David Standing

Thanks! 👍

Thanks Dave I spent a while down a rabbit hole this morning looking for alternatives and saw that one, but it doesn't have an inner sleeve like the Torca one. I did find this, however, which does have an inner sleeve, and I think would do the job: https://progressiveparts.com/product/vag-centre-exhaust-clamp-68-72mm

Thanks Dave Good point, I guess you could take that one step further and say who would put any joint in apart from a welded one! I still think a decent quality lined sleeve clamp would be perfectly adequate.

Following on from this, I am told the sump gate valve job involves fitting a new exhaust clamp on reassembly, as it is single use, which I believe is part no A132S6022F, clamp assembly, double torca. Fair enough, but I see from the DeRoure parts listing this clamp is £69.12 inc vat. Having recently bought a couple of similar double clamps from my local Motor Parts Direct, they were about £10 each! I won't skimp on critical parts, but £69 for a simple exhaust clamp?! I am sure there is an identical pattern one out there for about £59 less! Any of the experts (calling Dave 😉 ) have any suggestions?

Thanks Dave for the quick reply. I'm guessing by your location 'we' is a certain outfit in Waldringfield 😉 Good point regarding leaving it overnight, I tend to favour a belt and braces approach, I may ask the 'same day' dealer what the Lotus service notes say......but then I can just say to them I will pick it up next day regardless.

I know there was a previous thread on this, but I didn't want to hijack it so am starting a fresh one. My 420 FE is due its Y2 service shortly. I am replacing the sump gate valves, and with Lotus ones, if only so I know I won't potentially have a warranty issue if there were an engine problem down the line. I have got pricing for the service from two dealers, and one is quoting £850 all in for the Y2 service including gate valves changing, the other is quoting £740. That's not an issue as such (although I thought fixed price servicing would be the same at any Lotus dealer). The question is that one dealer wants the car overnight, the other can do the service/gate valve change in one day. I am presuming they will use a liquid sump sealant, hence the overnight stay with one dealer, to let it cure, and I presume the other dealer will do the job early in the day so it has time to cure before I pick it up last thing. So, does anyone in the know know how long the sump sealant takes to cure? Can it be done in a day?

Yeah, sorry, I will go and flail myself with some nettles or something, and promise never (possibly) to do it again 😁

I get endless positive comments with this, probably more than if it was an Emira 😁 (Sorry Bibs, couldn't resist it 🤣).

I particularly like the bit in the video where you said that you didn't understand people's criticisms of the gearbox, 10 seconds later it baulked the 4th to 5th change 🤣🤣

I drove the Emira on track at Hethel about seven weeks ago. Verdict in a nutshell? Huge amount of mechanical grip, very capable, a leap forwards in quality, but to me it felt a bit soulless (and a bit slow 😁). I had the chance when I bought my Exige Sport 420 Final Edition to put a deposit down for an Emira instead, I didn't, I made the right decision, and I am glad I bought the 420 FE instead. One of the reasons I am not attracted to the Emira is because it is only available as a coupe. The 420 FE was registered a year ago last week, I drove it through the winter (on Cup 2's 😁), and since I picked the soft top up for it on 26 March, the roof hasn't been on since, bar one day. The Emira is bit slow comment? The 420 FE has about 30hp more, and is around 400 kg lighter, it shows. Having said all that, the Emira is the car Lotus needs to make, but i'll stick with the 420 FE dinosaur 😉

Thank you! It turned out well in the colour/spec. My wife is still the only person on the whole planet that doesn't like the colour! 😌

I would have said hello Bibs had I known you were there, but I don't know what you look like!

I'm also with LV, 5,000 miles a year, no track days, premium £165.94 annual 😁

Thanks for that info. Only 34 UK 420's, and only one in Plum Crazy 😎

Indeed! And if that's your workshop, I also have Colchester lathes in mine