andydclements

If it's the same as the earlier models, then you should be able to tighten it, bit of a pig to get a spanner on , but the head of the set screw is captive in a channel in the aluminium beam. The "pop" as the dor opens is as the spring reaches maximum movement then releaaees tension moving back to it's normal state with the set screw the other side of the spike, that way it keeps the door from closing on you. Andy

it might seem strange, ut consider going fully comp with an excess of the car's value (or greater), rather than TP or TPFT. The premium may be lower that way. Andy

I've owned the Turbo for nearly 1 year, the S3 has been mine for 2 years (I think) and I'm 35 so I argue too young for a mid-life crisis, I'm merely ensuringt hat when it comes along I have the car that suits it. Andy

If only they had brought the front spoiler out a little further, and made it slightly pointed...... It would have made a great cattle scoop.

But there is a good point to that driving method, you can honestly say you couldn't get into work due to the conditions. I remember going out of the village up a noticable hill, wondering why the driver coming the other way had just deliberately thrown his car into the hedge, looked in my mirror and spotted th idiot who decided "accelerate as fast as you can" was the correct method to get up an icy, snow coverd hill, and was then perpendicular to the road. Now if only I'd been behind him, I'd have been forced to take the day off. But it is Norfolk, where main road = track where 2 vehicles can pass, minor road = track that's been driven along at some point, dirt road= place where barley etc isn't to high so that you can't see. Andy

You could say I lost a roof as well, not a shed, not a house, the Esprit engine "roof". I had the engine compartment open to allow work on the exhaust heat shield, bit windy, but so what? One big gust of wind, the gas struts were off to allow the compartment to be opened further (I know realise how stupid I was), the rear cover went up past vertical, bent the hinges, clipped the glass roof scraping paint off, and finally stopping when it had partially cracked the fibre glass structure of the tailgate. I am so glad I bought the one at Avonmouth, it was planned for the S3, now it has a more dire need on the TE. Oh well, could have been worse, could have broken the glass roof as well. Andy

I Have to admit I'd not even thought about the E85 option, but a quick search provided a site that does a fit to convert to E85 for less than

This time I'd better volunteer services sooner. So. If you need another Norfolk based person to help, just say so. Oh, I'm sure a certain half Polynesian person with a strange hair style/ colour will help as well (unless we all ask him not to). Andy

I've guestimated current MPG at 20 on Petrol/ Gasoline, and would expect LPG to return approx 755 of that, so 15. (that's UK Gallon) Assume Petrol cost close to

I have similar thoughts/ questions, but in refernce to my 4 cylinder. I actually asked a conversion firm today, gave him the basics of the engine, he should come back to me in a day or two. Andy.

So, is that a pink pinny on that day? Andy

I think he's an important integral part of TG. The Mr Slow comments, how he got to test drive the "City Rover" under cover, I think it was because he could convincingly look like a City Rover buyer, where as the other 2 would have been spotted almost immediately. The challenges, he goes for a "sensible" middle of the road option, the others just go a little mad. Without JM, a lot of the banter would be /was flat. On another TG topic, while off this afternoon, I watched a very samll part of the TG episode where JC test drives the X3, and gets stuck, twice. On the second instance, he comments he only has a packet of mints for sustenance, I hope they weren't sugar free ones. He as stuck in the car, no sunroof, he might have been able to get himself out of the windows, or via the rear doors, but if not........... I hope you know te side effect of the sweetener used in sugar free mints.

Maybe this should have been a seperate thread, mods, please move if you think so. [Done and Done - Kimbers] So, who got the biggest haul of "slight errors", in the many 100s of parts picked, most if not all were based on the number quoted on the bag/ wrapper at time of receipt (circa 1990 on average I guess). In the cold light of day (late today, morning didn't happen after that drive home), amongst the items I bought were 2 high level brake lights (was going to mod the hatches of the S3 & TE to fit them) and 1 roof capping rail for Esprit. I got 2 switches (think they're reset switched for the fuel system) and capping rail for an Excel (or Eclat, can't tell imediately). All numbered as the parts that were expected. I think, considering the volume picked in the time it was picked, the fact that these parts were labled quite some time ago, it's a small error rate. I probably would have spotted it, but Kris was helping to load and get away as fast as possible, as most of us who were still there at 5pm. Oh yes, anyone want a Excel cap rail? No? Maybe I'l have to buy a car to fit it to. No Kimbers, I will not buy a car to fit it to, and get you to "look after" the Turbo Esprit. Andy

The reason for them specifying stainless ends is to differentiate from the mild steel ended ones, both are ss braided, but the m/s end are generally cheeper. Andy

I second that, it was a fantastic opportunity, even if the sale had just been opent o LEF members from the 16th as for most other groups, but the extra day was even better. And I'm sure when Matt says all at Lotus he especially means poor people who picked non-stop all day to get our orders/ wish lists done so that both we and they could go home. p.s. I only had to stop 6 times to adjust the ratchet straps holding the body panel down so I've now made it back to Norwich after 2 other collection stops and a meal break. Andy

I've got the same problem James, take the Esprit, don't bring much back, take the normal car, have less fun. I've gone for the less fun bit, but so far have 3 other stop offs to do, drop a catalytic converter off to another owner (Charlie) , collect bits from Brent, call in near Southampton, then home to Norfolk. It's going to me a lot of miles, would have been a great test of reliabilty for the Turbo car. Andy

Since Mike is going full time, lets take the oportunity to wish him well. I've used Mike's esrvices to get bits for my Excell (now gone) and Esprit. I knew at the time he was working for Nissan (I think), and so Lotusbits was a way of funding his rallying. If wanted bits ultra-fast I could pay full dealer price and get new bits. If I wanted to spend ages looking to try and find the right bits from another breaker, I could. As it was I could look on the site (allow for the bits having been sold a few days earlier). Call, get a price including postage and send a cheque. I knew the bits would arrive, I knew if there was a problem it would be sorted, I aslo knew they wouldn't be with me the day after calling him. What the speed of turnaround will be now, I don't know, probably a lot faster. I guess credit card will come into play now, and I guess the prices will have to reflect the fact it's not a part time activity or a charity. So Mike, it's great Lotusbits is growing. Thanks for your help in the past, and for the help you'll invariably give in the future. Andy

And I plan to utilise that to make keyless locking. I've already set up all the keyless remote locking interfaced with the alarm, now I just need to swap out the old door handles and locks for the "new" ones from Range Rover rear doors, that way there's no lock barrel to have to fill. Andy

From memory the new Lotus setup (Eibach?) that replaced the original damper units has 2 settings for height, standard and another ring 10mm down. I can't remember if that applies to S cars and G cars or just oneof them. I have to admitt I was too busy giving myself a mental barage of abuse, for getting my non-Lotus adjustables a few weeks earlier, when I could have waited and bought some thay had done all the settings for. Andy

But some of us are still eagerly awaiting them. Bibs, please accept this is an acknowledgement you'd been doing loads of stuff, and the second run of T-shirts isn't really a high priority, and the later they arive, the newer they are. Andy

andydclements Andy Clements Member number 1468

Cheerrs Malc. I plan to be there Monday, since I booked 1/2 day off that day then 2 full days I need to swap it round, My boss is in Norwich this week so I plan to try to swap holiday around to suit Monday. Andy

Something could be a failed pressure release valve ( I assume we have one, most oil pumps do). If it sticks closed it will not release the excess presure, having a high oil pressure at start up is "normal" with a stuck valve, the oil is thick and so not escaping from the oilways quickly. Andy

I've got to say Malc has been great, I've taken advantage of the

Of all of Top Gear, I probably think the attempt to buy a certain type / brand of car and actually travel somewhere is fantastic. It demonstrates quite nicely the things that many classic Lotus owners know only too well. 1) If you break down, it is likely to be the item you've been meaning to replace for the last few months/ know needs replacing 2) Everything will be fine for ages, then the one important trip, it will mis-behave 3) The car that looks most likely to fall apart in the next breeze, will keep going for mile & miles 4) You don't expect a super car to be easy to work on 5) You don't expect a super car bought for 5 year old Mondoe money to be perfect 6) What you bought isn't always what you thought you were buying (Mr Clarkson and the badge springs to mind) and 7) When you break down, there will always be lots of people all to willing to point and say "told you they break down a lot" They have done it really well with the Italian super cars and Porsches, I would love to see them try with Lotus cars, butin a way hate it, that would be another 3 Lotus cars destined to be destroyed for TV. Andy