Intake parts missing on my SE

[Drfatz]

As many of you already know I recently purchased a 1990 SE that had been in an accident. What I didn't know is that it appears someone started to part out the car. I noticed last night that the car has no charge cooler or any secondary injectors. I think the entire intake was changed to the normal turbo intake. As best as I can tell the car has the charge cooler radiator and pluming as well as the proper VIN for an SE and SE badges and wing. Can anyone think of a reason for why this might have happened? Also I am beginning to think someone might have pulled out the SE motor and put in a non charge cooled engine. Are there any numbers I can check on the engine to ensure it is an SE unit?

-Graham

[Paul93Lotus]

As many of you already know I recently purchased a 1990 SE that had been in an accident. What I didn't know is that it appears someone started to part out the car. I noticed last night that the car has no charge cooler or any secondary injectors. I think the entire intake was changed to the normal turbo intake. As best as I can tell the car has the charge cooler radiator and pluming as well as the proper VIN for an SE and SE badges and wing. Can anyone think of a reason for why this might have happened? Also I am beginning to think someone might have pulled out the SE motor and put in a non charge cooled engine. Are there any numbers I can check on the engine to ensure it is an SE unit?

-Graham

Do you have the dual cap coolant tanks?

[chandrab]

Graham...This wasn't the damaged Red Esprit off Ebay (somewhere in the midwest USA?)...I exchanged some emails with the seller...when I pointed out it was a not an SE motor the emails went silent. Regarding the bumpers...if you look at one of my posts, you'll see that the bumpers are unobtanium...your best best is to contact SJ sportscars for fiberglass replicas (UK version)...be sitting down when you see the shipping costs!

Let me know if I can help you further.

-Chandra

91SE (Boston)

As many of you already know I recently purchased a 1990 SE that had been in an accident. What I didn't know is that it appears someone started to part out the car. I noticed last night that the car has no charge cooler or any secondary injectors. I think the entire intake was changed to the normal turbo intake. As best as I can tell the car has the charge cooler radiator and pluming as well as the proper VIN for an SE and SE badges and wing. Can anyone think of a reason for why this might have happened? Also I am beginning to think someone might have pulled out the SE motor and put in a non charge cooled engine. Are there any numbers I can check on the engine to ensure it is an SE unit?

-Graham

[Paul93Lotus]

As many of you already know I recently purchased a 1990 SE that had been in an accident. What I didn't know is that it appears someone started to part out the car. I noticed last night that the car has no charge cooler or any secondary injectors. I think the entire intake was changed to the normal turbo intake. As best as I can tell the car has the charge cooler radiator and pluming as well as the proper VIN for an SE and SE badges and wing. Can anyone think of a reason for why this might have happened? Also I am beginning to think someone might have pulled out the SE motor and put in a non charge cooled engine. Are there any numbers I can check on the engine to ensure it is an SE unit?

-Graham

Maybe this is the guy selling your chargecooler

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOTUS-ESPRI...051397004QQrdZ1

Might want to act on this...they don't pop up that often especially with the secondary injectors.

[Drfatz]

Graham...This wasn't the damaged Red Esprit off Ebay (somewhere in the midwest USA?)...I exchanged some emails with the seller...when I pointed out it was a not an SE motor the emails went silent. Regarding the bumpers...if you look at one of my posts, you'll see that the bumpers are unobtanium...your best best is to contact SJ sportscars for fiberglass replicas (UK version)...be sitting down when you see the shipping costs!

Let me know if I can help you further.

-Chandra

91SE (Boston)

In fact it is the SE off of Ebay. I already purchased the bumpers from SJ Sportscars and even with the shipping they are still 2x less then new Lotus parts! As for the engine you may in fact be correct in that it is not an SE motor. Which leads me to my next question...is the only difference between the normal turbo engine and the SE motor the charge cooler and intake setup? I was planning on totally changing the intake with a much larger chargecooler and an electric pump. However, I am not totally sure what to do about the secondary injectors.

-G

[chandrab]

First off you need to figure out if it's a 1988 motor (Bosch) or a GMP4 1989 motor. The SE has a GMP4 Computer which you'll need (You might as well upgrade the ROMS to S4S firmware)...though you might to check if the 89 and SE share the share computer part #. Secondary injectors might be a problem. If it's the Bosch FI, you might need a wiring harness also...Do you have the Renault transmission or the Citreon with the in-board brakes (1988 style).

More knowledge folks than I can help you figure out if there are any mechanical differnces between the 88/89 and SE motor.

You should contact my friend Michael Fridmann of Michaels Motorsports (www.michaelsmotorsports.com)...he races and fixes Esprits. I do know he has the larger intercooler, electric intercooler pump, chips and maybe the computer available. He might also offer you advice on other aspects of the repair.

I find it strange the Ebay seller did not disclose it was not a SE motor....i assume by his silence that he did know (besides that you knew he had been around Lotuses before from the pictures/parts he had sold).

That is just not ethical.

-Chandra

91SE

In fact it is the SE off of Ebay. I already purchased the bumpers from SJ Sportscars and even with the shipping they are still 2x less then new Lotus parts! As for the engine you may in fact be correct in that it is not an SE motor. Which leads me to my next question...is the only difference between the normal turbo engine and the SE motor the charge cooler and intake setup? I was planning on totally changing the intake with a much larger chargecooler and an electric pump. However, I am not totally sure what to do about the secondary injectors.

-G

[Drfatz]

First off you need to figure out if it's a 1988 motor (Bosch) or a GMP4 1989 motor. The SE has a GMP4 Computer which you'll need (You might as well upgrade the ROMS to S4S firmware)...though you might to check if the 89 and SE share the share computer part #. Secondary injectors might be a problem. If it's the Bosch FI, you might need a wiring harness also...Do you have the Renault transmission or the Citreon with the in-board brakes (1988 style).

More knowledge folks than I can help you figure out if there are any mechanical differnces between the 88/89 and SE motor.

You should contact my friend Michael Fridmann of Michaels Motorsports (www.michaelsmotorsports.com)...he races and fixes Esprits. I do know he has the larger intercooler, electric intercooler pump, chips and maybe the computer available. He might also offer you advice on other aspects of the repair.

I find it strange the Ebay seller did not disclose it was not a SE motor....i assume by his silence that he did know (besides that you knew he had been around Lotuses before from the pictures/parts he had sold).

That is just not ethical.

-Chandra

91SE

Unfortunately I was not able to see the car in person before I purchased it. I should have been more careful because before I bought the car he told me the car was running great when it was brought into a body shop to repair the rear quarter panel. He then said that the owner decided to total the car because the repairs were too costly. Next he claims the car was auctioned off which is where he picked it up.

Now it appears the guy is totally full of s**t and was just blowing smoke. If I could find some way to sue the guy I might actually think about it. However, seeing as I agreed to buy the car sight unseen I doubt there is much I can do. The plan was to have a fun project car to work on over the winter and into the spring. My father and I have restored many cars (most of which were British or Italian) so the body work and mechanical stuff didn

[th4neuk]

Main difference in honesty is that the pistons on the SE have chromed tops and the non-se had ordinary mahle forged pistons. This was to cope with the higher boost the SE ran I think. It depends how much boost you want to run as to whether the pistons are up to it. Can't help with the injection system though, sorry.

Cheers

[pitstoppete]

Unfortunately I was not able to see the car in person before I purchased it. I should have been more careful because before I bought the car he told me the car was running great when it was brought into a body shop to repair the rear quarter panel. He then said that the owner decided to total the car because the repairs were too costly. Next he claims the car was auctioned off which is where he picked it up.

Now it appears the guy is totally full of s**t and was just blowing smoke. If I could find some way to sue the guy I might actually think about it. However, seeing as I agreed to buy the car sight unseen I doubt there is much I can do. The plan was to have a fun project car to work on over the winter and into the spring. My father and I have restored many cars (most of which were British or Italian) so the body work and mechanical stuff didn

[Drfatz]

If it

[Bibs]

If you can get me the chassis and engine number I'll do my best to get you all the information from the factory

[Drfatz]

If you can get me the chassis and engine number I'll do my best to get you all the information from the factory

Well the good news is that the engine number stamped under the bonnet matches the number stamped on the block directly above the starter motor. After checking in the manual it is an SE engine and appears to be the original one that came with the car. The confusing part now is why it is missing all of the charge cooler hardware as well as the intake plenum and double cooling tanks for an SE The best answer I can come up with is that someone along the line removed the intake plenum and charge cooler hardware and replaced it with the normal Turbo intake...my guess is to upgrade their Turbo? I am going to call the seller tonight and give him a piece of my mind and try to get some answers.

[CNH]

You could just get one of the upgraded larger aluminum after market chargecoolers. I think Marcus has them.

[Drfatz]

You could just get one of the upgraded larger aluminum after market chargecoolers. I think Marcus has them.

Currently that is the plan...the only problem now is that the car is missing the secondary injectors as well as their fuel lines. Even though I have a full shop manual its a little difficult for me to see where the secondary fuel lines come from. Do the lines come directly out of the fuel rail and connect to the intake plenum? If that is the case then I might just be able to make my own B)

Edited November 29, 2006 by Drfatz

[Paul93Lotus]

Currently that is the plan...the only problem now is that the car is missing the secondary injectors as well as their fuel lines. Even though I have a full shop manual its a little difficult for me to see where the secondary fuel lines come from. Do the lines come directly out of the fuel rail and connect to the intake plenum? If that is the case then I might just be able to make my own B)

Buy a stock chargecooler set up and save yourself some headaches unless you are planning to go stand alone management. You are missing the intake air temp sensor that mounts in the chargecooler as well, which undoubtedly will cause headaches. Is the chargecooler pump still mounted below the intake plenum /near the oil filter?

I think that Ebay one I listed above would save you some $$$...especially since it sounds like the body damage is going to cost you enough. That auction includes everything that you're missing.

Unless you have a ton of cash for this project, I suggest you put the "grand plans" for this car on hold until it is driveable again. You are likely to find a lot of other 'problems' that will be expensive to fix. The more 'customized' you make the car the more it will affect resale value i.e narrowing potential buyers. People will run from a car that is bastardized AND a salvage title.

Good Luck

Edited November 29, 2006 by Paul93Lotus

[CNH]

Here is a link to some pictures of the engine and fuel rail areas.

http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/EGuides/...ve_install.html

Use right navigation pull down and go to engine modification then to fuel system

http://www.lotusesprit.org/

Dermot's Lotus site is pretty good compared to most.

Edited November 29, 2006 by CNH

[Drfatz]

Buy a stock chargecooler set up and save yourself some headaches unless you are planning to go stand alone management. You are missing the intake air temp sensor that mounts in the chargecooler as well, which undoubtedly will cause headaches. Is the chargecooler pump still mounted below the intake plenum /near the oil filter?

I think that Ebay one I listed above would save you some $$$...especially since it sounds like the body damage is going to cost you enough. That auction includes everything that you're missing.

Unless you have a ton of cash for this project, I suggest you put the "grand plans" for this car on hold until it is driveable again. You are likely to find a lot of other 'problems' that will be expensive to fix. The more 'customized' you make the car the more it will affect resale value i.e narrowing potential buyers. People will run from a car that is bastardized AND a salvage title.

Good Luck

Yeah I intend to buy the one off of eBay and salvage what I can from my car. I appreciate all of the information seeing as I had no idea the temp sensor is in the charge cooler. I am confident I can get it all to work out, although I still plan on having some fun and upgrading the car a bit. Not to worried about the resale value especially because it

Edited November 29, 2006 by Drfatz

[esp88]

Hi Her is the pic. you can see where sec. injectors are located :

[attachmentid=2501

Y.Hotta

[Drfatz]

Hi Her is the pic. you can see where sec. injectors are located :

[attachmentid=2501

Y.Hotta

Thanks! After looking at my intake plenum it appears that the flats are there where Lotus puts the secondary injectors thus all I need to do is machine out some holes and I should be good to go B)

[Artie]

Thanks! After looking at my intake plenum it appears that the flats are there where Lotus puts the secondary injectors thus all I need to do is machine out some holes and I should be good to go B)

Just came across this thread....I have the chargecooler and the fuel lines from your "new" car! I bought the items from a shop a ways away from me through a friend. My understanding from him was the car was totalled and the insurance company was coming to pick the car up so I gave them my parts and I bought the parts off of the car, also sight unseen! The car you bought in fact DOES have the SE engine and ECM, I have the injectors if you would like them, I'd send them to you if you would like to pay shipping as I upgraded to WC injectors which I highly suggest anyway. I also have the plenum flat and all you'll need to do is have the two holes machined for the secondary injectors. You'll need the fuel lines, chargecooler header tank, which Ramspott and Brandt sell, I can send you my spare MAT if you like as well. The car you have made 350WHP on the dyno a few weeks before it was wrecked, I know this through another friend of mine who owns the dyno shop where he dyno'd. The mechanical CC pump is intact on that car and hooked up as much as I know, also the Timing belt was replaced less than 1000 miles ago by the same shop that did my belt earlier last year. The car is mechanically sound and I apologize for your situation. I would be glad to send you the injectors and MAT sensor if you like, Group 9 performance sells the double sized chargecoolers for $1500 or so US. The fuel lines are just 2 separate lines, one comes out of the filter, squiggles around in a loop to the injector rail on the plenum nozzle then the other line comes out of the other hole on the nozzle and attaches to the fuel rail. You could have an hydraulics shop make you new lines

in stainless for probably less than Lotus wants for the stock ones or even get some steel fuel lines premade from a speed shop and use a tubing bender to bend them the way you want. Whatever I can do to help, sorry you ended up getting a poor dealing. The ancillary bits are still there(or should be), you have the secondary injector harness as I was going to use it but decided not to so it may have been detached also, just laying somewhere. PM me if you have any questions.

Artie

[Drfatz]

Just came across this thread....I have the chargecooler and the fuel lines from your "new" car! I bought the items from a shop a ways away from me through a friend. My understanding from him was the car was totalled and the insurance company was coming to pick the car up so I gave them my parts and I bought the parts off of the car, also sight unseen! The car you bought in fact DOES have the SE engine and ECM, I have the injectors if you would like them, I'd send them to you if you would like to pay shipping as I upgraded to WC injectors which I highly suggest anyway. I also have the plenum flat and all you'll need to do is have the two holes machined for the secondary injectors. You'll need the fuel lines, chargecooler header tank, which Ramspott and Brandt sell, I can send you my spare MAT if you like as well. The car you have made 350WHP on the dyno a few weeks before it was wrecked, I know this through another friend of mine who owns the dyno shop where he dyno'd. The mechanical CC pump is intact on that car and hooked up as much as I know, also the Timing belt was replaced less than 1000 miles ago by the same shop that did my belt earlier last year. The car is mechanically sound and I apologize for your situation. I would be glad to send you the injectors and MAT sensor if you like, Group 9 performance sells the double sized chargecoolers for $1500 or so US. The fuel lines are just 2 separate lines, one comes out of the filter, squiggles around in a loop to the injector rail on the plenum nozzle then the other line comes out of the other hole on the nozzle and attaches to the fuel rail. You could have an hydraulics shop make you new lines

in stainless for probably less than Lotus wants for the stock ones or even get some steel fuel lines premade from a speed shop and use a tubing bender to bend them the way you want. Whatever I can do to help, sorry you ended up getting a poor dealing. The ancillary bits are still there(or should be), you have the secondary injector harness as I was going to use it but decided not to so it may have been detached also, just laying somewhere. PM me if you have any questions.

Artie

This is great news! I sent you a PM with some questions. I noticed you upgraded your turbo to a ceramic BB I am planning on doing the same. Who did you use for the turbo and how are the spool up times?

-G

[Artie]

This is great news! I sent you a PM with some questions. I noticed you upgraded your turbo to a ceramic BB I am planning on doing the same. Who did you use for the turbo and how are the spool up times?

-G

Not a big community is it? Sorry that you got a bum deal, I didn't expect them to sell the car off to someone without the correct parts, I was told the car had already been salvaged and was awaiting pickup by the insurance company, which it may well have been just that the insurance co. sold it at auction to a scheister! Anyway, my turbo is a WC engineering stage one. I honestly don't notice much difference in lag from my stock turbo but I do notice it holds boost much better and I can hear it spinning for about 20 seconds after shutdown.

Artie