So I am the proud owner of a Lotus again

[Kimbers]

Thanks buddy. I did appreciate your offer very muchly. I wonder if the old man fancies a job.....about time he got the spanners out after 10 years away!

[electro_boy]

@Kimbers, are you planning on renovating the air intake grilles with them in situ or clam off job?

I'll be interested in following your progress and see what you end up doing.  All of my grilles, (front bumper, engine etc) are looking rusty or chipped and need a bit of LTC.  I was hoping to give them a touch up while in position without taking bumpers etc off, but I'm not sure how to tackle the job.

[Kimbers]

Hi Mate

The guy who will be doing it for me is an ex-Lotus paint shop guy so knows best how to do it. I will be taking the car to him later in the week and will let you know wwhat he says if that helps?

 

[electro_boy]

thats great, thank you

[Colin P]

You need the front bumper off to do the front grilles. The clam only needs to come off if you need to do something with the grille vents by the service hatch (but these don’t tend to go) 

You can do the front grills in place, but you’ll get overspray everywhere in the air intakes unless you use a brush. (My S1 was a Lotus management car and either they or the dealer tried doing mine without taking them out and it took me 2 hours to clean up the mess caused when I did it properly you can see some of the overspray around the intake in the picture where the also did the road rash.) 

It’s worth painting up the headlight brackets if you do this

 

[21gg]

8 hours ago, Kimbers said:

Thanks Gav

. Will look at this as well and come back to you if thats ok? 

That's fine mate but I'm actually driving over to Norfolk tomorrow as I'm at the factory on Wed. So if you want me to put it in my car just let me know.

Gav 

[Shortfork]

Cool red is good 

[Kimbers]

On 16/04/2018 at 18:49, 21gg said:

That's fine mate but I'm actually driving over to Norfolk tomorrow as I'm at the factory on Wed. So if you want me to put it in my car just let me know.

Gav 

Sorry Gav been away with work and only just picked up! If I'd have known I would have invited you over for a coffee!

[21gg]

No problem mate. 

[Kimbers]

@electro_boy Though it is a clam off job to do them properly, my paint guy thinks he can do a job on them by using a small "L shaped tool" he has to get a difficult to rub down areas. Its basically a tiny circular file with a kink in it that will enable him to "rub down" the grill and remove the corrosion (including to the back where you can't see) to the best of his ability, then he would treat it and use a brush to start with and then a sponge to get rid of any marks that make it look like its been brushed on. reckons its the next best thing and will last a couple of years at least.

[electro_boy]

great thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.