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Lotus 7 Adventure begins

In the fall of 2019 I found the 1984 Super Seven Sports Car company Lotus 7 S3 at Sodo-Moto in Seattle Washington. After negotiation and...

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

dash replacement

Starting with the old.....the original dash was 1/8 plywood padded with 1/8 foam and covered in vinyl.  It has not aged well. Several of the switches were removed from the front rather that the back as the core wood material had decintegrated.  

Dash Removed - wiring was a mess to start.  
- Several segments were removed. 
-  All Wire taps removed
- Twisted together grounds all removed. 
- all ground connections were replaced. 
- all open hot wires sealed with heat shrink.  Over all the electrical system is now safe and reliable.



Dashed cutout - using the original as a template the new dash was formed in 18 gauge sheet metal.  The depth of dash was reduced to add approx 2cm of additional clearance for my knees.  The straight lower edge was formed to a smooth radius that forms to the lower cross brace.  

Dash covered in vinyl - after several test fit sessions, the dash was covered in marine-grade leather-look vinyl.  The look is very close to the original but should weather much better.  The vinyl was bonded directly to the metal dash.  A much crisper look to the final product.  

Installed and rewire started
underside cover installed.     The switch labels and matching switch bezels are still on backorder.  

Toggle covers added to Wioer, fuel and AFR switches

Friday, February 4, 2022

cool air vent for footwell

In summer driving the footwell gets too hot.  As in 120F hot.   Thermal solutions only go so far as the primary issue is that the air in the footwell is a negative pressure zone and does not move.  It is bearable when moving but at slow speed, the driver's left leg below the knee is scorching.  The solution is to add a vent to each foot well. 
Step 1 was to install a NACA duct under the car below the carbs.  The fresh air will be sucked into the low pressure zone in the foot well via the 76mm high temp hose. (black hose in the pic above)

Step2) 3 inch high temp hose covered with high temp exhaust wrap.  As the vent hose is sitting on the transmission and against the rear of the engine any heat reduction is a positive.  

Step4) install 76mm to 2 port 51mm splitter through firewall.  this was sourced from Demon-Tweeks in the UK. 

Step 5) install vents in footwell.  Each vent can be set open/closed and directed 360deg.  This will allow flow to be adjusted for best results. 

Note: inside ductwork was completed while the dash was out for ease of access.