Cos

Isnt that the black one that was for sale on pistonheads a while back, that looks like it had had a brick thrown through the winscreen? Wonder what its worth? Anyone?

Thanks Paked meat, Interesting car, loads of S2 parts on that one. Not exactly what I'm looking for though. I wont be allowed to import that into Cyprus cos of the condition.; They have a strange law out here which doesn't allow for non runnning car to be be registered. The search goes on Maybe one day soon Cos

Hi Jonathon I think all esprits look great, with or without arches. But, the GT3 doesnt have them, and that just the way its meant to be. Changing the look of the GT3 with arches will only make it look like an S4s. When I first go my car, I removed the huge V8 spoiler it had fitted. The only time i regreted removing it was when i took it up to 160mph one evening on the Larnaka to Agia Napa road, when all the police on the island were hunting for an escaped convict on another part of the island Personally, I am slightly against any cosmetic changes to esprits. If you just have a look at the restorations people are doing on very early cars, you will see that the goal is usaully the totally stock look. Unchanged car also tend to keep their value better that modified cars. Having said that though, esprits are meant to be enjoyed, and if it will make you happier making your car unique, then thats the way to go. If you do go that way though, seriously think aboout making it reversible.

Hi Brendan, Any sign of those photos yet? I am very keen to see them. regards Cos

Hi Richard I have seen photos of the resto in the USA. Looks like an interesting car, and I would love to adopt it and spend some quality time in my garage restoring it, but the import laws here in Cyprus dont accomodate importing cars from outside of europe that are in parts, and then being able to register it. They have some really strange laws out here regarding importing cars. Can you believe that Cyprus and Greece still charge an import duty on used cars from Europe too! The Government then pays a fine to Brussels, but they still end up quids in. The search goes on!

Hi Brendan I also saw that car a long long time ago.I have been trying to find that car for ages. It was a yellow one in Limassol. Its definatley off the road now! I am looking for that car. I would love it if you could find the pics. If I had the number plate, then I'm sure that it would help me locate it. Please have a look. I would really appriciate it. Regards Cos

I know, I know I might sound like some dumb ass Bond fan out to impress his mates. But really, I'm a lotus enthusiast, and I already own a GT3 and my brother owns an esprit S2.2 and an eclat 2.2. But I would love to care for an S1 too. I know I may sound greedy, but I have always been a huge fan of the S1 If anyone knows of an S1 esprit someone is looking to pass on to a new keeper, get in touch with me. I'm willing to pay a good price of course. Cos +357 99404576 (sms me and i'll call back) c.herodotou@cytanet.com.cy

If it dont have a wedge, it aint an esprit

I had exactly the same problem. I figured out that is was my own fault. I had taken off the heat shield next to the turbocharger. The studs that hold on the heatsheild also hold on the camshaft housing rear cover. If the studs are not tightend up correctly, then you get a small leak over no.4 exaust manifold. Smokes for a while, then stops smoking when its burnt off the oil. After I tightened the 2 nuts up tight, the problem dissapeared. Cost equals

Hi jfitz981 (jason) I will try and get a side pic of the car today when I take it out of the garage to go out. Obviously, the car will be empty, cos I dont have any bodies to load it up right now. It does look ok though. Jonathan, I will reset my suspension when my back gets better. All the crouching and weird positions I had to get into to do all this work, has really taken its toll on my back problems. I will let you know what happens. Looks like this thread has turned into a mock the GT3 page by some people. Left over Italian market engines, higher suspension so that it dont look cool. What next, people will tell me that the GT3 smells funny too. I know that the GT3 might not be as quick as a S4S or the V8, but It has more than enough speed to scare me. 5.1 seconds is plenty quick for me, and I havent even dared myself to take it to its top speed yet. If the GT3 did have the 2.2 engine, I would still like it just as much as I do now. One of main the reasons I decided to get the GT3, was for the Kelsey Haynes ABS. Its come in very useful on quite a few occasions. Prehaps, I i will thee lottery this weekend, I might get myself that lovely looking gold V8 for sale on pistonheads!

Thanks Jonathan My owners manual says that the front ride height for the GT3 should be "180mm" compared to "170mm" for the S4S. Strange that the front setup is exactly the same as the S4S. All that I can imagine is that it is because the GT3 doesnt have a spare wheel, so Lotus decided to make the diffence in height look deliberate I bought a spare wheel and jack at the lotus parts sale. I imagine, that when I finally get round to fitting it, the front might go down a little bit more. I will have to wait and see

Finally had enough of waiting for the front suspension to go lower on its own. I took Jonathans advise, and moved the circlip to the lower setting. Then loaded up the front of the car with 2 20kg bags of sand and did a 100 mile round trip to Nicosia and back. When I got back, took out the sand, asked 2 people to sit in the car, and low and behold, the car now sits at 18.5 cm. Perfect B) My advise to anyone changing to the Bilstein/eibach set up for a GT3, is to lower the circlip before fitting the shocks, and putting the ballast in for a good 100 miles. The back suspension is fine. The ride feels very very good, and I am finally pleased with this setup.

That clip makes me laugh! All that crap about torquing bolts on the chassis at mid laden height, with exactly 1/2 tank of fuel and 2 perfectly balanced 75kg people inside, with there legs streched out and the drivers hands at quarter to two on the wheel!!! A hairy bearded block with a huge gut in a fuxia string vest and a pair of jeans knocks them together with a rusty old dirty hammer in the factory. I had hell getting the forward lower wishbone bolt out. I thought it might be because the tolerances of th component was so accurate. How wrong was I?

Just a thought, but has anyone ever considered modifying the rear lower link, to the turnbuckle style used on the upper link? I imagine that it would be a damn sight easier to make toe-in adjustment, rather that having to add and remover shims and washers.

I think I will give it a total of 2 weeks. If the front doesnt go down, then I ill have to bite the bullet, and take them apart and go for the lower setting. I wont get the geo done until i get the ride height as close as possible to where it should be. Even though the ride feels amazing now, I have started to wonder if I should have gone for the shocks with the adjustable spring height seat.

Thanks Jonathan I Have my front springs on the higher setting. The back looks ok, 18cm from floor to the chassis hoop with it correcly laden 75x2+1/2. The front however is at 20cm. Its true that the old springs were FUBAR. They looked awful so rusty that I am sure that I'm pretty sure that they must have been softer due to sheding weight in flakes. I will try putting in some extra ballast in the front and hope that it will help. The roads here are pretty bad, so the springs should get loads of exercise. I dont fancy taking the front springs out again just yet to put them to the lower setting. Its a time consuming job and I'm not sure if its the right thing to do yet. Has anybody else had simular experiences?

I have been measuring the front and rear hieght, and it actually is very slowly going down. Both the front and rear were 25mm too high, and after 2 weeks, it has gone down 8mm to 17mm high for both. I wonder if it will go down any further Cos

Hi Guys I have just finished a major overhaul of the whole suspension and brakes of my GT3. Took the whole load off, powedercoated all the wishbones and links, changed all the bushes to poly, and new balljoints. New discs and pads, and new Bilstein and eibach setup. I put the suspension in with the big circlips as the came out of the box, ie the higher grooves. I torqued up the new bush bolts with the car sitting on all fours. The car now sits about 2.5cm high atthe front, and about the same at the back from what the service manual says for the GT3. I jave looked up nearly every thread, and cant find a definitive answer. Question is, Does the suspension actually settle down to the correct ride height? Or do most people get fed up waiting, and start taking things apart again, and go for the lover setting. I would dread having to do the front again I think that it will be a good idea if anyone who has does this conversion puts his experience on a thread so that in the future, people will know exactly what to expect from the hieght, and have the option to go for the lower grooves on the shocks. Cos

Looks nice inside. Shame someone has cut a glass hole in the roof. Does anyone know anything about the history of this car?

Hi Welcome to the forum. Before buying any Stephens car, get it up on a jack and have a bloody good look under there. These cars dont mix very well with water, and rust on GT3s is very very common. dont be fooled by the shiny paint on the GT3s. The paint finish was very good. Its underneigth you ought to inspect. Usual stuff also count, oil leaks from engine or gearbox, cracked (repaired) exhuast maninfold, rust springs and shocks, rust on the suspension parts. Whinning turbo etc etc etc The bills to fix these problems can, and has run into

Just refinished rebuilding the calipes I got them from http://www.zeckhausen.com/Brembo/Consumables.htm#Rebuild. Telephoned them. Really nice bloke called mark gave loads of advice. What I need where 40mm and 36mm pressure seals and dust seals. I also bought a a special liquid for putting them back together. Also got some new dust caps for the bleed nipples. Cleaning of the caked on brake dust was the most difficult part, especially on the anti rattle plates and the retaing clips. I found soaking the plates and clips in engine cleaner, and then a tiny wire brush attachment on the dremmel the best solution. Waiting for my new disks and pads now from SJs.

Righty ho I will have a stab at fixing the problem i created myself. Sounds like it cant get any worse now anyhow! Where is the cheapes place to get a couple of kits for the 2 front calipers!

Ok guys, Looks like i got myself into another fine mess. Nobody had ever told me that I must not dip my Brembo calipers in a kerosine bath to help get the mounting brackets off. So, I did! And when I looked at them tonight, the rubber seals had all swollen up, and looked corrigated. Even the bleed nipple dust cap had swollen up to 3 times its normal size. It looks very funny I know that they need to be changed now, but how is the best way to go about it? Is it a simple job to do? Or shall I leave it to the proffessionals? Does nyone have any experience of this? Cos

Hi My exhaust cam cover, the lower one, looks like its leaking oil when I leave the car in the parked garage for a few days. It looks like a simple job to get the cover off and change it. My worry is that when I take the cover off, oil will pour all over the exhaust manifold, and be a real pain in the grass to clean off. Has anyone ever tried to change this cam cover seal with the engine in place, and what was the result?

Thanks Alex and Jonathan As fellow GT3 owner, I can imagine that you suffer with rust in your eyes too whenever you get under the car. What is it with GT3s and rust? I think I will go the only direction I can, and thats to replace the discs and pads as well. I will have a good look at the callipers as well. I am sure that they must have some brown stuff in them somewhere too. Have to get my lower ball joint out now, and the all the other front suspence bushes. Taking the whole thing apart right now. My garage worktop is full of parts now. Whats the best way to get the ball and the bush out?