Cos

Hi fellow esprit martyrs Decided to change the bushes and suspension on my car. It was all going well until I got to the front of the car. The front left disc looks like it hasn't been working properly. There is a rusty and pitted ring running around the outside 1/5 on the inboard surface. The car did have a small tendancy to pull to the right sometimes when braking hard. The previous owner had left the car standing with a car cover for over a year in a large damp hanger, hence the rusty suspension parts I am replacing. Does anyone have any idea what may have caused this? And what I might have to do fix it. I guess that i will need new front disc and pads now as well, but is there I should do to the callipers beforehand? Anoter thing is, which discs and pads are best for fast road use. There doesnt seem to be a conclusive decision from previous threads. Cos

Thanks Freek. I never thought that LEW would have such a good thread about suspension. Good on them. Just right for me. Thanks again

Hi Guys, Finally made the decision to get my car a new set of springs and dampers. I decided to go for the shiny yellow and blue dampers Bilstein dampers and the eibach springs. I ordered them from SJS and got the delivered to me, very kindly by my brother in his suitcase when he came to visit me in Cyprus. I have changed the suspension on other cars before, but this isnt quite the same. Has anyone done a post on how to do this? If they have, can someone please show me the link, cos I cant seem to find it. I am also going to look at recoating the upper and lower links at the rear and the wishbone at the front. Some pics would be useful Cos

Sorry guys I dont understand why esprit owners seem to think that the new Lotus, wether called an Esprit, or any other name will have anything in common with the original esprit production. 2 seats and mid engine, an esprit, does not make! There is, and will only every be 1 esprit. (Ok, 2, G cars and S cars)

How sad There better be a bloody good reason why someone would want to do that to an esprit. Personally, I wouldnt even accept the excuse that that car had suffered a serious engine compartment fire. I dont care what other people say, KEEP ESPRITS ORIGINAL!!! Or at the very least, make any changes reversable. If this sacreledge to this poor little S1 hadn't have happened, not only would it still look good, it would be worth a packet too. Now, it propably worth bugger all, and the saddest thing is that, it probably wont stay on the road for very long either. The most admired esprits, are the originals. A good original car, that has been driven as it should, maintained well, and enjoyed by its owners, will always be worth more, but most important of all, look better. Esprits, to me, are British mechanical works of art. Very much like the Supermarine Spitfire. Each varient of the both the esprit and the spitfire, is perfect in its own right. Developed from it earliest beautiful prototype, to the last, most powerful production version. Wouldn't it be ashame, if your met a spitfire, with a digital cockpit, jet engine, with wings from a F16, and painted to look like a space shuttle. Please please please, Stop cutting holes in esprits, changing wheels from later types, changing bumpers. If you want your car to look like a later model, then just get a later model. If you want more power, get a more powerful car (not that any esprit needs more power, remember, there is always a car thats faster than yours! drop that complex) If you want a real challenge owning an esprit, try keeping it original. Modding the the easiest thing, maintaining an original is the toughest! I think that Ken Bairds S1 car at the NEC says it all!!! Thats all I have to say about that! MY GOD! It just goes from bad, to worse!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks...A1%7C240%3A1318 Is someone winding me up?

Ok guys I get it! I will fit the flashing neon door edge lights, and the ufo lights from under the car, plus the car will also play the dixie tune from the horn whenever I open the door to get out. I think then, i will deserve to get my car crashed into! Now all I have to do is decide what to wear!

Hi Guys Yes, I think its quite important that non self priming pumps should have their input port below the level of the water in the expansion tank, wether it's the earlier twin tank system or the later combined engine and chargecooler type. I would make sure though, that the pump is secured, if only at least with tie straps to stop it from moving around and flexing the rubber hoses. The last thing you really need with the combined expansion tank design, is a hose splitting and spilling all the water. Cos P.S. What is that loose red/white wire? I have exactly the same one, in the same place, hanging in my engine bay!

Thanks guys I am just so lucky that she didnt hit my car, cos getting the parts out here would have taken forever. Fact is that esprit doors are very very long, and need as much protection as possible. I remember seeing someone having to sell their esprit last year for

Hi guys Spent the last couple of days relocating my electric chargecooler pump. I originally had it fitted by my mechanic, who spent alot of time, and charged me a substantial amount of money, fabricating a bracket which fitted onto the plenum chamber by using longer bolts. That allowed the pump to be positioned directly next to the chargecooler, and pump straight in. I tried the hand onto of the chargecooler after a drive test, and it always felt warm to me. After spending some time looking at the setup, it suddenly occured to me. The pump is about 10cm higher than the filler on the expansion tank and that the pump wasnt self priming, and therefore couldn't suck up water. I ditched the expensive fabro bracket, and repositioned the pump next to and slightly below the expanssion tank on the boot bulkhead. Took the car out for a drive tonight, and the chargecooler top was nice and cool, the way it should be. Here are some pics of the old setup I ditched. I sudjest always keeping the electric pump as low as possible. Regards Cos

Hi Guys Merry Xmas to you all, and wish you and your cars and Happy New Year. Wanted to tell you about what was nearly a very nasty experience. I took the car out to do some last minute evening xmas shopping. Found a nice parking spot on the high street right outside the shop I needed. Parked up, opened the door, went top step out and........ SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH! A car almost hits my door, and came to a stop cms from the edge . The other driver had been writing an sms on her mobile, and continued typing it as she swore at me and drove away! Now Lotus decided that door edge lights were not needed on the GT3! (or prehaps were an optional extra) so i have decided to fit some! The wiring is in the door, cos I have seen it when I removed the interior door panel to grease the window motor cogs. Lotus have them for

Very nice car, good choice and a very stunning colour too. I have been tempted to get one too, but i have decided to hang out for the new esprit whenever it comes! I cant tell from the other posts, if you've sold your esprit. DONT SELL IT! Esprits will only go up in value from now on!

Going to get my hands on some POR15 and try it out. I liked the look on BigSi's car. I bet he was really happy with it. I have read that its possible to clean galv with amonia solutions or mineral salts.... Does anyone have any experience with that? Bibs, Roddy says hi as well! Regards Cos

Hi fellow esprit sufferers, Have been slowly striping out my 1998 GT3 engine bay and fixing or changing all the rusty or worn out bits. I am also going to take apart the upper and lower links, and also give them an overhaul, with new bushes and bolts. Going to work on the driveshafts too. My 2 questions are.... 1. What is the general concensus on painting the galvanized chassis? I have degreased it, and cleaned it as much as I can, but it just doesn't look shiny. I have seen spray paints, that prepare galvanized metal for primers and paints. I just am not sure if its the right thing to do. 2. I have also removed degreased and cleaned the gearbox. That too still doesn't look like new metal. I am also thinking about giving that a nice shiny, and easy to clean finish, with some nice silver paint. I would like to know if anyone has ever done this, and what the results were like. Also, I aint sure if this will take away from the cars originality. Let me know what you think Regards Cos,

Hi, 2 questions... 1. Will these fit a '98 GT3? 2. How much will you charge to post to UK or Cyprus. Regards Cos

SCCEA0825WHC22200 Silver GT3 Cos Herodotou Larnaca, Cyprus

Hi, is it still available?

I have no idea idea what it looks like. I did ask, and my mates told me that the flames were very bright, even though it was a hot sunny day. I am thinking of fixing my camcorder facing forwards to the Masseratti, which will no doubt be behind me again. Seriously, I dont mind the flames, but I am concerned if this might cause problems. I am thinking of fitting the PUK 280BHP GT3 chip, but am not sure if this would be safe for the engine and gearbox. Does anyone have any flaming experience? Regards Cos

Hi Guys. I have a '98 GT3. I live in Cyprus. When I bought the car just over a year ago, it had a twin exaust, which looks rather good and I have kept. It must be custom, and looks similar to the stock V8 exaust, having just one big center box but with just one entry. Since then, I have, changed the injectors to RC ones from PUK, fitted a decat pipe, fitted a bailey dump valve and also fitted an electric chargecooler pump. Recently, I went with a few mates for a rather high speed trip up some mountain roads in Cyprus. A ferrari 355, a Porsche 911, a Masserati 3000 and a Porsche boxter. One of the best driving days I have ever had, and very scary too. Most of the roads dont have any barriers, and the drops are huge. When we stopped off for a coffee and a smoke, my mates told me that they saw some exaust flames coming from both exaust when I changed down gears or accelerated very hard. There was also soot in both exaust pipes. The exaust also makes some popping noises whenever I change down gears. I have run freescan, and all the readings are normal with no faults. Does anyone know if this is acceptable, or if I ought to do something about it? Regards Cos

Hi again guys. Just found out that my silver GT3 was on the Lotus display in the London Motor show at earls court. Anyone know where i might find a picture of it? Hope there is one Regards Cos

I think your right about the orange cars full alcantara interior. It looks very nice though. Very racey! B) Will consider doing that if i cant find that infernal vinyl!

Thanks for all your replies guys. This site is way way better than i imagined! Keep up the good work... If anyone knows where i could get a couple of V8 leather seats, I would be quite interested. B) Cos

Thanks, I will give them a call. B) If anyone has any more clues, please let me know...

Hi Guys. I am new to this forum. I recently bought myself a '98 GT3 in silver, with a black vinyl and alcantara interior. The drivers seat has some wear on the bolster near the door, and the door armrest has a small tear. I want to keep the car as original as possible. I have though about replacing these for leather, but i actually quite like the matt vinyl. Does anyone know what the vinyl is called and who supplied it to Lotus. I tried calling the upholsterers in Hethel, but they dont have any left. Hope you can help me. Your fellow Espriter! Cos