for a Subie boxer engine... but if you did want to go thru that trouble, it would help you in the trans department too.... just use the Subie transmission too (either a FWD from an early Impreza/Legacy, or a later AWD from a WRX/STi with the rear output lock kit from Australia).
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Feb. 20, 2009 4:04 p.m. 44Dwarf Reader
Oh man why do'nt i find this like this?
If you have the sub frame how about a bike motor? Light, small, plenty of HP, sure some might say no torqure but that why theres gears and it light weight body anyway.
44
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Feb. 20, 2009 7:54 p.m. ZOOMiata Dork
Rustfinger wrote:
ClemSparks wrote:
Rustfinger wrote:
I'm pretty sure all the early Tercels were RWD...
although finding something other than that Vichy box the Europa came with would be high on my list of things i'd want changed out when adding more power.
My understanding is that there was never a rear drive Tercel (in North America, maybe).
Clem
OK...maybe i'm thinking of the Starlet then.
Nope , you were right. The first generation Tercel was a north/south front-driver. In fact, it was Toyota's first FWD car. I guess that made it a harbinger of the apocolypse, given Toyota's current (yawn) offerings.
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Feb. 20, 2009 8:06 p.m. erohslc New Reader
Early Saab Turbo? N-S Orientation, decent power, OEM tranny (but I don't know how reliable it is). Gotta be cheaper/easier to find/more reliable than the froggy hardware.
Carter
