Lef Engineering!

[Bibs]

As we've seen from this project and his own car, our very own mecha-smurf is pretty handy with a spanner when it comes to the Esprit.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I'd like to see him in business, looking after our cars. I for one will be using Troy (t/a LEF Engineering ) to exclusively work on my car and would like to encourage you to do the same. I'm going to spend some time helping source a workshop and set the business up if needs be am very confident that he'll do well and give us a different experience from an Esprit workshop.

As you can guess, starting a business isn't an easy time, and the Esprit world isn't an easy one to work in, but please do speak to myself or ideally Troy if you'd like to discuss some work on your car.

I'd also like to wish him all the luck with this venture and I sincerely hope it becomes a reality

[John V6]

I second all that Bibs has said.

[matk]

I've already arranged for Troy to do mine later on in the year.

[Kimbers]

Troy

Am happy to offer my Automotive Management and trouble shooting Skills as well as any free accounts and business plan advice I can offer. As you know I have all the qualifications and skills as well as Sales and Marketing (though you should have people queueing up to use you).

I have just spoken to MJK as well about whether Lotus still run a training course for independants to become Lotus Certified and he will check this next week.

Call me.

Tony

[fmxa]

Troy,

Best of luck with the new business, you're going to do great!

[bigsi]

im the first booking , the second and third!!

[arbell9]

Good luck with the setup Troy, will you be working on all the Esprit varieties?

Cheers

Alex

[bigsi]

by way of forwarding the karma , i am going to forward some i recieved myself.

if you remember someone kindly sent me a pro torque bar a while ago, im going to give this to troy so that he can use it on all our cars, im sure the person who sent it me wont mind( i hope not!) but i feel that he will make more use of it in his new venture.

besides which.. he knows how to use it!

[Artie]

by way of forwarding the karma , i am going to forward some i recieved myself.

if you remember someone kindly sent me a pro torque bar a while ago, im going to give this to troy so that he can use it on all our cars, im sure the person who sent it me wont mind( i hope not!) but i feel that he will make more use of it in his new venture.

besides which.. he knows how to use it!

Simon,

Boy it was hard to keep the secret! Glad she's back on the road in the rightful hands! I'm still anxious to see the Zonda pedals! Enjoy, big guy... Well deserved and appreciated I'm sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I couldn't physically come and lend a hand but we all pooled resources to make sure she was back in top shape! Someone needs to do "after" shots of the whole car inside and out so we can get a glimpse of the total package done!

Artie

[yeller77]

As we've seen from this project and his own car, our very own mecha-smurf is pretty handy with a spanner when it comes to the Esprit.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I'd like to see him in business, looking after our cars. I for one will be using Troy (t/a LEF Engineering ) to exclusively work on my car and would like to encourage you to do the same. I'm going to spend some time helping source a workshop and set the business up if needs be am very confident that he'll do well and give us a different experience from an Esprit workshop.

As you can guess, starting a business isn't an easy time, and the Esprit world isn't an easy one to work in, but please do speak to myself or ideally Troy if you'd like to discuss some work on your car.

I'd also like to wish him all the luck with this venture and I sincerely hope it becomes a reality

:Pc: (trying to see if it's cost-effective to ship my car to the UK....)

Capital idea! Good Luck, Troy!

(interestingly enough, I'm working on setting up a similar shop, not enough Loti around here for bread and butter, but definitely working toward the capability. No small task, this! )

E.

[Jonathan]

Lemme know if there's anything I can do to help out down this neck of the woods.

[wiseraven]

I'd already urged Troy before the handover to go ahead with this, so I'm delighted he's setting up shop. Having seen the wee man in action, and seen the quality of his work and attention to detail at close quarters, I can only say that he's the one guy I'd really trust to do a truly professional job on my car without taking me to the cleaners.

After all the hours he put into Si's car expecting nothing in return, he's earned so much karma, that I don't really need to wish him luck, but I do anyway.

[SE Owner :-D]

About time too!!!

Been saying this for ages...

[islandbloke]

If only I was on the mainland...having followed BigSi's car progress, I wouldn't hesitate letting Troy work on mine. Although my idea of 'clean' isn't quite up to the standards you guys set!!

Good luck Troy.

[martynv]

Good luck with your new venture Troy. I hope all works out really well for you

Martyn

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and encouragement and for the PM's

As has already been said I am looking at the moment for a suitable workshop/unit to start up in. I have very definite ideas of what kind of workshop I would like and to the kind of service people should receive. I did post a while back when I first began to think about it, to try a get some feedback as to what people wanted or disliked about dealing with a workshop. From that and talking to people in general I started to realise that it was pretty much the same things time and time again.

I have had some terrific support from a few people and it has spurned me on to try and make it all happen. After all what could be better than doing a job you love.

I have been very touched by the comments made from this community and for the kind words from Mike Kimberly and Brian Angus. I feel very passionate about doing this, and hope to make it a reality soon.

I have already got a series of products and projects in development that I hope to be able to offer, some of which are cosmetic, upgrades of fixes for known problems. Others are more substantial and will take more time to develop but I think will appeal to quite a few people. My intention is to work on all Esprit models but I am happy to do work on other vehicles as well.

Regards

Troy

[Simon350S]

Guess I'll join in and say good luck...!!!!!!

Although do you really think you'll be able to do this alone without all the cuddles and kisses you got during the resto project....???

Look for a unit in South Wales dude..... U know its the place to be..... think of all the love....

Simon

[dodgy]

other models!, you wouldnt have time to mess with them would you?

a place as central as possible would be most advantagous, but thinking about it - simon could be right, cheaper housing, could mean cheaper rent for the workshop, easy access m5/m4..... just a thought

[Guest Troy Halliday]

I wonder if Lotus has a spare 1000sqft or so workshop they aren't using. I'd keep my room clean I promise

[AlanM]

Brilliant idea Troy and the very best of luck with it.

If you need any business help/advice let me know (I'm probably nowhere near as accomplished as Kimbers tho....... but I am a lot less pink........)

When you've found some premises email me - ala[email protected] - and I'll put something into Club Lotus News.

[dodgy]

top man Alan

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Thank you Alan that would be wonderful.

[Kimbers]

Planning is everything mate. fail to plan, plan to fail. Like I said, let me know if you need any help. There isn't a man on here who wouldn't recommend you and as cars become obsolete you'll only get more and more work.

TK

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Thought I'd give you all an update.

I am still looking for a workshop at the moment. Main problem is location trying to find a suitable area which makes it easy access to most. So if anyone out there has any suggestions then please feel free................. apart from Simon 350 who will most definitely say South Wales.

In the mean time I have been busy with developing some products which I intend to sell. Some are cosmetic items others are solutions to now discontinued parts and problems that have arisen over time.

A couple of these are;

Wastegate and wastegate adapter for 1981-88 Turbos which is an upgrade to replace the cracked wastegate adapter and split wastegate diaphragm. No further modifications would be needed to the Turbo, exhaust system , or manifold.

A throttle body injection kit. An upgrade for all carbed engines which should give improved fuel economy, more power and better drivabilty.

A solution to worn pivot points on the headlamp pods (where bolt wear through the fiberglass)

Several engine dress up kits

and a few top secret ones

I have spoken to quite a few people about their experiences with workshops, so thought I would address some of those issues. I will be taking a photographic record of any extensive work undertaken which will be burnt to CD/DVD for customer reference. Cars will be returned valeted (cleaned inside and out) not sure where this part of the service went in the first place. Faulty/Replaced parts will be retained until customers collection, except in the case of reconditioned part (where photographic reference will be of use). Paint defects/scratches will be recorded before work begins with customer retaining a copy. Several people had commented that their cars had been damaged whilst work was being carried out on the car and that the respective garages had simply dismissed it. Communication also seemed to feature high on peoples issues. Where delays occur due to unforeseen issues or parts availability/delivery every effort will be made to inform you as early as possible.

A few little things but I thought I'd share them anyway. I have begun to source the material to make custom panel protection covers which I will tailor to suit the Esprit. The will be fleece backed with a heavy vinyl top surface to protect various panels while work is being carried out. I have spoken to a company about making properly tailored covers to suit the Esprits. Ones that actually fit out cars rather than hint at the possibility of fitting them.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments I will be more than glad to hear them. Any and all input is appreciated as at the end of the day I would like to offer the kind of service people want not what they have to make do with.

Thanks

Troy

[punky]

All sounds good to me

I have begun to source the material to make custom panel protection covers which I will tailor to suit the Esprit which will be fleece backed

Any chance I could get mine sheepskin backed

Oh! and just to remind you again the answer to the question that you haven't asked me for a few days is still

YES