Blogs

End of the tunnel.....

Well, it has been a great day ! First came the Lotus Parts Sale - some relevant savings for me so fingers crossed for a result. Then I managed to recommission and road test both Esprits. Was a cracking day :thumbsup: V8 bled and ready for road test [img]http://img40.imagefra.me/i53e/sekinger/grq4_a9f_u6qlh.jpg[/img] No problems, so on with the rear deck and ready to make a return trip to Lotus for the continuation of the dyno work [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i53e/sekinger/grq

March 14, 2011

First impressions...

My first tentative drives were a little fraught…! Bearing in mind I’d never properly driven an Esprit before and I’d just carried out a major overhaul I was pretty paranoid! Couple that with an ECL that kept popping up for 10 secs then clearing – I was a bit worried! So after a bit more research on the forums and borrowing an ALDL cable from SuperDaveLotus I established it was just a high idle causing the ECL. I cleaned out the IACV and things calmed down a bit. So I started to drive the

February 28, 2011

Just get on with it...

So after a day or so I realised that it wasn't going to fix itself so I cracked on with it! Access is 'interesting' for most things as I found out! First things: Service. I object to paying people to change the oil and filter, plus I like to know that it's been done! So I serviced it myself using the lotus service schedule. All the fluids were changed: oil, coolant, gearbox oil, power steering fluid and brake fluid. Plugs changed, new belts on and everything else looked over carefull

February 27, 2011

First encounters...

So the deal was struck and I was the owner of an Esprit S4! It did however need a fair bit of work that I knew about, as it had been off the road for around 2 years: No MOT Major service required. Cambelt 4 1/2 years old, 10,000 miles Headlights, one stuck down and all 4 rusted beyond help Drivers seat bolster worn through. Gear linkage needed attention Gearbox leak Oil leak from the front of the engine. Corroded wheels I had it transported down from it's old home in Moffat to

February 27, 2011

Welcome!

It has been suggested that I keep track of my ongoing love/hate relationship with my Esprit S4 as a blog so I'm having a go. I'm an engineer by trade, not a hands on practical engineer, but a jack of all trades master of none fault investigator. I currently investigate military aircraft component faults and sort them out for a living but with all the current cuts I might need a new job before too long! Mechanical stuff doesn't phase me particularly but that does mean I get in over my he

February 27, 2011

S4s engine and nearside fuel tank removal

Hi Folks, The weather was really quite warm today so I decided it was a good day to remove the S4s engine. The time consuming part is the preparation to disconnect everything - the actual lift is easily a one man job with a little care A/C was non-functional, so left the pump attached [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i51g/sekinger/grq4_2a1_u6qlh.jpg[/img] Limited clearance on front body [img]http://img40.imagefra.me/i51g/sekinger/grq4_b69_u6qlh.jpg[/img] Ready to roll the chassis c

January 16, 2011

Chargecooler temperature dual gauge

Posty finally came good with my long awaited SPA dual intercooler temperature gauge. The gauge loom was absent, but at least I was able to install the two k-type thermocouples in the right hand chargecooler body. [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i5cv/sekinger/grq4_2b2_u6qlh.jpg[/img] [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i5cv/sekinger/grq4_1df_u6qlh.jpg[/img] Still waiting to hear back from AP, but I expect an update on the clutch solution in early January. Happy New Year to all ! :band: Ch

December 31, 2010

S300 #25 mechanical restoration project

Yesterday I made a start on the restoration of this fantastic Esprit. [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i5cv/sekinger/grq4_c66_u6qlh.jpg[/img] It was specially ordered by and supplied to Romano Artioli, the boss of Bugatti when it owned Lotus back in 1994. The car has been well looked after over the years, but its owner would like to have it restored and approached me with the job for the mechanical aspects. The restoration of the interior and paintwork will be a task for someone else. The

December 31, 2010

Gearbox and clutch removal

Hi Folks, After last weeks dyno session I needed to remove the gearbox and inspect the clutch. All of the chargecoolers stuff removed [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i5cb/sekinger/grq4_662_u6qlh.jpg[/img] Driveshafts out of the way and the gearbox slide back free of the clutch pack [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i5cb/sekinger/grq4_2c9_u6qlh.jpg[/img] Gearbox lifted clear and clutch exposed for removal [img]http://img37.imagefra.me/i5cb/sekinger/grq4_728_u6qlh.jpg[/img] [img]http://i

December 11, 2010

Introduction

Hi Folks, Many of you may have seen my numerous threads on engine building and Esprit projects on the Forum. Bibs introduced me to the idea of using a Blog, which will make it easier to organise the various things I have going on and in-turn make it easier to navigate through it. So - from now on, this is where I´ll be making my updates. Hope you enjoy and find it useful. Cheers, Mike S