Berend72

Not a recent post, but in the meantime very busy with gathering parts and removing parts. Last week I removed the valve cover to respray with wrinkle paint. This weekend I removed the front bumper. Mainly also to remove the side front lights in the bumper. I found that exactly the same were used by a Mini Clubman. Someone in my neighbourhood had several Mini-parts for sale and had a meeting with him this week. It appeared that the lights were exactly the same. I missed the rubbers between the lens and at the bumperside (or was broken/not useful anymore) but the person made some stock for himself. I was also curious about the headlights, they also looked the same as mine! The person offered me the lot for a really good price, so I am very happy!!!

Thanks! I think I can bring it to my work (Jaguar / Land Rover). the mechanics surely know how to do it

I posted a while ago my great stock of interior parts, centre consoles and dashboard(parts), but received none reply for interest. Should you need anything please let me know which colour interior your car has. I also still have a complete brown 'leather' dashboard in very good condition. Retrimming is another story, but maybe you are looking for parts please let me know.

I think I know which seal you mean, in the centre of the water pump. I think I have to remove the whole waterpump to get access to it? I also found repair kit on the site of SJ Sportscars or Lotusbits, do I need those or just replacing the seal (which I could not find on either sites)

Thanks! How do you mean shot? and which seal? I asked the mechanics at my work what it could be, but they thought that it would be replace the gasket? Only necessary if it has to be replaced? I have a pulley from my friend Bauke. I searched for the forum which screws I have to use for fitting and if there is a central attachment in front of the pulley, but could not find any clear photos. The parts manual doesnot have clear pictures either.

Yes, rusty it is haha, but not totally lost. I found that I miss the pulley for the waterpump and the power steering pump is hanging low as it is not attached for some reason....Maybe to remove/attach the belt? Is it hard to find a pulley for the waterpump? And do I need more than just the pulley? Please let me know!

Bought the Bosch Multitool with extra blade for metal, but the blade didnot the work I expected... The blade became blunt... but that is more a warranty thing for Bosch. Probably I hit the screws, as it was hard to see where to saw. But the blade should survive this... Somehow I managed to move the bonnet a bit forward and could get hold on the screw and could get the hood off with the rattle. Now I have a good look of the engine in the front and noticed the lower hanging object on the right under.... What is it? I miss one of the belts, that's for sure, but should the item be movable? Do I miss more items? An unpleasant surprise after the bonnet job.... Hopefully it is not that worse?

Would be great to be there. Hopefully no surprises or problems during the wake up of my Eclat. Last year during the 70th anniversary was also great to go there with a group of Lotus cars.

Succeeded in getting the screws out en get the headlight pods off. When you move your arm snakewise into that hole you can reach the other end of where the bonnet bolts are. The nuts are inside the body/polyester.... Thanks for the tip for the Bosch Multitool. I am afraid I have to use this very, very much as most bolts/nuts are completely rusted/stuck. Think it will be must easier to have these rusted bolts cut off and replace them by new stainless steels.... Thought the engine or electrics would be a challenge, but just removing the bonnet is quit a challenge

Thought I try to find old pictures of my Eclat before I bought the car as I remembered that there are still parts on the car which are now missing. And yes! as you can see the headlights are complete and the bumper lights are still in its place..... Think this owner decided to keep these parts for his Elite as spare parts maybe, but didnot notice it when the car was picked up.... I do have the headlights but not the alluminium rings. I donot have any contactdetails from this Belgian owner, but when he is here at this forum please contact me.

Seemed easier to read than perform.... Tried to remove all screws but most of them were rusted and impossible to remove. 1 part succeeded on the left and yes, there is a hole/tunnel between the wheelarch and engine bay, but impossible to reach the nut from the bonnet. Tried to remove the whole light pod. 1 part succeeded, but the part at the side of the wheelarch impossible!! Could not feel any nut on the other side, so I am afraid I have to use a grinder.... Someone said earlier that the grinder will be most of use and now I understand..... or is there a easier way? Checked also how to remove the front bumper and found 2 nuts on the backside where the license plate is. I think there are also some screws behind the light indicators covers?

OK!! Thought maybe there were some nuts on the inside but could not enter from the wheelarch.... Never thought about the headlights! Great!!! Thanks for the tip!

Thanks! I will be able to check the chassis number when the car is on blocks or working bridge at a garage. Concerning the bolts it seems easy but the bolts just turn but do not get any looser....

In the meantime I ordered the needed parts. As I am working at a car company the mechanics suggested to use a bottle of Wynn's oil system cleaner before I will change the oil. Today I removed the air filter housing to better have the oil filter removed. I tried to remove the engine bonnet, but think the bolts are a bit loose... I turned and turned, but the bolts didnot change position... Any suggestions? Think the bonnet needs to be remove to have the belts replaced.

Interesting!! Great plan

Thanks!! I checked the car below and in every possible corner. I didnot check however the spot you mention.... Luckily I found a chassisnumberplate beneath the windscreen!!! But I miss the black plate in the engine bay. Where can I order a new plate?

When checking and making pictures of the engine bay I looked for the chassisnumber plate of the Lotus but could not find it!! It should be on the place I surrounded on the picture? Maybe the former owner removed it when respraying the car? Before I order parts to make the car start running again, if I donot have any chassisnumber I will have problems getting the car on the road.....

Fixed the tyres with tyre sealant. Some tyres needed really sealant around the alloy But I fixed it and put the tyres back on the car. But as you can see my shell got stock on the wheels... I didnot bring any further tools to have it removed so I have to go back next week. I also noticed that I lost one of the Lotus wheel caps... I was sure I had all 4 on the wheels, but lost somewhere one wheel cap..... I looked at the site of Lotus Bits but could not find them. In the meantime I send a e-mail to Lotus bits but didnot receive any respons yet... Do they answer their e-mails? Or best to call them? Not able to call during work, so my only option for now is e-mailing. I had some questions about the new stainless steel exhaust system, but they also offer used exhaust for less. I donot know how the exhaust look like... and if a used one is not a rusty, cracked one...

Thanks! I will, but first I have to focus on making the motor roaring again....

Nice!!! Now I have seen another one But yours looks great and running!

Hello Neil, yes the rear bumper also have special fog light -inserts. See attached picture. I still want to respray the bumpers in matt black paint. I also noticed the special bumpers and didnot see it on other Eclats.

I think I will just replace the tyre valves and hope the tyres will stay OK. I can do it at my work (Jaguar). Here are some pics of my engine. Look at the timing belt and the other belt. The one looks better than the other or should I replace both? I donot know anything what the former owner has done with this engine. Sadly.... should save lots of work if I really knew....

Thanks for the replies; I only need it to move the car back and forth.... but I also want to respray the wheels. I have to make sure the Mazda wheels fit the Lotus. I think they will fit as they also are 4 x 114,3, but as I have to pay for the wheels better to make sure. Angle grindler I can use from my work. I think I will need it for sure I have to make a list what I need from Lotus Bits or SJ SpIortscars. I made some pictures of the engine and it looks like the former owner already replaced the timing belt... it looks new... The oil looks also OK, but better to replace it (donot know how long it is in the engine) I will place the pics as soon as possible.

Here I am back! So now and then visiting this site and in the meantime got the new windscreen and alluminium corners around the windscreen. Now at last it is time to have the Lotus bring back to life!! My first thought was making the Lotus movable again. The tyres are constantly flat when I put some air in now and then. Now I thought it would be a good plan to replace the tyres by no-matter-what steel wheels with tyres and have the wheels of the Lotus resprayed in the meantime. Now I looked for wheels in size 4 x 114,3 and found a set with 3mm tyres from a Mazda? I know Volvo V40 has the same size, but my worries are the size of the centre hub diameter. I measured on the Lotus 6,7 mm, but tried to fit my spare tyre of my Fiat Barchetta (diameter size 5,4 cm but the tyre has a smaller size in 4 x 10.. Now is the question, would the tyres of the Mazda fit the Lotus? The diameter of the Mazda is like the Fiat Barchetta 5,4 cm. The Mazda has size 4 x 114,3 so the bolts should fit. Or does anyone know which tyres would fit if these would be to small? I cannot find any cars with hub diameter of almost 7 cm. It is just to make the movable so if the wheels are resprayed they will go back on the car with new tyres.

OK, nice! good luck!