Lotus Esprit S3 on Air and V8 Power!

[joostvdw]

Aug 19, 2014 15:19:49 GMT blackpopracing said:

Aug 10, 2014 10:03:42 GMT charliecroker said:

Thinking of doing HID conversion on mine eventually but need to get all the other jobs done first. I do remember though that the indicator/dip beam switch in the esprit is weak (they burn out unless you add an additional relay) so I think that would also need changing?

A relay is never a bad thing, but HID's are less power than std headlamps (mine are 36w) dipped beam is 55w so the std stalk should be fine. A relay of course would ensure its fine

Just noticed this, HID kits use less power when running, but they have a higher startup current than normal bulbs! And it's the startup that's killer for stalks and switches. It's the moment the switch snaps close that this current sparks across the metal (mostly copper) contacts and burns the surface, leaving you without lights (and smelly switches).

Using a relay solves all this since relays are built to take the switching current.

In other news, awesome car! Loving esprits!

[v8esprits3]

Not much done to the Esprit lately, have re-done a lot of the air lines and now have a leak free system! YES! At last
I have been way too busy with other projects (Lamborghini Gallardo replica) and having a major clear out of engines, parts, and projects just too much to do and no space or time to work on them!!



brought an outdoor Carcoon. Not cheap! But could be worth every penny if it does what the makers claim, time will tell……..
hope it keeps my car safe over winter

[wu11ie]

What's the Lambo based on?

[ChasR]

I look forward to seeing how effective the car carcoon is .

[v8esprits3]

Nov 21, 2014 17:42:51 GMT wu11ie said:

What's the Lambo based on?

MR2 MK3, if I build one for myself then it will be getting a V8 of course.........

[v8esprits3]

Nov 21, 2014 23:00:24 GMT ChasR said:

I look forward to seeing how effective the car carcoon is .

working well so far, had a few cats trying to get in it! but pretty happy with it must be the next best thing to putting it in a garage but time will tell

[jeffeRS]

Your Lotus is chuffing gorgeous.

[moomin]

Wow, very nice.

Looks so much better all the way on the ground!

[espritv8]

carcoon is still working well, had some bad wind the other day and no issues with the cover!

[bobajob]

Fantastic project and a very enjoyable/informative thread. Proper piece of kit... those early Esprits are beautiful cars.

[ulver]

Dec 17, 2014 12:35:38 GMT espritv8 said:

carcoon is still working well, had some bad wind the other day and no issues with the cover!

If I may ask, is it fairly quick/easy to get the car in and out or is it more of a longer term storage solution? I.e would it be suitable for a 'weekend' car?

[espritv8]

Jan 11, 2015 10:34:36 GMT ulver said:

Dec 17, 2014 12:35:38 GMT espritv8 said:

carcoon is still working well, had some bad wind the other day and no issues with the cover!

If I may ask, is it fairly quick/easy to get the car in and out or is it more of a longer term storage solution? I.e would it be suitable for a 'weekend' car?

it depends on location and if you have some one to help? my drive is on a slope and I fitted it on my own, the problem I had was the rear tyres would spin a little and pull the ground sheet under the car! if some one helped and stood on the ground sheet maybe it wouldn't have moved? maybe if the drive was flat it would have not happened? so that's the only issue I had. Once the cars on the ground sheet you just cover it and zip it up, connect power and its done. I think it would be fine for a weekend car but not a daily driver. The constant use of zipping the cover on and off every day would cause wear and tear to quick on the ground sheet and zip. So far I am very impressed with it, had some really bad rain and wind lately and its just not bothered it. The real test will be when I take it off and see if its actually done the job and stopped the car going mouldy!

[ulver]

Thanks. It sounds perfect for me. Would a few strategically placed bricks hold it in place?

[espritv8]

Jan 11, 2015 14:45:47 GMT ulver said:

Thanks. It sounds perfect for me. Would a few strategically placed bricks hold it in place?

maybe? I have thought of using a large sheet of wood on top of the ground sheet next time I drive on to it

[espritv8]

Ok it’s been a while? Yes I still have the Esprit and progress has been very slow! Have been tinkering with some bits and bobs and some parts have been removed/changed re-fitted, removed and some things are new to the project.
Have had some down time well in fact had a mental break down! which never helps and took a couple of months to get back to wanting to do anything with life and cars……..life sucks at times and things go to curse word.

The Carcoon was a bit of a disappointment I still had a damp interior and mold was growing again! But it did help keep the car paint and bodywork clean and protected, so its worthy of being used but shame it does not do what it’s claimed to do.

The air ride is still fitted and has been upgraded with a computer based control system which lets me store 3 ride heights into memory and can be remotely changed with a key fob (can’t wait to catch people out when it’s parked!) This works really well as I was having issues trying to set the front at a consistent height and having issues with tracking/bump steer. Now it can be set accurately every time with just a press of a button.
Once I get some more miles done and found the ride height I can live with I plan to get it all setup as its not right at the moment steering feels like a hyper sensitive go kart at 60mph and the slightest input/movement of the steering wheel is exaggerated to dangerous levels! The heavy steel air tank has gone and I have a twin pair of alloy air tanks.

Have extended the side ears around 15mm and made both just air inlet now, as the stock setup had the lower part inlet and upper outlet? The tailgate now has locking bonnet pins instead of the original catches, they kept undoing and the tailgate would open which was really annoying as the tailgate stays upright fully open when you get up to speed! I got stopped by the police and was oblivious to the fact the hatch was fully open while driving around! I can now lock it place (open a jar) to allow heat out.

Front radiator has been removed and in the process of fitting a bigger 60mm core Cosworth alloy rad, also changed the angle/rake of the rad. Engine bay boot floor area again has been ripped out and being redone, I think the issue with the rear hatch catches failing was due to the rear body flexing? I have made a steel frame to support the rear body, and rethinking the boot area again, was never really happy with the finished look so still working on that. Started to fit the new carpet, the hand brake gator is a total ass and just does not fit too good? These carpets are not cheap and never worth the money.

Will do a proper update soon with some pictures and more info.

[espritv8]

Here are some pictures of the stock Esprit rad and the new alloy Cosworth rad, it’s a bit bigger and the core is much wider so I will gain more water capacity and hopefully improve the cooling.


Fitting fans to the new rad is easy as it has more brackets unlike the original item


Picture of how I had the original Esprit rad laying near flat due to clearance issues with running a low car.

[espritv8]

Mounting the rad is simple with the stock Cosworth side lugs, I just made up some mounts from alloy U section. Not yet finished, have some spare time today so hope to get it done today.

When fitting the rad I have decided to change the angle and have it sloped forward as apposed to backwards I have seen other cars like this? Not sure why it may work better? this actually worked out better fitting the hoses and fans with it angled forward, I cut the front lower floor to gain more room and to enable the rad to stand up a little more to increase the amount of air forced into it.


Also checked clearance for fitting the A-Frame and made sure it fits wouldn’t want to remove the rad every time I towed it! Yes I expect break downs! The car has given me no reason to trust it to be reliable………its still an old Lotus with Lucas and British Leyland parts at best. I still love it and still get a buzz from seeing it every day which is why we do it.






While I was under the car at the front I noticed a little leak from the small hose feeding the heater matrix, the joining tubes were rusted to hell and the other just fell apart when I tried to remove the retaining clips. That was a lucky escape catching that in time as that would have caused a major break down with all the coolant pumping out! All fixed now with stainless tube and new stainless hose clips.

[espritv8]

On my quest to improve cooling getting more cold air into the engine bay is the biggest problem due to engine location and lack of space, engine size and exhaust. Lotus only fitted small intakes on the side of the car often referred to as “Ears”.
This is what the intake\outlets look like without the cover (Ear), as you can see the lower hole is for cold air intake and the upper for air out.

I have made both holes now cold air intakes and made the outside cover (Ears) spaced out 15mm from the body to increase air flow into the inlets. The bottom hole is going to flow air towards the engine (exhaust manifolds) and the top hole is going to feed cold air to the air filter.

view from rear, most people may not even notice the difference at first glance

also painted the fuel caps satin black, never really liked the colour coded nonsense
not sure if I am going to leave the fronts open or fit some sort of grill/mesh. Keeping them open will make life easier and less hassle cleaning the car.

[grenade]

I just read through the whole thread. First, AWESOME car. Great work. Two years solving problems and making things work, getting it running and driving, passing the MOT- serious accomplishments. Congratulations, it was and is, a joy to watch you solve design issues with the car.

Second thing is,I love the sound. These have always been one of my dream cars. We don't really get the Rover engines over here, but they're based on an older version of a Chevy engine, so who cares, it's a V8! In another post about a lowered silver Esprit, I commented that it was ruined because it was lowered. I was wrong. Seeing what it took to make it happen and the fact that you used air so it can go up and down correctly- I concede they look freaking awesome and if I see that thread, I'll apologize to the guy. They're super cool and that's it.

Your car and your work are inspiring to many. Not everyone can take something and change it into what they want it to be. Again, great car, bitchin' sound and great thread.

[hario]

I just read the entiore thread also. Very cool build, I'm now googleing Lotus Esprits.....

Regarding your over heating issue, first thoughts are: The rad needs a clear airflow path designed. Otherwise at speed,air may completely stagnate around the core, note the fans should only be required when stationary.

I would suggest a duct / scoop made from sheet aluminium mounted underneath to direct air from under the bumper up through the core. Then seal off any front bumper/bonnet air holes, and venting the post-radiator air towards the rear of the bonnet.

Unless I misunderstand the design and airflow enters the rad though the bonnet & exhausts under the car? In which case I'd still sugest some ducting around the rad core.

Damn Esprits are expensive on the eBay¬?!