Choppa Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I got the SJ manifold to fit OK eventually on mine but it did need a bit of persuasion. It's been fine for the last 18 months. I seem to remember that SJs did also offer a new cast manifold for about £200 more than their stainless one, I wonder if they still have them. Also last year at the Classic Car Show, LotusBits were showing an Excel engine and chassis on their stand with their stainless manifold fitted. The manifold looked very good, certainly better that the SJ one, and the guy I was chatting to said they offered a similar manifold for an N/A Esprit as well. As you are only up the road from me in Sandhurst I could bring mine over so you can see how the SJ one fits and sounds if you like. Quote Normally Aspirated - and lovin' it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianc Posted September 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 Thanks Choppa, can you PM me your details as I'd like to take you up on the offer of a look at the SJ manifold? Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob janek Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 (edited) On 9/7/2017 at 07:14, brianc said: So after a fab day out at The Lotus Festival on Saturday, i got home and noticed that there was an 'exhaust blowing' sound coming from my NA Esprit. Closer inspection and a feel around (and a couple of burnt fingers - ouch) shows that the exhaust manifold has developed a bit of a blow near cylinder number 4. At the risk of sounding stupid, can anybody confirm if I can replace the manifold without taking the engine out and does anybody have any useful tips covering the process? I'm particularly worried that the nuts / studs will be seized solid making the job even more difficult. TIA Hi i'm just new here i'm just restoring my lotus and the sad news is yes the engine has to come out some of the nuts are really hard to get to the cast iron do have cracking problems so i got S j Sorts ltd to make me up some stainless steel free flow not a bad price i must say then replace the studs with stainless steel studs and yes words i said that i never new i had lots off f and c words but thats the fun off owning a lotus i love my girl so over the last 2 years i've been rebuilding her i do have the full work shop manual my lotus esprit is a 1988 912 engine Edited September 10, 2017 by bob janek spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Sparky Posted September 10, 2017 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Welcome! But I disagree. I've replaced plenty of Esprit manifolds without removing the engine. It all depends on the extent of corrosion. Quote British Fart to Florida, Nude to New York, Dunce to Denmark, Numpty to Newfoundland. And Shitfaced Silly Sod to Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdw Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 The SJ 4 into 1 manifold did not fit to my 88 n/a in anyway. So they took it back and refunded. Alunox made 2 n/a systems about 4 years ago one of which went on my old n/a. They didn't make any more as far as I know. It was a lovely piece of kit and the whole system cost £1600 ish. I took my manifold off with the engine insitu................................ and then took the engine out 2 months later !!! I do have the old uncracked ( from what I can see) cast manifold hanging from the celling in the garage if you want to make me an offer, can send pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianc Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Malcolm, Your replacement system looks great but the rest of my exhaust is in pretty good shape so not sure it's worth replacing the whole lot. I would be interested in what was wrong with the SJ manifold with regards to fitting. Could well be interested in your old one if I cannot sort out something new so if you can PM me a couple of pictures that would be great and I can make an offer as necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaKa Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Not sure if you will gain anything from seeing this done with the engine out, but I did enjoy the episode anyway. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eD6jann-znI It's covered in the first 10 minutes - seized studs seem to be the danger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianc Posted September 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 On 9/8/2017 at 20:55, Jacques said: Brian, do you have a Picture of the na exhaust manifold? Cheers, Jacques. Sorry for the delay, busy weekend with family commitments etc. I managed to get a look last night from underneath using a mirror. Looks like it's actually a small hole near one of the mounts on the rear cylinder and not an actual crack. Couldn't get in to take a picture of the actual problem area but managed to get one taken of most of the manifold from underneath (attached). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 very different from the turbo version. You could ask alunox if they will make another one. Cheers, Jacques. Quote Nobody does it better - than Lotus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianc Posted September 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2017 Managed to make a temporary repair using some high temperature JB Weld putty until I can get down to Malcolm and pick up his 2nd hand manifold. Not given her the full beans yet but it's held up for the last 30 miles or so of 'normal' driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaKa Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Read somewhere in this section about an exhaust manifold stud missing/working itself out - apparently one of mine has done the same following an inspection. Can they be bought from a standard supplier (size/threading) or, specialist supplier only? P.S. How does one get hold of the magician 'Sparky' - he's clearly highly regarded and keen to help enthusiast keep Lotus rolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeyoreish Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 15 minutes ago, DaKa said: How does one get hold of the magician 'Sparky' - he's clearly highly regarded and keen to help enthusiast keep Lotus rolling. Beam the Lotus emblem up onto the night sky..? 1 Quote Not worth starting anything now...🍺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaKa Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Knowing my luck, if a masked caped crusader turned up at my door it would be Dick Turpin to empty my pockets!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Dan E Posted October 3, 2017 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Damian, it’s very like getting hold of The A Team. “If no one else can help you and if you can find him, ..........” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 5 hours ago, DaKa said: P.S. How does one get hold of the magician 'Sparky' - he's clearly highly regarded and keen to help enthusiast keep Lotus rolling. @Sparky Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Dan E Posted October 3, 2017 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Or you can do that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted October 4, 2017 Report Share Posted October 4, 2017 I think Sparky is top right 2 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Sparky Posted October 4, 2017 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 4, 2017 I look much the same nowadays, but I've dumped the wig. Quote British Fart to Florida, Nude to New York, Dunce to Denmark, Numpty to Newfoundland. And Shitfaced Silly Sod to Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted October 4, 2017 Report Share Posted October 4, 2017 On 12/09/2017 at 21:36, Jacques said: very different from the turbo version. You could ask alunox if they will make another one. Cheers, Jacques. I think that the NA Esprit manifold is the same as the (later- post 87ish) Excel manifold. Excels have two versions, one with the single bolt upper-most (pig to get to), one for the HC engine (and later LCs) with the single bolt lower-most. On that basis you may locate a decent secondhand Excel manifold (Lotusbits, Dave in Enfeild who sells parts via eBay, etc), as long as you check compatibility such as comparing part numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianc Posted October 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2017 Thanks for the tip on the Excel manifolds. I'll check the part numbers against the one for my Esprit but I have a nasty feeling that they are slightly different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted October 4, 2017 Report Share Posted October 4, 2017 Just checked SJ site. Excel standard compression (Low) is 907E0601 Esprit S3 907E0601 Excel High compression not listed, so cannot compare and don't have my parts lists to hand but the fact that the low compression manifolds were the same, makes me susect that Lotus would continue to use parts common to both after the change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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