Mightymetro Posted July 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Here are the invoices for the rebuild. The car us currently at 36,000 miles so covered about 2500 miles 😂. Is that a record. I think the £1000 part was a new crankshaft. i believe they were a lotus official dealer until 2009. Car hasn't been used hardly and maybe that's where the problems lie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LotusFella Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 God!! I feel terrible for you and now am petrified mine might do the same. Specially with that turbo vain in the glovebox! It’s a bloody nightmare.😪 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 27, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 IMHO - there’s simply not enough parts on that list to categorise that engine as rebuilt. Its not had head gaskets or even cam belts on that invoice. It looks like it’s had the sump dropped and some works done - but that is a world away from a rebuild Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 That's a pretty extensive list with some pretty major components (front cover/oil pump... crank... etc). The top-end gasket set includes head gaskets, so all the indications are of a pretty fully build. 1 1 Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowrx Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 With 2 reconditioned turbos on the invoice, did they come with any warranty paper work or vendor labeling? Might be a factor if a compressor wheel failed and did in the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 I saw that as well Thomas. Since they did touch the turbos there may be some sort of recourse, except is that even possible with the business having shutdown? Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 27, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Hang on chaps - these bills were from a decade ago.... absolutely no recourse I’m afraid 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swindon_alan Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 I have a bleeding heart for you I really don't know what to say apart from an original unrebuilt as Lotus intended engine seems to last far longer than a fiddled with one. By anybody else I mean (with the honourable exceptions of Mike K, Alex C and a very few others). Don't buy a recon one from SWLC though... 1 Quote I tempted fate...now my Esprit V8 IS in bits...(sob) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopo Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Really really sorry to read this. Horrid stuff. The fear we all live with (v8 owners I’m not sure how you sleep at night) don’t sell, feel it’s the knee jerk reaction. Sod the matching numbers, no one really cares. You just need an engine. I’ve no idea on spare costs etc that have been mooted here but can vouch for Gerald at GST. Top guy and will do a proper job, although mike on here has also been partial to the odd rebuild.... best set of luck with whatever route you choose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swindon_alan Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Thinking about this I'm curious as to what exactly was the root cause of your engine failing. Seizures surely can only occur either because of lack of lubrication or overheating? It's not as if you had a tight engine that was being run in, after 2,500 miles it should be good to trot? I've just had that moment when I think back to @Blackngolds3turbo post a few days ago with the cracked oil pickup. Perhaps it might be a common design failing that all of us V8 owners should shit ourselves about... Quote I tempted fate...now my Esprit V8 IS in bits...(sob) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bibs Posted July 27, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 22 years in it would be well documented by now and it isn't so I'd certainly not call that a characteristic of the 918, more of an isolated case. 4 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...
Popular Post Blackngolds3turbo Posted July 27, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 @swindon_alan in this situation, oil probably isn’t the cause. Lotus’s run surprisingly well when things go wrong and they don’t have enough oil/oil pressure. Obviously that’s limited but you get the picture! Unfortunately, if I had to place a bet, this will be valve timing -not necessarily slippage of the belts themselves - but maybe of the central lower cam drives or a valve train failure ie a dropped valve(s) for some reason, or you have an over boosting situation. I will admit, my heart sank when I saw that the IAC hose had come off. It rather infers that the left hand bank would have over pressurised in the inlet causing that to pop off. Not uncommon if a valve parts company. Lambos are famous for it! We see a few with that issue. We can only hope that the damage has been limited and that much of it is salvageable, it is very difficult to speculate what has gone wrong without proper investigation! Use the Alfa Romeo saying - sometimes they just do things you don’t expect! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8GTmac1 Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 (edited) damn I feel for you Mighty, I am not in as bad a situation as it was still running prior to removal but I am doing a full rebuild on my own. Once the engine was on a stand, I found all my answers. Up until then I was clueless what might have been causing the sudden temp spikes, milky oil and metal contamination. I evaluated the cost of all parts I needed and contacted everyone that I needed to. Spoke to Lotus gurus and got very Mixed opinions on what to do and not to do. It's up to me now to make the right choices on this 918 rebuild. I'm a little afraid of the investment but it's the only way to keep the Esprit pure. If I was in your shoes, I would pull it out myself and tear it down (what harm could it do now). It's gonna take some motivation and to have more then one plan of action going into it. If it's not salvagable then can you afford a replacmenent, if that's not worth then is it worth selling a shell? I left myself open to more options then that but I dont want to be shamed from here with crazy talk, I'm still trying to keep it original. Edited July 28, 2018 by v8GTmac1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotuseaters Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 I have had lots of Esprit engines rebuilt we pull them out put them on a pallet and send them to Peter at PNM Engineering 0151 6306 101 .He does an excellent job very clever helpful bloke and skilfull engineer and has rebuilt hundreds of Esprit engines. The only down side is he is not the quickest but if you are not in a rush this should work for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
march Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 9 hours ago, swindon_alan said: Don't buy a recon one from SWLC though... SWLC rebuilt my V8 engine 5 years ago now and has been faultless, to be honest it just seems to get better and better (if that's possible). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 I must admit that I amazed that you didn't hear or feel anything. 1 Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
internets Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 16 hours ago, mike_sekinger said: PM sent Long missed a @mike_sekinger rebuild thread Automotive porn...I’ll get the popcorn 🍿 2 Quote 1982 DeLorean DMC 12 #16327, 1999 Lotus Elise, 1998 Lotus Esprit GT3 #2272, 2011 Lotus Evora S, 2013 Lotus Exige S,2016 Lotus Evora 400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinT Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Terrible news. Really feel for you. I have to agree about keeping the original engine. A matching numbers car does increase the value in the collector car world, whether that engine has been rebuilt or not. If it was me and the engine was rebuildable I would walk down that path. truely wish you the best in what has turned out to be very frustrating and disheartening situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted July 28, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Sorry...I know we shouldn't but I'm still speculating. A major design fault on the 918 engine was the interference fit unkeyed intermediate shaft timing belt pully, this along with failiure to reverse the thread on the securing bolt. If the bolt loosens it leaves the pully free to slip on the shaft with disastrous results. I also notice from the rebuild invoices, a new front cover and timing chain slippers, that would indicate previous issues in that area and would further support @Blackngolds3turbo theory of catastrophic valve timing failiure. @black&gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 28, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Folks do keyway those Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 (edited) Easy enough with a Scotch Key - but of course the idlers are consumables so machining some sets makes sense. Picture Courtesy of Gonzalo Mendoza Edited July 28, 2018 by mike_sekinger 2 Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mightymetro Posted July 29, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 Thank you to everyone who replied to the post and for the support I have received. There have been some fantastic offers of help and it’s made this bitter pill easier to swallow. The car car is going in 3 weeks for the engine removing and a full rebuild will commence. Can’t wait to get her back already 🤪 ill be be sure to keep you all updated on progress including the dreaded damage upon opening the engine 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmuurling Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 Hope you get the car back on the road soon. Looking at your pictures of the plugs L1, R2 and are R3 which are the same as the bad pistons. Looks like one thing led to the other or at least they are connected. Maybe someone has an idea about it. 1 Quote Esprit Freak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 That's a good pickup. I hadn't made the link between the plugs and the cylinder photos. What I think I can comfortably say is why were those plugs not fairly clean as well? Why all the rust? Are they harder to get than the others and so were not changed? Even then, you would expect the plug to simply stop sparking and you would lose the cylinders. Be interesting to find out what has happened. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymetro Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 I never made the connection either 🤪 all plugs us were easy to get to and came out easy 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.