mowgli5555

Thanks guys... I just left for the day. It wasn't worth being around the car anymore today. Currently at home, just playing some guitar. Maybe that will make me feel a bit better, along with a few beers. This weekend I will just relax, and think about it next week. I appreciate the kind words in my time of near implosion. Josh

Project is officially over for me... Today I spilled some DOT 3 fluid on the Esprit for 10 minutes without noticing. The line was split and sprayed the outside of the car. It pretty much ate into the paint, and I am completely broken at this point. I am just going to sell it, or trade it towards a 1990's SE. I just don't have the energy after the brake fluid incident, and don't know what I would even do with the paint now. So wrecked, and completely angry that it happened. Thanks guys for all the help, but the paint was the only reason I was keeping this car. Now it is all ruined.

Okay everyone... No pictures this time, but plenty of concerns/etc. Well, the Esprit is slightly running. Over the weekend, I filled the cooling system and fired it up to test the system. This is where things start to get interesting. Well, I had planned to run it for about 10-15 minutes and see if I could ensure that it was leak free, and cool. However, after maybe 5 or so minutes, I noticed smoke coming out of the tailpipe, and a small amount of oil leaking onto the exhaust. Ugh, since I am pretty timid, and would never want to hurt the engine, it has now scared me back a bit. The smoke did calm down a bit towards the end of testing, but these oil leaks are draining me for a previously rebuilt engine. I have some good friends that are life long mechanics, and they believe I am getting really worked up over small things. Perhaps this is so, but this Esprit means a lot to me. Now, I have almost stepped back from progress, but my heart wants to be sealing this engine instead. Hopefully I get some fight in me real fast. All this work has to end in a positive result. Thanks again everyone thus far, I just need a boost on where to proceed from here. Plus the wiring loom in my car, has a front/rear loom and the colors don't always match the federal diagrams. Josh

Great looking work as usual. Watching your build, gives even an amateur, the desire to work on their own car. I have viewed the S1 thread a few times, and always appreciate the documentation. Josh

Alright everyone, progress has been made today. I quickly cut foam for the tanks, and installed them. Of course, it wasn't easy as expected, but everything went in with just a few scrapes and dings to the fuel tank paint. Oh well, a little touch up took care of that. Basically at this point, I need to hook up the fuel tank lines (still haven't pressed the grommets in), vent pipes, time it, and actually check the cooling system. There is a bunch of electrics to still go through, but if only I had more time. Not too sure what I will do with the original wood pieces for the engine bay, I might just limp it until a body off restoration comes around. Plus, I just hate fiddling with these original fuel tanks. Also, aluminum for the coolant tank would also be a nice touch in the future. I just restored the original (quickly) for the time being. I still need engine compartment carpeting, mostly because I am unsure that I could cut a piece for the rear window. A Euro rear bumper would be great, but I am hesitant to use anything but fiberglass for longevity. Ugh, we'll see what is available, I have been searching, but haven't found too much. Josh Oh yeah... Here is an interior shot. I believe this is a Claudius Esprit, Josh

Thanks guys... I backed out the bolts and was able to get actual clearance for the guide. On Monday, I will bring my feeler gauges in and make sure that I have the proper clearance. Just going to take my time getting it back together now. From what I remember about the fuel tanks, they are going to take another couple years off of my life. Initially, I was going to switch to aluminum tanks, but then I opted to clean the old tanks, and respray them. Same with the coolant header tank, I will switch to aluminum for both later on, but the original pieces were plenty restorable. Josh

Thanks guys. I have just been working through a slight illness this week, and trying to make a little progress. Today was an interesting day, to say the least. After getting to work late, there wasn't much time for the Esprit. However....... Today, I decided to get a better tension reading to run the engine. I had already hand cranked it a few times, but still was crossing my fingers. Well, it fired up (a little rough), and sprang another oil leak in seconds. This time on the opposite side of the head, and plenty of oil loss. This hole in the head was a little different, I was actually able to find something in the garage that nearly hand threaded in, and just put aircraft sealant on it, and tightened it down. Then, after adding an almost embarrassing amount of oil, I was ready to try again. This time around, it fired up, built oil pressure quickly, and didn't leak at all. It made me feel a little bit better at that moment. Okay... After running it again from changing the cam belt, I noticed a belt guide that my engine has. It started to rub the timing belt a tiny amount, and I need to figure this out before proceeding any further. Hopefully I am able to back the housing bolts out and move the guide slightly away from the belt. If anyone has any thoughts about this, much is appreciated. Bumpers are still a bit away, among many other cosmetics that really could use attention. I want to ensure this thing runs properly before I start piloting this box around town. Hopefully I am making progress here, some days it make me wonder. Josh

Okay... Small/large update. Well, after ordering the screw from SJS, and about a million hours of work, the screw is in. It took all effort I had, including three "specially made" tools. The area was so tight, that I had to get a little creative just to get it to thread. After multiple attempts, I ended up using a smaller Allen wrench to hold it in the slot, and threaded it in with my fingertips. Absolutely wild if you ask me. Anyway, I put a new cam belt on and had trouble getting all marks to line up after getting it set through the tensioner. It took me a good eight tries to get all marks lined up. Not sure why it took me so long, but maybe I was just being extra careful. Plus doing in the car sort of sucks the big one. Intake manifold is back on, with a new gasket.Tomorow the fuel tanks will go in, and I am hoping they won't kill me. Before I install the tanks, I will run the car again, and raise the oil pressure to see if the oil leak is in deed fixed. Tomorrow should bring little progress, but hopefully I can actually get the fuel tanks in over the weekend. Josh

Good to know. I read some literature a while back, and am still trying to understand the dates. My S1 was built in 11/77 and was sold as a 1978 Lotus Esprit. Possibly I just don't understand the system, because I thought that his serial number would have been in the S2 range. Thanks for the help. Josh

How can you tell an Esprit S1 vs S2?? I can imagine the mirrors could have been replaced, filled, and repainted, but they are placed closer to where the S2 would have been. Then again, the air intake pieces could have also been filled at some point. I am voting for early S2. Josh

Thank you... I have sent an email to Steve at SJS, since I had already requested a parts order in days prior. It might be a rear only Euro bumper kit without the valence. I am hardly interested in the rear valence (or engine bay cover), since I just want as much air exiting the engine bay as possible. It might be odd, but I am thinking of rerouting the air intake system lower by where by A/C compressor would have been, and down near the open air. I would rather have my engine running cooler than myself. The exhaust system will need to be replaced at some point, to which I would like to create a cat/catless conversion bolt on system. A larger radiator seems like it should help it keep cooler. I will soon add an engine bay battery cut off switch, plus an in cabin fuel pump switch, or emergency wire connection. These will all be things (beyond many more) after I get it running up and down the road. Sadly, I encounter small things here and there that need immediate attention. I need to keep my focus and attend to the right things, first. Josh

Well, my bumper idea to shave it down, and rewrap in vinyl ends in disappointment. The brackets inside the foam were well beyond repair, and again, I am exploring my option. I was hoping to stay with the Federal bumper, but now I might go Euro. Josh

Quicks Update. Thanks everyone... I went with a 225/60r15 for the rear, mostly because an 8.86 inch rear wide is fine for me. We'll see what I decide for fronts next week. There is only one pink that I will picture. If this isn't it, then I am stumped to where it might have gone. Feel free to take a shot of your resistive wire color if you ever get a moment. The block is getting cleaned up a bit while I wait around for parts. It needs new carpeting for the entire engine bay, and I am considering my options. Tomorrow I will actually tape off the ports, as the tanks should be coming back tomorrow and there is more work ahead. Hopefully removing the intake manifold allows access for the screw, but who knows yet. Oh, on a chipper side note. After looking at a few things, 539H should be the last Esprit S1 off the line. Wow, I feel a bit lucky. Josh Edit for a couple pictures. Also, this shows you the dark dungeon that I work in right now.

Thanks... I am glad to be here. Also, I made a boo boo in the 2nd post. The wheels on it now are 15x7.5 and 15x9 and sourcing tires has been a fight. I have been looking for a 205/50r15 and 235/50r15 since I am having difficulty finding anything in between. It has a Hall effect set up, and a newer style electric fuel pump. I still have located any resistor wire for the coil, and am unsure if the coil runs on a 6, 9, or 12 V set up. Plus, I don't know if my newer electric fuel pump even runs at 2-3 psi yet. The front bumper looks to be been changed at some point, but I still have a Federal rear bumper. Zenith carbs for the time being, but with an emissions system delete(which is fine by me). A/C sadly was deleted, but I should manage. Timing belt has already been ordered with many bits to get it on the road. Until then, I will be just reading and trying to sort the front boot wiring. The interior has been out to verify wiring, but most of it is already on the way back in. Josh

Thanks guys.... There are plenty of things to keep me busy with the Esprit. Just this afternoon, I ordered a bunch of needed parts to get it on the road (including the head plug, which I found on SJS. The engine wiring is slowly becoming more tidy, but the front boot looks like a mess. The rear bumper will need to be repaired, or converted to Euro. I actually thought about slightly sanding/shaving the old rear USA bumper down and having it recoated, or wrapped (I almost like the rear bumper). Anyone know what the wrap or coating material is made out of for the rear bumper?? The 15" wheels look pretty nice, and I like a 7 inch wide front and 9.5 wide rear wheel. This evening I am going to try sourcing tires, but finding an all matching skinny/wide set is becoming nearly impossible. It makes me sorta wish I had the original wheel set. Hopefully, I can get things moving pretty quickly. There are just so many things that could use near future attention, but I just want to see it on the road. Josh Edit: Here is the missing plug, and the main source of my leak.