Lotusfab Posted February 21 Report Share Posted February 21 3 hours ago, LOTUSMAN33 said: I gave him a call when buying the car to discuss keeping it in turbo form or converting back to S1 spec. Steve agreed to make all the S1 body panels and the dash, the only thing he never had was the centre console, I managed to find a 1976 one in the end which was a bonus. I converted the turbo door panels which was a bit of work but happy now. I bought a pair of S1 seats a while back along with a set of 1976 dated wheels in readiness so pretty much good to go. I even found an original mirror. Thankfully it retained the original clocks as that would have been a headache too many 😬 Will be great when its done. Are you going to return it to Blue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted February 21 Author Report Share Posted February 21 No not a big fan of Lagoon blue really, it was white when I owned it for all those years so I’m leaning back to that colour (Sigh not another white S1….😂), mind I have always liked yellow (not the pastel shade it’s in now) so that remains on the table. I think it will be decided much later in fairness as can’t see me getting that far this year. I will get the GRP work done and mechanics completed though. Pretty sure I’m going to replace the loom as it has had several immobilisers, two alarms and a pager system fitted, being thatcham it’s meant sections of the original loom have been chopped out. (I was guilty of getting one system fitted and the removable steering wheel as owned when car crime was at its peak along with joyriding….. the max power years 😁). 1 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 4 Author Report Share Posted May 4 Well I came close to bailing out as discovered the chassis is really thin on the front, after some wire brushing the true extent of the corrosion became apparent… I know people repair these but for me the whole thing is thin and not something I think would survive a blasting very well let alone a collision 😬 I really didn’t want to get into another full body off restoration but have decided if I can secure a replacement chassis at sensible money then that’s what the cars going to get. Anyone got a chassis they want to part with 😉 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 Can't you repair? Body comes off easily. Worth the effort IMO. Cheaper than a replacement chassis. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdoom Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 Quite inclined to agree that blasting would reveal a greater extent of deterioration. Still, these all are worth saving, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 5 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 5 Done the body off thing before so no drama there but the chassis is toast as thin all over and even blasted the rust will be lurking inside sections rotting it further. I have decided to buy a new one now and give the car another 45 years of life, it will out live me that’s for sure 😁 3 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 This was the one stored in a garden for years? Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 5 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 5 That’ll be the one, I jacked the car up before buying it and gave everything a quick wire brush but since sitting in my dry garage working on the rear end its literally exploded like a teenagers face 😁 In fairness the chassis bars at the back were pitted but not holed so been on my mind a while. I jacked the front up higher to run the new clutch hose in which is where the true condition showed after a good wire brush attack. A new chassis will be the way forward to match everything else which has been refurbished now. Brand new input shaft and perfect CWP should see this last as well now. Dave 4 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 (edited) I know a few folks up here that had new chassis's for their S1 and 2's when Lotus were selling them off. I only know of a S3/Turbo chassis going spare. Edited May 5 by Fridge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 1 hour ago, LOTUSMAN33 said: That’ll be the one, I jacked the car up before buying it and gave everything a quick wire brush but since sitting in my dry garage working on the rear end its literally exploded like a teenagers face 😁 In fairness the chassis bars at the back were pitted but not holed so been on my mind a while. I jacked the front up higher to run the new clutch hose in which is where the true condition showed after a good wire brush attack. A new chassis will be the way forward to match everything else which has been refurbished now. Brand new input shaft and perfect CWP should see this last as well now. Dave That looks great. Whats the cleaning process? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted May 5 Author Report Share Posted May 5 26 minutes ago, Lotusfab said: That looks great. Whats the cleaning process? Days of scrubbing as it was pretty grubby. I used gunk then carb cleaner with brass wire brushes followed by more carb cleaner. This one was easy compared to the white cars one. Mind the bell housing did get a coat of silver enamel engine paint as casting doesn’t clean so well unless soda blasted. 1 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 You can't beat carb cleaner. I use it on lots of things. Mine's made locally too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 54 minutes ago, LOTUSMAN33 said: Days of scrubbing as it was pretty grubby. I used gunk then carb cleaner with brass wire brushes followed by more carb cleaner. This one was easy compared to the white cars one. Mind the bell housing did get a coat of silver enamel engine paint as casting doesn’t clean so well unless soda blasted. Well done Dave, a great job as always. I use brake cleaner I haven’t tried carb cleaner. I will give it a try. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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