Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Greg]

Very nice project! Great to see your progress on the resoration, you must be getting excited now, seeing the Engine come together, especially as you probably haven't seen it complete before!
Best of luck with the rest of it, looking really good so far.
Greg

[scott_budds]

Hello Greg looking forward to the day when I try to start her with a certain amount of nervousness!!!

Here are a few more pics

Carbs to start with, this is how they were very dirty Ive only just started to clean them so will get some more pics when done.





One thing I would add is that I am lucky enough to run a small machine shop so when I get stuck with bits I can usually find time to machine new bits when I need to. I skimmed my head and the faces of my exhaust manifold. Here is a pic of a part of the cam belt tensioner that was dead so I remade it in stainless.





At home I’ve been working on the rear chassis and suspension. Just cleaning it up until I can afford to buy new brake parts, springs and dampers.









Oh meant to say I took the fuel tanks out. They sit on some old foam and sometime the rear 3/4 window can leak leaving the tanks to sit on wet foam for years rusting the tanks. Luckily mine were not too bad so I cleaned them up and painted with the por15 stuff.


Seeing what many of you guys get up to makes my project look easy!!

Thanks for looking

Buddsy

[scott_budds]

Although I’m still working on the engine I have been doing a few jobs on the suspension side of things too. I removed the rubbers and gave the links a good wire brush. The electro plate looks to have broken down and is generally a less substantial plate than the hot dip galvanising. It’s finer and less crude than the hot dip but none the less you can see it has broken down. I cleaned up the trailing arms which were hot dipped and painted them with POR15 chassis paint with aluminium paint as a top coat. I think these came out really nice.









The hubs looked a bit rusted but I have a new pair a bought at a previous Lotus sale. I know the old ones will do the job but it’s just so nice having new bits to put back on!!!





I am painting the rear of these hubs in the same way as the chassis and the other suspension parts. Just to stop rust and keeping all nice and clean.

Well that’s about it so far folks

Buddsy

[47p2]

It's looking good Buddsy, keep up the good work
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One of Britain's Fine Cars

[Rick]

as P2 says, its coming along nicely - thanks for the update!!

Rick
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[scott_budds]

Thanks guys all fun and games

[scott_budds]

I have been doing some work on my carbs. One of the arms on one of the carbs that hold the float pivot had been broken by a PO. A very common issue according to my book on dellorto carbs. This is my good one.



Very dirt but intact. I cant find a pic of how my broken one looked before but I built up the area with ally weld on my TIG welder.





Looks a bit messy but the cast allys not always that easy to rework but after machining it looks fairly close to the original. Well thats another job done anyway!!!



Buddsy

[clascar]

Another lovely piece of work
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When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[dpr59]

Hi,

Not looked in for a while.

Stunning restoration.
When you see the before and afters you just don't understand
the work involved between the two.

With the Excel I tend to do a 'winter job' and then just routine running stuff.

Great to see a Lotus brought back to life.

Dave

[scott_budds]

Thanks guys! Dave would like to see a pic or two of your Excel! Theres an Eclat on ebay I would buy if I had the cash, love all the Lotus cars myself!! I would love to buy an Elite, eclat or elan when I done the Esprit. I am quite lucky with the Esprit club, we had Mike Kimberley come and join us at the last meeting which was really cool.
Ive just finished painting the rear of the chassis. Rub down, two coats of POR15 anti rust paint then two coats of sterling silver top coat. Man its been a horrible job, on my back under the car with a face full of dust and crêpe! But now good news is the rebuild is starting! Yes things going back in!! Fuel tanks are ready I’m just getting some new fuel pipe and I replacing some grommets.







I have also fitted the new rear bearings and new hubs and cleaned all rear suspension bits!! Just saving for the new polybushes and springs and dampers. I can tell you Id sell my granny on ebay right now!!! lol





Well that concludes tonights instalment!! loll

See ya soon

Buddsy

[dpr59]

Scott,

A few pics at
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/dpr59/?special_track=nav_album_album

Albums on some of the work I've done.
Somewhat less involved than your restoration.

If you looking for info on Excel, Eclat or Elite drop in on
www.lotusexcel.co.uk

I'm admin on this forum with sections for all these cars.

[scott_budds]

I have sent off my manifold, adaptor pipe and turbo housing to the guys at Zircotec to be coated. I have been working on the carbs though.
So after much cleaning and breaking one ultrasonic cleaner they were fairly clean.









I then finished off the work I had started on the inlet manifold. I didnt like the way the blanking screws and vacuum take off sat on the inside so I remade them how I would rather see them, I hope they will smooth out the flow path of the air entering the engine.











It then felt really good to see the carbs and inlet assy on the engine! Ive never seen it this much together before!





So then on with the plennum back plate, while I wait for some gaskets and while I make some more trumpets up.





I love it when a plan starts to come together!

Buddsy

[bob2]

Very nice, excellent work!!
nearing completion now!!

[scott_budds]

"nearing completion now" Hohoho maybe of the engine! I am hoping to have her back on the road next year though.

Buddsy

[dalbuie]

Engine looking really nice - ready to fire up yet?