Shenton79

Thanks Paul!

Hi All, Well the time has come where I have some time at night and over the next weekend to start gutting my S2. If you recall, My S2 sat outside for nearly 20 years. The interior is SHOT, corrosion on nearly everything metal, fabric torn and sun dried, mold and moss everywhere... With that said, aside from the detailed body removal instructions provided by Bill Galbraith......I have a couple questions: 1. Do I need to remove the dash for a body lift? 2. If so, should I just cut all wires?....assuming the whole car needs rewiring anyway... 3. What are the common wrench sizes I will need? 4. Any special tools or tools to have two of? Thanks!!! Shenton

Hi guys! Thanks again for all the great advice and comments. Luckily, the 4th speedline wheel was in the passenger seat when I bought it :-) I'll be starting a thread for the restoration today....I will start breaking her down this and next weekend. Best regards to you all, Shenton

Hi Gary! I'd love to take you up on the offer to stop by. With any luck the car will be out of the garage and I will be gutting the body prepping for a body lift. I am a stones throw from 95 in Fairfield, CT. Lets connect before the 3rd to coordinate! Be prepared....my S2 is probably as bad or worse than anyone has seen in a while! lol.

Hi Gary, Helpful is in the eye of the beholder! hahaha the 3rd might be perfect timing for the lifting of the body from the chassis! haha. I could use the muscle. Shenton

Hi All, Figured I'd join the thread here and ad my sad S2. Vin# 78090127S Engine# HD907 78 09 15318 Sub: LS77OR889 - this may or may not be absolutely correct. It's a very poorly stamped number directly under the engine #. Thanks! Shenton King Fairfield, CT

Hi Bill, Any chance you could send that PDF to me at sking@kingindustries.com? I can't seem to download it. Best Regards, Shenton

I am having a difficult time downloading this PDF. Is there anyway you could send it to me at sking@kingindustries.com? I have an S2 I will begin work on soon and need to open her up! Thanks!!!! Shenton

yep, those both work, but the pictures are no longer active. Thanks Bibs. Shenton

Hi all, I know its been discussed here, but could someone point me in the right direction to a thread which details the process of removing the body from the chassis? Or if there is a book / website I should be reading? Someone on the Facebook group mentioned that there was a thread in here, but I cant find it with the search function. Thanks! Shenton ]

I'll be following this thread and would love to stay informed on the fix. Please keep the pictures coming! I've got the exact same problem in my drivers side S2 (0127S). Thanks for posting Jon! Shenton

Good morning all, I was wondering if there are any Lotus Esprit S1-4 owners in CT? Better yet, Fairfield County... Thanks! Shenton

Hi all, I look forward to getting to know the group. Thanks in advance for all the help! Here is my project thread, with the story on how I found my car:

While driving from Norwalk to Waterbury, CT (USA) in the fall of 2013, I spotted a dozen or so cars gracing a driveway entrance to a presumably abandoned commercial building. I ventured off the highway and on to the driveway, which upon closer inspection had some pretty neat cars gracing the overgrown grassy edge of the driveway. I exited my truck and walked towards the building with the intention of knocking at the door. As I approached, I heard a voice..."STOP RIGHT THERE". I immediately put my hands up in the air. I couldn't see where the voice was coming from, but he continued..."WHAT DO YOU WANT?". After a very anxious scan of the windows on the building I saw the man yelling at me and said "Sorry sir, just a car guy interested in your classics". He quickly replied...."YOU GOT CASH?", to which I said (hands still in the air, hahah) "No sir, sorry for the misunderstanding, I'll get out of your hair." As I turned around he yelled..."WAIT ONE SECOND". So I did.... He came down and asked if the truck and trailer in his driveway was mine and I explained that it was. He apologized and explained to me how many people come to his property taking pictures and even stealing things. He has to be very aggresive these days with these folks...he even brought me over to meet his crazy ass dog and told me I was lucky he didn't release him on me! hahah. I asked if anything was for sale and he said that everything was for sale. I asked about a Corvair, he blurted out "3500". I asked about an Edsel station wagon, he grunted and grumbled "2500". We went on to talk about cars, collecting, etc...for the next 20 minutes. He said, if you're serious, I'll show you the back...."You interested" he asked. Yes sir....lets check it out. He guided me past his nutcase dog who would have broken his own neck for a taste of my ankle and fresh Timberland boots. One swift kick of a rusting metal gate and its like the heavens opened up....there I stood at the foot of the largest collection of sh!t I have ever laid eyes on. There must have been 150-200 vehicles lined up in 5-6 rows. The variety of his cars was from the very new, which he would hack out the important guts and sell them on ebay, to the very collectible, such as a Chrysler 300, 4-5 Packards, Dodge Duster, Chargers. He had 50's-60's police and taxi vehicles, milk trucks, fire trucks, busses, pick-ups...you name it. But everything was completely ROACHED and he wanted high dollar for everything. As I was leaving without any real interest in anything...I noticed a really sad little Esprit hiding between an ambulance and a taxi cab. I spent 20 minutes with it and asked if "that" was for sale. He said "yeah...for $6 GRAND".....and "if you want that gem, you'll have to pay for it"......"James Bond drove that car". I wrapped up with small talk and a promise to come see him again one day. That day would be Aril 30, 2016... I found a white Lotus listed in Craigslist that was sold before I could even see it. It had no engine or transmission, and no title either. The seller wanted $3500, and told me he sold it for $3000 and felt the guy got a good deal. Thats is when I started posting to the Facebook group "Lotus Esprit Group". I revitalized an old post about the junkyard Lotus and asked about value, and it seems to me that folks in the group felt that $2500 was a good price. So....I called Howard the owner of the car hoard and asked him if he still had the Lotus. The second he said yes...I got my truck connected to my trailer, hit the bank and drove to see him. I told him that I will only come up if he will negotiate on the price and he said that if I had "green" money...then we can talk all day. I said to be honest Howard, I only have a couple grand, but I really want that Lotus and I think its fair at $2K. He said nothing less than $2500, and I said....Okay, we'll talk about it when I arrive. I showed up, re-inspected the car, went back to Howard with $1000 in my hand and he told me to get back in my truck, lol. I said Howard...Its completely gone!....He said....and its $2500 an no less. I smiled and said, okay, lets pack her up then and handed him $2500...only, and only because I felt prices have gone up a little on these, especially if an unrestored roller was going for $3K. Without further ado, I present my 1978 lotus Esprit S2 saved from a field of broken dreams in Connecticut, USA. I am fairly mechanical and my father has a full restoration shop with lifts, paint booth, and 2 full time guys.....if I loose steam on my own. I plan a full restoration of my own doing, and will thank everyone in advance now for your help and patience with my questions! hahah First question - What on earth have I done?! Second question - Anyone from Connecticut on here? I'd love to invite any CT people in here for beers and a walk around my car with me before I start. Best to all... Shenton

Nice...thanks guys. Signed the paperwork today. Should be here next week or so!