Popular Post williamtherebel Posted July 8, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 8, 2020 So rather longer than I had thought (of course!), Im finally back on the road. I took the Esprit off the road in October to "just tart the interior up"! So dismantled the dash, got rid of the horrible aftermarket heater blower, renovated the original heater motors. (all working), Renovated the instrument binnacle with new 'signs' - FUEL, INT, REAR DEFROST etc and some pinstriping, filled the aftermarket holes that had been drilled in it to accommodate switches and an S2 warning light, Got my partner to reupholster the dash, and repaired the bonnet release cross shaft which had broken. Whilst it was off the road, I also installed an oil catch can, because the oil vapour from the breather on the engine had been left to vent to atmosphere so was coating everything underneath at the back with oil. Still plenty to do ( engine carpets, map pocket etc) but can do that at my leisure over the summer. Let the fun begin!! So rather longer than I had thought (of course!), Im finally back on the road. I took the Esprit off the road in October to "just tart the interior up"! So dismantled the dash, got rid of the horrible aftermarket heater blower, renovated the original heater motors. (all working), Renovated the instrument binnacle with new 'signs' - FUEL, INT, REAR DEFROST etc and some pinstriping, filled the aftermarket holes that had been drilled in it to accommodate switches and an S2 warning light, Got my partner to reupholster the dash, and repaired the bonnet release cross shaft which had broken. Whilst it was off the road, I also installed an oil catch can, because the oil vapour from the breather on the engine had been left to vent to atmosphere so was coating everything underneath at the back with oil. Still plenty to do ( engine carpets, map pocket etc) but can do that at my leisure over the summer. Let the fun begin!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted July 9, 2020 Report Share Posted July 9, 2020 SHAG PILE. Funky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Coleman Posted July 9, 2020 Report Share Posted July 9, 2020 I wonder why the US cars had two switches for the door light? Quote Lotus Esprit [meaning] a 1:1 scale Airfix kit with a propensity to catch fire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamtherebel Posted July 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Fridge said: SHAG PILE. Funky. Not my first choice I must say! It will be changed at some point. 9 minutes ago, Paul Coleman said: I wonder why the US cars had two switches for the door light? I have wondered that myself. I must try and see the colours of the wires and follow the wiring diagram. I thought at first that 1 had stopped working and instead of fixing the fault a PO had just installed another one. But as you say, I have seen a few pictures with 2 switches in the door. Further investigation is required.! Unless someone on here knows??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted July 9, 2020 Report Share Posted July 9, 2020 Carpet looks original. Mine had a similar pile. Totally rotten though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted July 10, 2020 Report Share Posted July 10, 2020 Looks the same type of carpet as in my 82 Turbo Esprit as well. I like the seats, not seen this sort of cloth seats in an S1 before. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Templar Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 On 10/07/2020 at 16:29, ChrisJ said: Looks the same type of carpet as in my 82 Turbo Esprit as well. I like the seats, not seen this sort of cloth seats in an S1 before. The early Turbo’s had the long pile carpet Too. As Steve at SJ Sportscars says, keep it original if you can as you can’t get it anymore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamtherebel Posted September 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 I havent posted anything on here since July, so here's an update. Car is running well and sounds really strong. Lots of positive comments and thumbs up. However I have a horrendous oil leak, that I just cannot track down. Driving sedately around town and short non motorway journeys seems fine. However as soon as you put your foot down and travel at a constant 70 or above,( for even short distances) afterwards, underneath at the rear, it looks Iike I have gone through a oil puddle! I have K & N filters on the carbs that came with the car so there is no pipework from the top of the cam cover, exactly like on my Eclat (that also has the same K & N chrome filters). On the Eclat the breather pipe just vents to atmosphere under the car which of course isnt very good for the environment although it does the job. To overcome this I have fitted an oil catch can to the Esprit, but it makes no difference. NO oil is coming out of the catch can. I have also temporarily fitted a pipe from the catch can to a plastic bottle to see if any oil is coming out. Nothing! Oil mist appears all over the rear of the car - rear bumper, brakes, springs, valance, exhaust etc. its a real mess. It has even sprayed upwards to coat the inside of the rear window! I just cannot find where it is coming from. I have cleaned the underneath of the car twice which took ages as you can imagine, to see if I can track the leak down. But just got a big zero. Very frustrating. Any ideas?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdoom Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 Hi Lez, Good to hear news on the car, if not altogether happy. I'm afraid you may have an issue with the condition of cylinder liners and/or piston rings here. A good mate who'd built up his 907 having failed to spot the aftermarket piston sets provided by the most respected specialist in western U.S. had been supplied with wrong oil control rings, resulting in rather much the same outcome as you have described. Accordingly, it was going through oil at a prodigious rate. Hope this does not turn out to be the case here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 Let’s hope not Steve as that would be horrendous news, Lez how is your oil cooler as mine was covered in oil when it arrived and I have found a split in the oil cooler, I’m hoping that’s the main issue so renewing that and the hoses along with any other gaskets and seals which appear suspect. My oil cooler adaptor seal behind the oil filter was also totally flat and had been misting. Good luck and hope it’s something simple. I had an oil mist inside my cabin which was the oil pressure pipe where the gasket to the gauge had failed, you wouldn’t believe the residue it left on everything and it’s taken ages to clean everything, I had to use engine degreaser on the glass as windowlene just smeared it. Dave Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamtherebel Posted September 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 1 hour ago, drdoom said: Hi Lez, Good to hear news on the car, if not altogether happy. I'm afraid you may have an issue with the condition of cylinder liners and/or piston rings here. A good mate who'd built up his 907 having failed to spot the aftermarket piston sets provided by the most respected specialist in western U.S. had been supplied with wrong oil control rings, resulting in rather much the same outcome as you have described. Accordingly, it was going through oil at a prodigious rate. Hope this does not turn out to be the case here. Hi Steve, Thanks for the kind words. (and the scary ones!)Fingers crossed its something simple. 1 hour ago, LOTUSMAN33 said: Let’s hope not Steve as that would be horrendous news, Lez how is your oil cooler as mine was covered in oil when it arrived and I have found a split in the oil cooler, I’m hoping that’s the main issue so renewing that and the hoses along with any other gaskets and seals which appear suspect. My oil cooler adaptor seal behind the oil filter was also totally flat and had been misting. Good luck and hope it’s something simple. I had an oil mist inside my cabin which was the oil pressure pipe where the gasket to the gauge had failed, you wouldn’t believe the residue it left on everything and it’s taken ages to clean everything, I had to use engine degreaser on the glass as windowlene just smeared it. Dave Hi Dave, My oil cooler, adapter seal etc are brand new along with the hoses. Oil pressure pipe seems ok. I'll just have to keep checking and hope that I catch the culprit responsible! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 Probably something simple Lez. Clean it all up, give it a blast, then crawl all over it looking for drips and seepage. You'll find it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post williamtherebel Posted October 14, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted October 14, 2020 Had to put the oil leak search on hold for a bit. MOT is due on the Eclat (I know it doesnt have to have one but prefer to have one). Exhaust manifold is blowing like mad. Luckily I have a spare so its a case of engine out - manifold on, new cam belt and V belt while Im at it. OUT - FIX - IN- SORTED!! 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post williamtherebel Posted December 7, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 We are in Tier 3, so took my own shopping trolley to the supermarket today! 9 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21gg Posted December 28, 2020 Report Share Posted December 28, 2020 🤣 Ive been doing the same in my GTE! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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