jtmco

My federal car has the same chrome mirrors as a Reliant Scimitar. They appear on eBay from time to time.

I put a RM-310 in my S1. As stated above, no amp needed. I bought the radio before I bought the car! One of my favorite things on the car.

On my S1, I have separate belts for the alternator and the water pump. I don’t have access to my notes right now, but my Amazon order was Gates 3VX250 and 3VX280. I will have to check any notes in my service manual to confirm that it was correct. I think I bought one locally that was too wide and this one was correct, but I’m not certain. Jim

I rebuilt mine using the Lotus Marques kit. The old bushing on the end was plastic and in pieces. My wheel would point in or out depending on the last steering input. It was dangerous and scary The kit has a brass bushing. Once I set the shims and lubricated it, the rack is like butter! So smooth and light. The only thing I did not like in the kit were the small rivets that you were supposed to hammer in (maybe I needed to use a press). I could not make them work so I replaced them with split pins with some jb weld for good measure.

@G_Reaper I have the T104RB on my S1. Seems to work fine. My engine block (907) was originally in a Jensen Healey. If you need me to take some photos from the back/top, I can do so. Does the the S3 have the 2.2L? It is the same belt, isn’t it? Is there any possibility that something is happening at the crankshaft pulley? Somehow the belt isn’t seating properly (grooves filled with dirt or old belt).? So it slips? You could count the teeth on the belt (should be 133, I think). Or double check how it is riding over the tensioner. If the engine ran at some point with these pulleys, then it seems like it would have to work with the belt properly fitted. Good luck! Let me know if you want any photos. Jim

Paul, I’m sure this is not worthwhile but if you hook up the speedo cable to the speedo, you could run it with a drill. If my quick calculations are correct, running a drill at 800 RPMs for 24 hours per day, it would take around a month to reach 47,000 miles. Hopefully there is a cleaner way. Good luck, Jim

Urraco- Welcome! I bought a Facet fuel pump and mounted it on the outside of the frame inside the left rear wheel. Depending on how original you want to make the car, that is an option. I also have a block from a Jensen Healey running Dell’ortos. Once I got the right jets and bought new o-rings (between the carbs and intake manifolds) to stop the vacuum leaks, it runs a treat! The carbs sound amazing. Good luck. Lots of good info here. Jim

I had forgotten but I believe when I bought a new piston, the diameter was a bit larger. I had a machine shop enlarge the hole.

I’m glad you investigated and found the problem. Saved yourself a lot if future pain.

To follow-up on Steve’s post, if you zip tie the belt to inlet, exhaust and auxiliary pulleys (perhaps in two places each), the belt should not slip. Have you already turned the engine by hand?

Mine is an S1 (obviously, not a turbo) and my adjustment screw goes in much farther. Does the spring fit inside the adjustment screw? Good luck figuring it out. Jim

If you are pulling the carbs, I would also replace the o-rings between the carbs and the intake manifolds. I rebuilt my carbs and still had a vacuum leak - it was the carb/manifold seal. Good luck , Jim

@Omegaman you can see my solution here: New Ignition Switch Mount Jim

It was not done by Lotus until later, but on my S1, I installed a Panasonic cockpit radio (mine is just a 310). Of course, it isn’t modern but to me it is very cool

The FIRST time I replaced the water pump and had to cut the head off the top bolt to get it out was a lot of fun. When I discovered the replacement (that I rebuilt) was leaking, I was frustrated but at least the bolt had been replaced with an Allen head cap screw. The only two truly easy jobs have been the seats and the brake master cylinder removal.

Thanks David. It continues to run perfectly and the coil is relatively new with very few miles so I don’t it is the coil. I will probably leave it through the winter and then address it next summer when it is too hot to enjoy driving. Jim

My Esprit S1 Tachometer will stop working when the weather is hot (above about 85 deg F). Seems to work fine again when it cools down. Worked today when I left a car show but quit halfway home (in the sun) Has anyone experienced this? I don’t think the needle is hitting the glass, but I suppose it could. Is there anything else that would be expanding inside and causing it to fail? I suppose I am looking at taking the binnacle apart? Thanks, Jim

“And a long shot question, but does anyone know if there's a machine shop in Ohio familiar with building 907 motors? ” send a PM to TonyK. He is in Cleveland and if anyone would know, he would.

Are the springs at SJs not Euro spec? Seem pretty inexpensive as well. SJ079D0003. £47.04 including VAT

Hi Jack, That would be terrific! So do you have an old and a new that don’t match? I guess if you can just tell me the dimensions of the one you bought and maybe shoot a photo so I can see the fittings and the thickness, then I can try to see if it will fit in my car. Ive seen some for some older Porsche 911s that look like they might fit but I have looked closely. Thanks in advance. Jim

The interior is high but I can get it. But was the car itself worth £28.5k as purchased?

I watched this. The end was result was stunning but £28.5k for the car at the beginning (and it needed a roof?) seemed really high ($37.5k). Is that the going rate in the UK? if so, does anyone want to buy a running federal S1 with a perfectly good roof 🤣 Jim

I did the job on my S1 over the summer. I messed up the trim pulling it off. I have it all back together except the trim. I used Velcro to hold down the arm rest so I can at least access the choke cable without pulling it all apart.

Congratulations Jonathan. What a cool find. TonyK is in the Cleveland area and is one of the greatest authorities on S1’s. You can probably PM home through this forum JAE and RD Enterprises are both good. I think of JAE a bit more for upgrades and RD Enterprises more for OE parts. But both carry some of both and are quality folks. SJ is a good source as well. I’m in Richmond, VA. Reach out if I can answer any questions. Jim

My S1 has aftermarket fiberglass bumpers that the previous owner painted body color. At the suggestion of someone on this forum (I think), I painted them with black Plasti-dip spray paint. Now they look like rubber and it has been quite durable. It is also fairly easily reversible. Good luck with your project. Jim