Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

Made some more progress...I think!! lol
Well I sent my exhaust manifold and turbo bits off to be coated by Zircotec and I got them back looking all nice and clean.

Getting ready to fit the exhaust manifold

After a fair amount of trumpet polishing...

Then was able to fit the plenum cover and it feels like another job is done.

I have to fit the water pipe and bracket for the dip stick but as it was too badly rusted I am making a new one in stainless.

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

Nic Jarman · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject:

Nice work. Did you clean your nuts?
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

Wow....I can't see for the shine!!!! Cool

Great work!
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Richard Hughes

SV8Predator · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:27 pm Post subject:

scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

Hahahah

The nuts are new in the most if I can get them. Ive been getting a lot of bits plated as I get it done free at work.
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1727 Location: Malta

All I can say is WOOOOOOW
great work

dalbuie · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 408 Location: Gullane

Looking really smart, very impressive when you see the before pics Smile

scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

I have been working quite hard on the Esprit doing jobs like stripping the paint off the wheels etc. But I finally got round to buying some parts for the rear suspension set up. In 2007 for some reason, I dont know why but Lotus undertook a spring & damper programe fro the Esprit including all the cars from 1977. They basically got the cars S1 up to the late V8s and had them on the track at hethel using computers and modern materials they then had a new set up.

I did have thoughts about changing all the bolts to stainless but after some thinking and discussions with people who know quite a bit I ended up using new high tensile plated bolts (standard Lotus Parts) I did however make the washers myself from stainless. There are arguments for stainless but there are a couple that swung it for me. One of the main ones was although my old set up was rusty as hell I was still able to undo all the nuts fairly easily. I know people who have tightend stainless bolts and either snapped the bolts or then was unable to undo the nuts as stainless has a tendancy to bind.

After a bit of muscle work and head/backside scratching I got one side together. Hoping to get the other side done soon!

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

dalbuie · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 408 Location: Gullane

Looking REALLY good, bet you're starting to see yourself out on the road in it Smile

Mike · Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Oxfordshire

Blimey - your Lotus engine is looking gorgeous!

ianm · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

G'day Buddsy,
Your work is perfection, I'm interested to see the rest of the project
wish my Hillman Estate looked that good
Ian Smile

ianm · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:54 am Post subject:

G'day Buddsy,
I'v heard of Zircotec treatment is it a expensive process, it appears to come out alright
Ian Smile

scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

Cheers for the nice comments guys!

The coating was quite pricey, I had four bits done. The exhaust manifold which is quite big, the main turbo body, another turbo part and a wastegate adaptor tube. I paid and extra 15% for a top coat which helps protect the barried...also beacause you can get the top coat in many colours rather than the white of the actual coating. The whole lot with VAT and delivery was £427.00 Time will tell if it was worth it.

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

The headlining trim and cant rails in my car, like many Lotus were in a real poor state. They suffer from the old foam comming away from the fabric top layer. I have had these bits kicking around my garage for a year or so. I had lost one sunvisor for ages. I was thinking about doing them myself, I even bought the lining and the glue. There is a tricky part where it needs to be sewn together around the digital clock. Aslo the sunvisors were in a real bad way and the foam was all soft too. Right time I take them to Nick Fulcher. Now Im not sure of any of you guys from Norfolk have heard of Nick but I have met him on a few occasions. His story is a great one, basically he ended up being the main man trim wise at Lotus under Colin Chapman & Mike Kimberley. He has many stories about making covers for Chapmans plane. He also done the White Bond car at Pinewood, the Lotus F1 cars and more recently I think he was working on the new Evora press car.

http://www.coachtrimmer.co.uk/default.aspx

Any ways I dropped off all my parts as shown below and am hoping to get them back in better condition then they are at the moment! I will keep you posted.

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

Looking foward to seeing the new headlining Buddsy...the old stuff looks pretty bad!

Excellent work so far! Very Happy

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Richard Hughes