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scott_budds
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject: Lotus Turbo Esprit Retro |
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Hi all
Im new here so I thought I would tell you a little bit about my project I have been working on for just over the last year. Ok I know some of you will think its a little too young but I think these cars have always been classics in a way. I am a regular on an Esprit forum but I find myself missing the other makes and periods. I love all cars from very early to ohhh up to the 80s don’t think there’s much from the 90s that inspires me yet!!! On the Esprit forum there are many who are into the cars from a sport car outlook where I would describe myself as a classic enthusiast. I am trying to restore my car to original spec. Its very brash very very 80s but that was 23 years ago now!!! I have managed to get an original radio cassette player from ebay that was an option in 85 that would have set you back £595.00!!! For a tape player imagine that lol!!
Ok so here is how I found the car when I bought her
She had been standing in a barn since 1994. I bought her with no head or cams as the previous owner had bought her intending to do what so many people want to do...replace the lotus engine with a v8!!! |
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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Nice project, I like the Esprit _________________ ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars |
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scott_budds
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Thanks 47p2 Im not sure what the P2 is...yet but I was trying to talk one of the guys who works with me into buying a P6. Then I fell in love with the P5. I would love that level of comfort but would need a chaufer to drive me around! |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7113 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:11 am Post subject: Re: Lotus Turbo Esprit Retro |
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scott_budds wrote: | I am trying to restore my car to original spec. |
Good man! Welcome to the forum Scott.
Peter. _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:51 am Post subject: |
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Hi
We all like reading about any restos, so you are in good company here. So where have you got up to with it?
Cheers
Dave |
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Jason
Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 623 Location: Todmorden, Lancs.
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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hi scott and welcome to the forum, I'm a newbie myself (about a week)
good look with the restoration and as buzzy bee says we all like reading about resto's!
jason |
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scott_budds
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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Hi guys thanks for the warm welcome and the positive comments!
Well you know how most of the time when you buy something and get it come you think "what the hell have I bought"? Well when I did get her home I gave her a quick wash and I will admit I was very pleased she didn’t look too bad!!
The inside was a bit tired but all there. I don’t know what it is about Lotus cars from the 70s and 80s but the headlining always seems to break down and come away. Mine was too.
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bob2
Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1727 Location: Malta
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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nice interior for a car that has been standing 13 years!!
some hide food will have them like new!!!
Nice project!! |
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scott_budds
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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So on with the resto, my first area to tackle was to remove and rebuild the engine. With this out I would be able to replace the suspension and work on the car. My plan is to put the engine back when most of the other jobs have all been done. As of today I have just about finished working on rebuilding the engine, working on the carbs and turbo at the moment. I am hoping to be able to save up and buy the new suspension parts in the New Year.
I was able to buy a secondhand head and the cams. Since I had never had the engine running I wasn’t sure what state the engine was in. I was told when I bought the car a PO had sent the head away to be skimmed and never got it back. To me this sounded very fishy. I did find lots of rust in the water pump and as the cooling is important on an ally engine I think maybe the water pump may have failed and warped the head? I had decided I was going to completely rebuild the engine any way with all new bearings and piston rings. |
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dalbuie
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 408 Location: Gullane
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Scott, welcome to the forum.
These pictures take me back to 1983 when I worked in Livingston for a company called GL Electronics.
As an incentive for the salesmen the top man each month got the Esprit Turbo for a month to play in
I was an engineer in the same office and the salesman needed an estate for a personal chore and offered me a swap for a day. Now I was 20 and the choice was a 2 year old 1.6 cavalier estate or an almost new Esprit Turbo for the day - you can guess what I chose.
I still remember the feeling of flooring it on the far side of West Calder to overtake a lorry, nothing much seemed to happen for a second and then it felt as though someone had ignited a rocket behind me. By the time I came to my senses and looked at the speedo I was doing 120 and the lorry was almost invisible behind me. I think the speed burned a smile on my face for weeks.
Cornering was also a dream, Livingston is a town filled with roundabouts and the Lotus loved them all.
Hope you get it on the road ASAP and it's as enjoyable to own as it was to play in for one day 25 years ago.
D |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22429 Location: UK
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Scotty
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome Scott.
Scotty. |
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scott_budds
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Guys, nice story Dalbuie. They are still a quick car today...when you put your foot down they do kind of appear to bend space and time slightly!! lol
Here are a few pics from the engine rebuild. Some people rebuild using a later forged piston but mine were in good order so I kept them. I also really liked the fact they were etched inside "red 1" "red 2" etc. I have read that Lotus knew right from the start of each car how it was going to be specked, and these pistons were marked up at the start of my car build. They knew the turbo pistons were needed. I took the engine apart and cleaned all parts. The steel liners were worn down one side so I replaced them with new items.
Liners and liners in the block
Crank in sitting on new bearings
Pistons in with clamps retaining the new liners.
I cleaned my new head and polished the rough ports. I replaced the springs with new items.
Finally I was able to torque the head onto the new gasket on the block
Next I fitted the water pump, A/C pump, cams and cam tubes and the timed up the cam belt
At the moment I am working on the carbs and am hoping to get them back on before xmas. The started motor I am cleaning up too. |
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wrinx
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 142 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Nearly bought a Lotus a few years ago...very nice resto
wrinx _________________ www.alfaromeo155.co.uk | www.alfamatta.co.uk
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