Lotus Elite: Lots of Trouble....EXCELlent news P33

[brawr]

Love this, nice one mate. I wouldn't have pegged it for you either if asked straight out what the ultimate 'Bruce car' would be, but looking at it with hindsight it makes perfect sense - I've spent enough nights in that snug looking at '70s wedges on the wall! Also ties in well with your comments on that Sports Cars of the '80s book I was reading last time I was down...

Looking forward to seeing this progress!

Told the old man about it, he said - Lovely cars, but apparently they can go rotten where the fiberglass is bonded to the frame and it's a pig to sort. I'm sure you've already had a good poke and I know it's within your abilities and enthusiasm to fix, but I thought I'd pass it on regardless.

Hope to get down on the 27th, we'll see...

[Bozwell]

many many moons ago i changed a chassis on an Excel. (i assume the chassis is the same as yours?) it was very easy to remove just don't forget to remove the seatbelt stalks . the car was only a few years old then but i was suprised at how pleasent it drove. no rocket ship, just a fair bit of torque. i'm sure a pair of lumpy cams would make it very lively?

lookig forward to see how this one pans out

[murran]

i have an original lotus elite workshop manual......

very well used by someone.
full of good stuff tho.



was trying to sell it a while back but given how tatty it was i don't think anyone was interested. £10 inc post?

[pondlive]

I just wanted to say well done for saving one of these icons.
You are very brave to take on one of these, and even braver to publicly state you plan to keep the original powerplant.
You have now got me hankering after one.
I have a small amount of experience with the 2.2 Talbot (911)version of this engine, so in the unlikely event you need any advice, please feel free to pick my brains.

Just a couple of questions if I may?

Is the cooling system still intact?

Do you have a plan of attack in place yet?

Good Luck,

Pondy.

[murran]

actually ive just read the thread now lol!
i see you already have the workshop manual.

your brave buying one in this state!! very brave!

ive no idea why people don't like the lotus twin cam??? full of win if you ask me.

[Mystery Machine]

[edit] Sorry Murran, I was writing this post when you wrote ^ that ^ one [/edit]

Dec 21, 2011 22:47:48 GMT murran said:

I have an original lotus elite workshop manual......was trying to sell it a while back but given how tatty it was I don't think anyone was interested. £10 inc post?

Thanks for the offer Dude, but if you look at this post here on Pg1: retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=readersrides&thread=118673&page=1#1478062 then you'll see I've already got that side of things covered.

Also, by the looks of it, I am probably going to need to save every penny I possibly can when I keep constantly getting comments like this:

Dec 21, 2011 23:04:17 GMT pondlive said:

....and even braver to publicly state you plan to keep the original powerplant.

Did I miss some kind of important memo that the rest of the world seems to have received? Why are so many people convinced that this engine is doomed to failure? Am I really that naive to think it's worth trying to keep the engine?

Seriously, what am I missing here people? Am I the only one who actually wants to try and get this engine running in the car it was intended for? I am finding it frustrating that there is so much pessimism surrounding this. "Cool car, hahaha for trying to keep the engine" seems to be the general gist I'm getting.

[jrevillug]

Dec 21, 2011 23:30:34 GMT Mystery Machine said:

Why are so many people convinced that this engine is doomed to failure?

I do feel a bit guilty for asking now. My comment was purely following the discussion re: engine swaps at '52, but I entirely understand where you're coming from, and the general perception of the engine - especially compared to the rock-solid reliable lumps in the p1800. I can't comment for anyone else, but:

It's an engine with a bad reputation. Regardless of whether that reputation is justified, people will keep coming out with it.

It's like having a car with a K series engine - you can't mention that fact without someone asking whether or not it's blown a head gasket yet. Or an Imp - same question, over and over again.

Most of these engines either had genuine faults in early production, or are intolerant of neglect - or both. As long as you're willing to look after it, and accept that it might not be as totally reliable or as cheap to run as something like a modern Audi, you'll be fine.

[Mystery Machine]

Dec 21, 2011 23:42:56 GMT jrevillug said:

I do feel a bit guilty for asking now. My comment was purely following the discussion re: engine swaps at '52

I know, I was keen to explore alternative engine ideas for the Scimitar for certain and to some extents the P1800, but there is really something about this car that makes me want to keep the engine where possible.

I think it stems from my view of Lotus & Colin Chapman where the engines were integral to the whole dynamic of the car, whereas the other two were very much using engines that were available/to hand/more practical & economical to use.

Don't feel guilty James, it wasn't your comment that made me write the comments above. I equally get frustrated about the whole K-series thing (along with the Nikasil comments every time a BMW M52 engine is mentioned etc...) but it just seems a lot of the comments on here are based around people assuming that I might as well rip the engine out now and stick something else in before I've even started simply becuase they have a 'reputation'.

As well as annoying me just a bit, it also makes me even more stubborn and determined to make the original one work so that I can stick two massive fingers up at the doubters and naysayers. (that doesn't include you Dude )

Dec 21, 2011 23:42:56 GMT jrevillug said:

As long as you're willing to look after it, and accept that it might not be as totally reliable or as cheap to run as something like a modern Audi, you'll be fine.

^^ THIS ^^ Very, very, very much ^^ THIS ^^

Nail. Head. Firmly and very squarely hit.

Please can we all now move on from the comments that this engine is a pile of steaming turd? It's getting a bit boring....not forgetting the fact it's hardly constructive or productive...

Many thanks.

[jrevillug]

Dec 21, 2011 23:59:12 GMT Mystery Machine said:

I think it stems from my view of Lotus & Colin Chapman where the engines were integral to the whole dynamic of the car, whereas the other two were very much using engines that were available/to hand/more practical & economical to use.

I can agree with that - the engine is definitely part of the character whereas the Scimitar, and to an extent the P1800, the character is almost despite the engine.

Dec 21, 2011 23:59:12 GMT Mystery Machine said:

I equally get frustrated about the whole K-series thing (along with the Nikasil comments every time a BMW M52 engine is mentioned etc...)

Once you've owned a car with a reputation for a while you get used to the irritating comments at petrol stations.

Dec 21, 2011 23:59:12 GMT Mystery Machine said:

As well as annoying me just a bit, it also makes me even more stubborn and determined to make the original one work so that I can stick two massive fingers up at the doubters and naysayers.

;D

[murran]

ive driven a red 78 elite and an original altho very tatty 77 esprit and more recently a 89 esprit turbo (charge cooled one).
and a 98 v8 esprit..... awesome car, but if i ever have prior notice that I'm going to have to change a radiator on one again I'm going to take the easy route out of life and take a concotion of paracetamol products and copious amounts of red wine!!! lol!

not driven any of them hard or even for very long (just around the block at work for mot and other purposes).

oil leaks aside they all ran and sounded awesome, perfect.


just on a side note..... id love to be a fly on the wall when someone else has to change some hand brake cables on a 77 esprit!!!

[hairnet]

ever tried owing a vf750 ;D

do what mide and edd did

fix it

boot it ;D

[Mystery Machine]

Dec 22, 2011 0:14:15 GMT murran said:

...but if I ever have prior notice that I'm going to have to change a radiator on one again I'm going to take the easy route out of life and take a concotion of paracetamol products and copious amounts of red wine!!! lol!

Luckily I will be fitting a new one while the car is apart (like fully apart for a complete rebuild) so shouldn't have to face those woes I hope?

I'll be getting it up on the 2 post lift on the 27th where I can start having a proper look at underpinnings prior to the strip down/chassis removal etc...

I'll be hopefully getting lots more photos very soon. Just been a bit busy with other things to get down there and start any work on it yet (I champing at the bit to get started!)

[bstardchild]

Dec 21, 2011 23:30:34 GMT Mystery Machine said:

Dec 21, 2011 23:04:17 GMT pondlive said:

....and even braver to publicly state you plan to keep the original powerplant.

Did I miss some kind of important memo that the rest of the world seems to have received? Why are so many people convinced that this engine is doomed to failure? Am I really that naive to think it's worth trying to keep the engine?

Seriously, what am I missing here people? Am I the only one who actually wants to try and get this engine running in the car it was intended for? I am finding it frustrating that there is so much pessimism surrounding this. "Cool car, hahaha for trying to keep the engine" seems to be the general gist I'm getting.

Hey Bruce - I'm with you on keeping the engine (glorious sound and a fairly respectable power output for what it is) but I don't think it's an unreliable lump but it is a bloody expensive engine to rebuild properly LIKE £6k starting price and I think it's that concern that leads people to suggest it's unreliable.

[RobinJI]

I'm curious about this idea of putting a separate chassis fiberglass bodied car, with no out-riggers on a 2 post lift I'm sure it'll be fine, I've just got hideous visions of the lift going up and the car staying still

[Mystery Machine]

Don't worry Robin, I have a plan

[maf260]

Is it finished yet?

[HoTWire]

Did I already post in this thread?? I thought I did ... but can't find it!

Good luck with the car, I'm sure you'll do it justice. *cough* toyota engine *cough*

Really looking forward to where this goes

[pickmeup]

bruce i just remembered I have a very good contact who is an expert on lotus engines, I know he doesnt do much work for people now but he used to build all the lotus racing engines, will get his info to you soon

[VIP]

Dec 22, 2011 10:56:39 GMT HoTWire said:

Did I already post in this thread?? I thought I did ... but can't find it!

Dec 19, 2011 7:15:38 GMT HoTWire said:

Good work there Bruce, always loved the Lotus Elite,.. I've seen a few modified Eclats but not so many Elites, and they are ripe for modification. Good luck with it, looking forward to updates through the year

[borednow]

Deffo keep the engine!

It's the heart and soul of any car. By changing an engine you change the soul.

If it breaks...............fix it. That's the fun isn't it?

Otherwise we'd all be driving modern honda's or god forbid Toyota's. (curse word!)