Paint Layers !!!

[peterexpart]

Am in the process of removing all the Paint from my S4 for a "proper" Repaint, so far I am through 5 Layers of Yellow, each one with spray primer underneath 1 Layer of White following a Layer of Black Primer and then a White Primer, I am surprised the Engine had enough power to move the Car !!!!! I am convinced the P.O. must have had it re-sprayed each time it needed washing.
I do have one question for any S4SE owners out there, in various publications I have seen reference to a Cooling Grill somewhere near the Exhaust Manifold to assist cooling, can anyone post up a picture of where this would be located as there is not anything like it on my shell.
Thanks

[AHM]

White primer, black primer, white primer - Could be evidence of a 'proper' respray. isn't that what Option 1 do?

[gjz30075]

Mine are covered by a black mesh screen with the washer pump in the middle of the holes. Holes are about 2 3/4" diameter. Hope this helps.

Greg Z

[Elanintheforest]

Peter, the S4 only got the air vent quite late in production...around April 1970 ish if I remember correctly. I've had a Couple of S4 S/E cars, both Jan 1970, and neither have them.

Mark

[elansprint71]

My 72 Sprint has them on BOTH wings, 69S4SE does not have them.

[peterexpart]

Thanks for the replies, mine is an April 1970 SE but now I have stripped most of the Paint from the front I notice that it has had a New Front fitted from half way up the wings, although it still has the Build Number 0050G Etched in both Headlight Shells !!
I will Retro Fit them as per Photo's before the Re-Paint, it can only help to get a bit more air around the Engine
PeterExpart

[fatboyoz]

Greg and Pete,
Do the vents let in water or road grime?
Cheers,
Colin.

My 72 Sprint has them on BOTH wings, 69S4SE does not have them.

[gjz30075]

No.

Greg Z

[fatboyoz]

Thanks Greg,
Colin.

No.

Greg Z

[prezoom]

My S2 has vent holes in both inner fender panels. They do not seem to allow the admittance of road dirt/water, I believe because there is more air pressure in the engine compartment than in the fender wells. Thus the reason for the holes in the first place.

Rob Walker
26-4889

[redskatejbf]

Hi Elanintheforest,.... regards the `cooling vents` I have owned my F H C, S4 from new, delivered on the 12 Dec. 1969, first registration `1 Jan. 1970 (36/9681) and it has the cooling vents as described. Now there is a bit of anorak info. for you.

Regards John.

[nigelrbfurness]

All of my cars have had these holes in the LH inner wings, 68 S4SE has three! My 70 S4 SE has two. Both my S1 and S2 had them. I recall a service bulletin from Lotus, quite early on (1965?), that recommended the drilling of two large holes and riveting some mesh over them. The idea was to stop the build-up of heat in the engine compartment during tick over and at low speeds causing the weber engines to idle roughly and dynamos to fail early.

Nigel F

[trw99]

I believe the Dealer Technical Bulletin came out in 1970. Anyway, the Workshop Manual deals with the engine bay cooling holes, as below.

Tim

[Mazzini]

Peter, the S4 only got the air vent quite late in production...around April 1970 ish if I remember correctly. I've had a Couple of S4 S/E cars, both Jan 1970, and neither have them.

Mark

003G - are you quite sure? The photo isn't terribly clear, but the vents are there and it's a Jan '70 car, that said there is accident repair work to the nose of the car; the vents could have been added later or in period by a dealer when the car over heated in traffic.

[MyLotus]

While on the topic of air flow and cooling, I have acquired a larger S3 radiator to replace the small rad in my S4. I am also considering using Evans Waterless Coolant and would appreciate comments from owners who use Evans product.

Best,

Alain