Doors are out, most paint removed to expose problem areas of spider cracks and broken glass. Time to remove all of the hardware; hinges, window glass and frame, and power window motor operator all items heavy, remind me to put on the scale someday to find out exact weight savings. This is about time I decide to make the Europa coupe into a convertible. "Why"? You may ask, my first reply is "Because I can, and its here" same as asking why people climb mountains. (Poetic license). My apologies to Carl and other Europa purists.
Anyone who has owned or driven a Europa in the summer knows how hot they can be. And except for the Series 1 which had pop-out windows of plexiglass, the later versions with power windows went only three quarters of the way down admitting little to no air, and the blower would only transfer super heated air from the front compartment. So out with the windows, weight and all and "Off with their Heads", (Quote the Queen of Hearts)... I know of her because I live in a Wonderland most of the time. Top and side of the frame must go too, leaving only the wing glass for better air flow.
I have seen and heard of highly modified Europas, a few with tops and windows gone totally for racing. Seems the top is a strong part of body stiffness. Even though everyone is calling it "del Sol", I actually had this design idea for many years way back to my Series 1 days (before Honda), keeping the back window frame for stiffness, rollover bar, and good looks. Oh Yeah! I forgot the back window glass is a goner too, flow thru ventilation, and great engine sounds behind the head. Did I mention this will be only a Fair Weather vehicle?
Body inverted... 1" square tubing roll over bar not completed
Seeing as I purchased a MIG welder to work on the seats, frame, etc., I decided to provide a measure of stiffness to the body. Again I cannot stress enough the need to plan and scheme everything out well in advance, I gave the 1" square tubing about 5 minutes to start the top most rail just under the roof line. The remainder took a few more days and thought process to arrive at the design pictured. As Lotus and Colin Chapman always planned to use any component for more than one function, my frame multitasks too. The entire tube frame will attach to the steel backbone chassis of the Europa. The Series Two has 3 bolts behind the seats on either side of the center tunnel which attach to a sheet metal angle of the chassis. I started with steel plates drilled and mounted to the six holes. Followed the profile of the body and seats, with square tubing, to just below the window where another square tube runs from side to side connecting the top rail and side rails that end below the door sills and bolt to the outer seat belt retainer brackets.
So, the pseudo-roll bar provides stiffening, roll over protection, attachment points for lap and shoulder belts, and provides a frame for fiber-glassing in of the openings. The frame also provided a guide for the Sawsall, cutting the roof off. The weight savings of the door windows, etc. will probably equal the weight of the heavy wall welded tubing and extra fiberglass. Because the firewall was 80-90% shot. I cut out the openings behind the seat to square off the ports, keeping as much of the double wall fiberglass body panels, and provide access for the fuel tanks, newer 7 gallon tanks on each side. Finally the steel framework provides a mounting surface for closure and insulation mats and trim pieces later in plan. Remember, plan ahead and use every piece to its fullest potential.
Door pillar and roof section gone... roll bar complete but not glassed in.
