RichardSIA wrote:
Why am I still surprised to see guys make life hard on themselves when they don't have to?
You have a fresh hot Gordini engine, but you are thinking of an expensive and difficult engine swap that will make the Lotus less original and valuable?
The Gordini would be VERY close to a TC in performance*, but lighter and also still "Correct" for the car.
*Some reports have the Gordini outperforming the Ford TC.
I would do a proper full tune-up on the current engine, use it as a learning tool before getting into advanced automotive work.
Once you are a guy who can answer others "How to" post, put in the Gordini!
Full Disclosure, I kick my own @$$ twice every Sunday for selling my Europa/Gordini project.
I note that I cannot buy a similarly equipped project car at three times my sale price of only a few years ago.
when i bought the lotus the ad said europa s2 1970 needs restoration and the price was very low i saw one advertised in my area with renaut gordini crossflow asking 42 grand when i bought mine the rad was off and windshield cracked but came with new one still in box all the parts for the car were there then the guy say o ya i have another engine and threw in the gordini now
im not decided yet what to do
first idea was getting it running and put all mecanical in order to make it safe and keep it as is as what they call survivor for now
but i dont know how to check the condition of the frame it looks like surface rust in the tunnel and front the back end looks new
i could do frame off but then id loose the car for a while
if i make my on frame i can put modern mecanicals and i could just switch the frames and then enjoy the car and gives me time to restore the original frame
so the plan now is make car safe drive it as is