Right then better start my '77 S1 project...

[CharlieCroker]

Thanks for the heads up herc, nice set that, will look into it. Right now though I need get the oily bits done, it's going quite well, no nasty surprises and everything is cleaning up well.

[CharlieCroker]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lot of oil on the flywheel, have my seals gone, or is that normal?

 

 

[Herc]

It might explain the PO's claim the clutch has gone, although I would have thought that would give rise to a little slipping, not total failure.

 

My clutch as much like yours when I dismantled it - oily but good condition..  I had been having a problem with the clutch not releasing - sticking together and requiring starting in gear to free it.

 

Herc

Edited March 17, 2014 by Herc

[CharlieCroker]

So would you say I would need to change the seals, seeing as the engine is out may as well do them right? 

[Herc]

Makes sense to me.  Easy when the engine is out.  

Herc

[CharlieCroker]

Charlie is on his way to Ipswich to pick up an original complete black leather dash and center console...

[vintaylor]

awesome stuff Charlie! Looks like you'll be up and running by the summer!

[CharlieCroker]

Hope so! OMG what a result today. Just made a 6 hour round trip to Suffork to take out an interior dash, well what can I say but RESULT! Just got home and tried a few cleaning tests and the thing is coming up like showroom! Look like shite in the car, all covered in dust and looked scabby, but I could see underneath it was good. So out it came with the help of the owner, who I have to say was a very nice bloke (total car guy, knew his way around a car, which helped) had every tool you could think of on hand and we got stuck in. Not one problem, came out without a fight. Anyway so while I was there I could see there were a few parts I needed so I slipped into the conversation, with my poker face on, not to give my shere inner excitement away, "oh I need one of those" and the guy said put it on the pile and we can work out a price. Far enough, so off came the aluminium strips, light lenses, central console, gear knob, seat lever knobs, and a few other bits. So to the price, "how much then the mate", pauses comes back with £250 the lot! Well I would have bit his hand off normally but the wheeler dealer in me cones back with £200, ums and ares and we meet in the middle. So I reckon I've just got £500 worth of bits for £225, RESULT! Charlie is one appy bunny ;-)

[vintaylor]

Top Work Charlie

[CharlieCroker]

How do you get an Elite dash in a Z4? Like this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before...

 

 

After...

 

 

Before...

 

 

After...

 

 

[vintaylor]

Do you by any chance have an original extra radio you don't need?  I am trying to look for a period correct radio to fit the cap in my esprit .. Doesn't need to work

[CharlieCroker]

Unfortunately no. The one in the photo I couldn't believe my luck and the guy said "I'll have that for my Jag" I said to him, "are you sure, doesn't look like it will work". Anyway I managed to prise it from under his nose, sub zero retro cool! 

[vintaylor]

Oh well.. can't blame me for trying

 

Do you have an pic up close and maybe some details in case I can find something on the net?

[CharlieCroker]

I'll take one tonight for you, I'm sure you'll find one similar. 

[vintaylor]

Cheers Charlie

[CharlieCroker]

Found some pictures of myold Esprit, brings a tear to my eye, should never had let that go, gutted. 

 

http://mediaslice.net/LotusEspritS2.htm

[mat grant]

That esprit looks really good! I want one! better finish the one I've got first though!

[CharlieCroker]

[quote name="vintaylor" post="498363"

Do you have an pic up close and maybe some details in case I can find something on the net?

[mikeeech]

you can get vintage radios that have been converted to take MP3 players on ebay... nice a retro but very now!

[CharlieCroker]

As requested, Radiomobile.

 

[mat grant]

Brilliant! Long wave and medium wave!

[Herc]

Is that really the period radio?  My Dad's '68 Austin 3 Litre had one of those.  Surely by the end of the 70s something different was being fitted.?

[CharlieCroker]

Wouldn't know, may well have been fitted if the original was knackered, either way it is very cool, me likey! 

[Dunc]

Might be original. The sales description of the time showed that the 502 got an "upgraded stereo system" (Philips RN with dictaphone), which presumably means the 501 got a radio, but one which wasn't as good.

 

I recall a Motorola unit like that in My Grandads 76 Cortina Mk3. So it is definately of the right period. No FM kind of limits its use nowdays however? Could you live with MW and Atlantic 252? I know I couldn't. There are a few companies that advertise in classic car weekly - google classic car radio or autosound

 

The tapering of the central binnacle limits space for a full din fitting headunit. It's also a pain to operate behind the gearstick. My V8 has moved the stereo up to the top of the dash, and the heater controls to the bottom.

[mat grant]

That's a good idea mounting it at the top, I found it a right faff changing CDs and radio stations in my eclat, you had to have it in second or 4th to get the CD out! I suppose you can't blame Lotus for not thinking about how a CD would work(!) But the same issuer must apply to tapes(?)

 

My car had a non original but rubbish CD player in when I got it, I changed it for a high quality CD/radio system, with good quality speakers. Made it a lot better. A couple of people on the excel forum have put extra sound insulation behind the trim panels by the doors and rear seats, andf noticed an improvment in sound quality. I might consider a USB / MP3 thing, or a CD multichanger at some point, but putting the stereo at the top of the dash is a good idea. I'm completely reworking my dash, so I might do that, if I can work out a good way of doing it.

 

Mat.