Clarky5150 Posted April 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 On a plus note, both fronts stripped, cleaned, REBOLTED!!!, re-greased using silicone grease and bled. They now have far more bite and pull up straight and true. Would have taken it out for a good blast today but a morning of Esprit pottering followed by a similarly sedate Ducati potter around sunny Derbyshire scotched that plan. First World problems eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Clarky5150 Posted May 22, 2022 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 22, 2022 Would love to give you an update on the Esprit but work is absolutely mental at the moment. On the plus side there may be more Loti joining the fleet soon... 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Clarky5150 Posted May 26, 2022 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 26, 2022 Always wanted a Medina S2 👍👍 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2022 Hoping to get a few hours on the Esprit in the coming days. Engine hoist sorted so it just the drive shafts, oil lines and we are about there. As an aside ive just popped a new head unit in the S2 Elan. Blaupunkt have started reproducing some of their classic ranges but with modern internals. Suits the Elan to a T. They also do 80s styled ones too which might favour the Esprit look. This is my model. Its mechless so no CD drive but DAB and bluetooth streaming so perfect for what i need The Bremen is very nice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 Had a good few hours on the Esprit last night. The air con pump bolts are seized so after much swearing and cussing the fear of breaking off the collars was put to one side and we bit the bullet and undid the lines. Drivers side engine mount done. Passenger side, not so much. Massive breaker bar on the bolt succeeded in only breaking the 19mm spanner holding the nut underneath! doused to death in pen fluid and we go again tonight.has anyone got a trick for this bugger or is grunt the key? Also need to get the PAS pump removed then it’s up and away. I will be changing the fluids so would anyone suggest disconnecting the lines or go with the whole pas pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 The hydraulic hose connections are not easy to get to, so I unbolt the PAS pump from its mount, and move it to one side before lifting. Presumably you’ve already removed Rubik’s heat shield, so the bolts should be accessible. As for the engine mount bolt, I haven’t had that problem, because both of them were already loose when I did the first engine removal job! Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM tomcattom Posted June 23, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 Passenger side bolt on mine was seized solid into the mount itself. I had to cut the head off the engine mount bolt, lift the engine up and then remove the mount. I was able to get the remains out of the mount on the bench, but the mount disintegrated in the process to I had to replace it anyway. Luckily the new mounts are easily obtained and thankfully don't cost stupid money. https://www.pnmparts.co.uk/esprit/esprit-s4-s4s-s300-gt3-93-99/esprit-s4-s4s-s300-gt3-93-99-e/lotus-engine-mounting-kit-6009 1 Quote Norfolk Mustard S4s #1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 Just burst out laughing when I found the Allen headed bolt behind the pump pulley. Only Lotus could deem that the best option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 Quit stalling, and get in there! Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 She’s out out 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 First impressions are a hell of a lot of oil sludge around the block and a grotty engine bay. Great news so far is that first views, albeit still in situ suggests the near side fuel tank has been replaced at some point and looks in really good Nick. Fingers crossed for the off side 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM tomcattom Posted June 24, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Did you get the engine mount bolt to budge, or did you have to cut it off? Quote Norfolk Mustard S4s #1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Managed to wind the nut off but the bolt had indeed welded itself into the mount. Put upward pressure on it with with a trolley Jack and plenty of lube and with some twist from above it eventually let go. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Is this a full engine rebuild, or just a fuel tank job? Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 2 hours ago, Chillidoggy said: Is this a full engine rebuild, or just a fuel tank job? Its a 'refresh' so whatever it needs. Minimum of disassembly and inspection, new clutch, tanks checked and replaced where necessary. New hoses and lines where needed etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2022 12 hours ago, Clarky5150 said: Its a 'refresh' so whatever it needs. Minimum of disassembly and inspection, new clutch, tanks checked and replaced where necessary. New hoses and lines where needed etc. Should read as a minimum, not minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted June 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2022 A nice steady evening tonight removing the ancillaries, bracketry and intake and throttle bodies. The ultrasonic cleaner has been hard at it! Also started the shopping list. No fuel tanks on there...yet 🤞 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted August 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2022 Booked in at a trusted engine builder in next few weeks as my job is proving a very demanding mistress of late giving me little time on the Esprit for a check over of valves, crank, end float and shells. If the clutch arrives in time I will drop that down too along with the flywheel and get everything balanced up. Stripped to bare block now and really pleased with the liners. They look brand new! The strainer had come away from the pickup so that will be lockwired on come rebuild time. Refreshed myself on Ian’s S4S rebuild which still makes for great reading and also the posts on flowing the plenum etc. turbo feels silky smooth but I think some fettling on it may make sense while all is apart. Turbo technics hybrid time I guess 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted August 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2022 Any suggestions where to send these and their second cousins for cleaning and flow testing please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky5150 Posted September 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 First of a few deliveries arriving this week 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Clarky5150 Posted September 22, 2022 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 Had a good week on the Esprit. Rest of engine ancillaries cleaned up and ready for refit. Decided to pop the N/S tank out as paranoia was setting in. Definitely been replaced at some point but slight surface rusting appearing on the bottom seam so it's a good job it was looked at. Dropped off at the coaters with a box of other items including rear cradle. R/H tank out tomorrow. Having been given the thumbs up on the heath of the bottom end and head the prerequisite gaskets, belts, bits and bobs have arrived. Hopefully will re assemble the block early next week. I have asked this question elsewhere but want to change the balance pipe hoses while im in there. Do i go with the original 1980s tech or a more modern alternative? Must remember to take more photos .. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted September 22, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 Just buy new ones from SJ. They are just fine 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted September 23, 2022 Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 I replaced my balance pipe hoses with new rubber hoses about 6 years or so ago. The outer layers are now showing signs of cracking, so I’ll have to do them again. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM tomcattom Posted September 23, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 I bought a pair of those hoses from PNM when I did my tanks. Their hoses have what looks like an additional layer of overbraid on them. https://www.pnmparts.co.uk/esprit/esprit-s4-s4s-s300-gt3-93-99/esprit-s4-s4s-s300-gt3-93-99-l/fuel-crossover-hose-4301 My old hoses looked perfectly fine outside and in (when I got them off) but for piece of mind it seemed a false economy not to do them. The old tanks had clearly been out for repairs before, so my hoses may have already been changed then which could explain their relatively good condition. 1 Quote Norfolk Mustard S4s #1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Clarky5150 Posted September 24, 2022 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 Both tanks were good with very little surface corrosion around the seams. Dropped the second one off yesterday after lunch at the coaters. Collected first thing. They have a contract with a water firm and use a resi-coat powder which is designed for steel which will be buried or used in extreme conditions and dries like bell metal. It coast a fortune apparently but we have been friends for years so he said he would do them in it for me as long as I was happy for them to be red. I had some closed cell foam left from doing the elan flooring which also had the open cell water absorbing stuff so that came in handy. More than happy they will be up to a lifetime of use now 👍 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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