stephenwhyte Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 Have you got the original storage bag for in there Fabian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted August 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 Hi Steve, sadly no. I have to buy one from S and J or get Steve Fulcher to make me one. Has yours got any carpet when you remove the bag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenwhyte Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 1 hour ago, Lotusfab said: Hi Steve, sadly no. I have to buy one from S and J or get Steve Fulcher to make me one. Has yours got any carpet when you remove the bag? No carpet under the bag - the only carpet in the boot is the 2 pieces beside the rear side windows that you already have. Carpets weren’t used in the boot area until the bag was deleted - I’d guess that change took place in MY1984. The bag is cool from a aesthetics perspective but it’s certainly not a “coolbag”😰😉 Edit : just checked the one that SJ sell (pictured) and to be fair it looks very much like the one in my car, and isn’t as expensive as I thought it might be.👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJGC Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 My original boot bag is like new....probably because I removed it, and spent far too much time sitting in that boot space tinkering! :-) 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenwhyte Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 The one in the pic looking at it closer looks more like the top is some sort of plastic, whereas the original is all cloth. It will still do the job though. 16 minutes ago, RichardJGC said: My original boot bag is like new....probably because I removed it, and spent far too much time sitting in that boot space tinkering! 🙂 How are you getting on with your resto Richard? Will it be finished this year or more likely into next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted August 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 Someone's been messing with my engine bay surround it has had carpet glued on it! Just been making fibreglass repairs, to the surrounds. Nearly done! Awful job. This has become a bit of a chore after 3 years of hard work! Never again!!! I've had to replace or repair everything! Can't believe I'm still doing work! The heat shields were all damaged or missing. My final shield repair just done! It was split so I had to reinforce the rear. Then VHT high temp paint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted August 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 Now I have to clean the glue off!! 😡😡😡😡😡 Oh and replace all the foil! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenwhyte Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 Can’t be far away now though - nearer the end than the start👏👏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJGC Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 1 hour ago, stephenwhyte said: How are you getting on with your resto Richard? Will it be finished this year or more likely into next? This time next year....maybe 😉. It’s the last 10% that can take the time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenwhyte Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 33 minutes ago, RichardJGC said: This time next year....maybe 😉. It’s the last 10% that can take the time. I’m sure Fabian will agree with you there😬😉 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted August 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 1 hour ago, RichardJGC said: This time next year....maybe 😉. It’s the last 10% that can take the time. Any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJGC Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 4 hours ago, Lotusfab said: Any pics? Lots....but I figure when you’ve finished your car there might just be the need for another blog...so am holding back 😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 You better get ready Richard. I'm nearly there having finished all fiberglassing yesterday. Like all things five years of practice and I'm now pretty good at it! Engine bay surround and heat shield repaired! So, not much left to do. The secret of fiberglassing is getting the correct materials and measuring the mixture quantities properly. I use a pipette for catalyst and a beaker with ml on it. Brake caliper Turbo boost pipe two top fuel lines ignition box quarter windows fit bay surround then start and test engine. tailgate fitting Mot and number plate change skis and racks drive it! Of course there's the ongoing stuff - suspension set up and tuning, which I do myself. Turbo boost pipe the lower brass nut has sheared of inside the wastegate😫. Because the wastegate I believe is not purpose built it's very difficult to remove because of the inner nut. It's 17 mm. you can't get a socket on it. The only way I found is to saw off a 17 mm spanner to make it short enough. You probably could grind a ring spanner down to make it thinner. Other than that take the entire exhaust system to pieces to get the wastegate off! The second problem is the Sleeve nut. I believe they are imperial gas fittings. Still working out where to buy one. Any the usual people have run out. That's the problem with most parts. They are more and more difficult to find and some of the repro ones need fetling to get them to work. Maybe the biggest problem still lies ahead, making the ski racks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolls Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 I was thinking about the ski racks.... how about 3D resin printing them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDYR Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) Hi Fabian. Ski Racks. Polycarbonate. It's super strong, cuts well, glues well, you can put threads into it and it holds a lustre paint finish. I've a set for my S3. I've a bunch of photos and drawings to send you as stimulus (will need an email) but for you and other Lotus owning skiiers (a niche group) who are interested then a full story is on my Instagram feed 'LotusAndy5' check it out. Lovely Max (who some will know from Max500) tells me the original was a balsa wood prop and the skis were never attached securely. Remember if this is going to work, you might need to tailor the way your skis are actually fixed to the racks. I've drilled holes into my tailgate and support the racks using a backplate and spacers in the tailgate cavity... Happy to discuss at length and drive over in person. (Shots below from production and prior to fixing in place, hence the gaps created came from the weight of the skis and the surface finish was mid sanding). Andy Edited September 3, 2019 by ANDYR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 Funny. I'm a Lotus owner, and owner of 2 Bond cars, as well as being a long time skier and ski mountaineer. The Esprit is probably the least practical car to use for skiing trips. My advice is to leave it to movies, not the highway. Amusing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDYR Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 Ha ha - good point. It'll fail to start on a Jan morning in the alps and steam up, stall or spin off a hairpin. BUT any car looks much cooler with skis on it, and the Lotus does it the best We're off to Cortina in Jan/Feb 2020. Just need a final tweak to the racks than then (expensively) freight her down to GVA where we'll pick her up from a more reliable and relaxing plane journey. on the drive back I don't care... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM skiing Posted September 4, 2019 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 4, 2019 Andy, are you really doing Cortina in the Esprit? That is cool. The main thing for me would be lack of adequate heating... I would put it on snow tires and traction-wise it should be fine (I did a run to Val Thorens in an XJS V12 in snow and it ploughed through everything, although it must weigh twice the Esprit!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM skiing Posted September 4, 2019 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 4, 2019 Oh and you might be able to get the car train? when you load it up on the train and travel separately and then pick up at the other end... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDYR Posted September 4, 2019 Report Share Posted September 4, 2019 (edited) Hi Henry, Good to see you on the chat. Yes, that's the plan. My Brother-in-Law and I are lifetime skiiers and ticking off all the resorts. His father's favourite place was Cortina, so the trip planned is to honour that as he passed away last year. I was in 'shipmycar' mode and had lost hope car trains existed. what' the weblink and i'll take a look? Any skiiers reading this will know of the debauchery in the early 90's "Snow Train" from Calais to Bourg... Sorry to now turn this excellent rebuild story into a snow report. snow tyres - check. Heater. yes. Any suggestions on how to boost the power from that thing in the bonnet? Although I've seen heaters that run off cig sockets. @Fabain - the offer to drive over and talk racks still exists. For some reason I though you were in Surrey. I'm utterly inspired by the rebuild and to think they did this each time they made an Esprit... Edited September 4, 2019 by ANDYR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martynw Posted September 4, 2019 Report Share Posted September 4, 2019 Man in Seat 61 is always good for planning train journeys - we did the summer car-train to the Dolomites last year using his advice. https://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm Looks like you can get to Innsubruck on it at that time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted September 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 On 03/09/2019 at 16:19, ANDYR said: Hi Fabian. Ski Racks. Polycarbonate. It's super strong, cuts well, glues well, you can put threads into it and it holds a lustre paint finish. I've a set for my S3. I've a bunch of photos and drawings to send you as stimulus (will need an email) but for you and other Lotus owning skiiers (a niche group) who are interested then a full story is on my Instagram feed 'LotusAndy5' check it out. Lovely Max (who some will know from Max500) tells me the original was a balsa wood prop and the skis were never attached securely. Remember if this is going to work, you might need to tailor the way your skis are actually fixed to the racks. I've drilled holes into my tailgate and support the racks using a backplate and spacers in the tailgate cavity... Happy to discuss at length and drive over in person. (Shots below from production and prior to fixing in place, hence the gaps created came from the weight of the skis and the surface finish was mid sanding). Andy Excellent! Will attempt to make myself some very soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted September 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 Fuel lines Had Think Automotive make me up two fuel lines for the pressure regulator to carbs. Unfortunately we copied the ones that were in and they are too short. Any straining on these an absolute no no. So back there ride to get them remade. I believe there should be two earth straps on the carbs. These are missing. Anyone have any pics or know where they connect? I believe one end goes to the inlet manifold nut, but where do they connect to on the carbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve4012 Posted September 10, 2019 Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 Here's a pic of mine on removal. They're located on the one the pump cover screws and the other end as you say to the inlet manifold nut. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted September 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 Perfect! Thanks Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.