Hello all,
Been lurking for a while but I've just started a project but I'm not sure it's 'retro' enough for you all. Let me know!
I've just swapped my working and legal 1997 Lotus Elise for a 1994 Lotus Esprit that needs a bucket load of work. Most people think I'm mental and they might be right...
So far it needs:
Cambelt - currently 4.5 years old, official life is 4 years, recommended life is 3 years, owners club change them 2 years max... So I'm not starting it!
Service - service history is a bit patchy after 2004 it was all done DIY apparently. Oil is old but looks OK, coolant is nasty, brake fluid looks fresh, power steering fluid is unknown. The sump is a bit oily so on the look out for leaks. It needs 6.5 liters of Castrol Edge!
Headlamps - all knacked. They are all rusted beyond limits and the brackets have dissolved around them. One pod stuck down permanently and there is what looks like some well rotted compost in the bottom of it.
Fuel filler flaps (One each side) don’t work.
Rear body/chassis mounts – have been ‘fixed’ with silicone previously, obviously worked well – NOT. Will need cutting back to fiberglass and reinforcing with steel plate, it’s a known problem on these cars and not a major problem, just messy to fix.
Rear shocks - very rusty as are the springs
Exhaust back box – rusty
Gear linkage very stiff – needs strip/clean/lube/rebuild I suspect.
Vacuum system – leaking somewhere. It’s an electric pump and drives some engine controls and the heater flaps at the front. I think it’s leaking in the engine bay but will need to chase it.
Drivers window switch loose – popped out the console and won’t go back.
Mirror control doesn’t work – no ideas yet – can’t find the fuse in any of the 3 fuseboxes…
Radio trim off – not hard to fix.
Leak in boot – drain pipework needs resealing
Wheels starting to flake – need refurb
Few stonechips and door scrapes – no narrow spaces need apply!
Drivers seat bolster heavily worn
So far:
Headlamps and compost is out of the light pods
Rotten headlamp brackets off and in the bin (After saving 24 plastic clips that cost over £100 to replace!)
Headlamp motors stripped and cleaned out and sort of work, still need work and I have messed the sequencing up! I’ve got one up one down and one doesn’t always fully open.
Fuel filler flaps exercised and lubed – now pop out like airbrakes on the button!
Drivers window switch clips bent and refitted
coolant is out - it was manky in the engine bay but the rad is clear.
Boot floor and intermediate bulkhead out
Cleaned up rear body bolts ready for repair
Stripped gear linkage - it's utterly shagged - new bearings on order.
The plan:
Cambelt, aux belts, engine oil, water, gearbox oil, oil filter, air filter, brake fluid, PAS fluid will be changed.
Once done get it running and check all the engine bits all work proeprly - turbo, sensors, gauges, etc, etc.
Investigate the chargecooler pump – they are notoriously rubbish and can’t be accessed with the oil filter in place and require the coolant draining! It will probably need a new impeller minimum.
Repair rear body mounts with resin and glass mat.
New headlamp brackets and headlamps all round.
Investigate headlamp lift motors again.
Wire brush the rear shocks and paint if salvageable or replace.
Wire brush back box.
Fix radio facia
Get MOT…
Pictures:
The interior really is out of focus - honestly...
The only bit of damage to the interior - rest just needs a clean
Big spoiler :mrgreen:
Chargecooler obviously doesn't live there!
13mm spanner for scale!
Cam belt looks like it'll be a fun day or 2...
All the wheels have a bit of corrosion
Retro enough?
Been lurking for a while but I've just started a project but I'm not sure it's 'retro' enough for you all. Let me know!
I've just swapped my working and legal 1997 Lotus Elise for a 1994 Lotus Esprit that needs a bucket load of work. Most people think I'm mental and they might be right...
So far it needs:
Cambelt - currently 4.5 years old, official life is 4 years, recommended life is 3 years, owners club change them 2 years max... So I'm not starting it!
Service - service history is a bit patchy after 2004 it was all done DIY apparently. Oil is old but looks OK, coolant is nasty, brake fluid looks fresh, power steering fluid is unknown. The sump is a bit oily so on the look out for leaks. It needs 6.5 liters of Castrol Edge!
Headlamps - all knacked. They are all rusted beyond limits and the brackets have dissolved around them. One pod stuck down permanently and there is what looks like some well rotted compost in the bottom of it.
Fuel filler flaps (One each side) don’t work.
Rear body/chassis mounts – have been ‘fixed’ with silicone previously, obviously worked well – NOT. Will need cutting back to fiberglass and reinforcing with steel plate, it’s a known problem on these cars and not a major problem, just messy to fix.
Rear shocks - very rusty as are the springs
Exhaust back box – rusty
Gear linkage very stiff – needs strip/clean/lube/rebuild I suspect.
Vacuum system – leaking somewhere. It’s an electric pump and drives some engine controls and the heater flaps at the front. I think it’s leaking in the engine bay but will need to chase it.
Drivers window switch loose – popped out the console and won’t go back.
Mirror control doesn’t work – no ideas yet – can’t find the fuse in any of the 3 fuseboxes…
Radio trim off – not hard to fix.
Leak in boot – drain pipework needs resealing
Wheels starting to flake – need refurb
Few stonechips and door scrapes – no narrow spaces need apply!
Drivers seat bolster heavily worn
So far:
Headlamps and compost is out of the light pods
Rotten headlamp brackets off and in the bin (After saving 24 plastic clips that cost over £100 to replace!)
Headlamp motors stripped and cleaned out and sort of work, still need work and I have messed the sequencing up! I’ve got one up one down and one doesn’t always fully open.
Fuel filler flaps exercised and lubed – now pop out like airbrakes on the button!
Drivers window switch clips bent and refitted
coolant is out - it was manky in the engine bay but the rad is clear.
Boot floor and intermediate bulkhead out
Cleaned up rear body bolts ready for repair
Stripped gear linkage - it's utterly shagged - new bearings on order.
The plan:
Cambelt, aux belts, engine oil, water, gearbox oil, oil filter, air filter, brake fluid, PAS fluid will be changed.
Once done get it running and check all the engine bits all work proeprly - turbo, sensors, gauges, etc, etc.
Investigate the chargecooler pump – they are notoriously rubbish and can’t be accessed with the oil filter in place and require the coolant draining! It will probably need a new impeller minimum.
Repair rear body mounts with resin and glass mat.
New headlamp brackets and headlamps all round.
Investigate headlamp lift motors again.
Wire brush the rear shocks and paint if salvageable or replace.
Wire brush back box.
Fix radio facia
Get MOT…
Pictures:
The interior really is out of focus - honestly...
The only bit of damage to the interior - rest just needs a clean
Big spoiler :mrgreen:
Chargecooler obviously doesn't live there!
13mm spanner for scale!
Cam belt looks like it'll be a fun day or 2...
All the wheels have a bit of corrosion
Retro enough?
probably a good job really, i have enough trouble with the tatty luxo barges i buy let alone sorts cars as well. 
he does seem to use it for work everyday - he's a brave man parking it there lol.