Mike6

Looking like we need to arrange another date. At this rate it will only be me attending and I am Lotusless.

Matt Could make 28th which looks like its ok for you and Rob

Hi Matt Happy to make 3rd or 4th May but where are the usual suspects.

Happy to tag along as an old Lotus boy - provided a Z4 is acceptable

Mike6 - BMW Z4 Coming along but having gone upmarket dont expect to sneak in with the plastic cars.

Thought a few people may like to know how the problems that plagued me over the summer have been resolved by the new owner - car was taken to Belgium around 3 months ago. New owner started by going over everything I had done and could find no fault. There was a bit of play on the turbo shaft so he had it recond but it made no difference. Ultimately he purchased a wideband lamdba kit which showed that as the throttle progressed the mixture weakened to the point at around 3000 rpm car started popping and banging and revs died back. He tooks carbs apart and although I had rebuilt them the service kit (from a well known Lotus parts supplier) contained components like the accelerator pump, spring and diaghram from the earlier non turbo Esprit which were not man enough. He replaced these and car immediately ran better. The kit also suggested that larger main jets would improve things further and he is purchasing these. When I think back I feel really miffed that had I been provided with the right parts (kit was made up by seller) then I would probably still have my car but there is no point letting this get you down - and I did see 4 Esprits at the recent NEC Classic car show so I had an appropriate fix. I now own a very nice Z4 but somehow its just not in the Esprit league.

Hi Bibs, Not trying to knock the car. The Esprit is still the best thing since sliced bread and I accept that mine is hardly the best example. But I have had people ask if it is a kit car and have read press reports where it was stated they have a kit car feel. My one and only reason for selling is that I have reached the age where access to the various parts of the car is no longer something my body enjoys. My Z4 is now parked behind the Esprit and the Esprit is still the superior looker. The problem with rocketing prices is that people tend to buy them as hopeful investments, lock them away and only take them to the odd show.

Just sold mine for £5.5k!!!!. Loads of money spent but unfortunately its not running properly due to a problem that I cannot identify. You need to be realistic about pricing - to a lot of people they look like a kit car.

Well after months of dithering and seemingly unsolvable problems with my car turbo I have sold her at a knock down price. She is off to Belgium to a forum enthusiast who I hope will continue her progress back to fitness. In the end I had just had enough of the problems and having to be a contorsionist at my age. My family were keen that I get another Esprit that was in better condition but at the moment I feel it is better to put a bit of distance and try something new. So before I get loads of insults I am now the proud owner of a BMW Z4 - low mileage 2.5 SE with red leather interior. Goes brilliantly and it is nice to put the roof down even though my maiden drive was hardly sunny weather. Insurance with Adrian Flux hardly went up at all. Its sad to see another car leave these shores but at least it will mean the remainder go up in price by about 2p. Thanks to everyone on the Forum for the help and assistance over the years, you are all a brilliant bunch. However, I will be back!!!

How did the car perform Matt. The timing was spot on and we balanced the carbs - one needed considerable adjustment. We also noticed that one or more vacuum pipes were too big and not sealing properly.

Well hopefully tomorrow this will be the end of the story????. Spent yesterday stripping and thoroughly cleaning the carbs. A bit of crud here and there but no blockages or blocked channels that I could see. The accelerator diagrahm looked a bit slack (which could affect progression/acceleration. Had the carb kit so replaced all the bits and pieces. Put it all back together today and she started on the turn of the key, balanced the carbs and rechecked timing. Then took revs up, all ok up to 3000 rpm and then I thought I saw of bit of a rev drop but could have been me taking pressure of the throttle cable. Then pushed her up to 4000rpm without issue - Eureka. A hell of a lot of popping when i released the throttle but it is the carb turbo with SJs stainless exhaust. Now have to clear everything out of the way - I am a messy worker and tomorrow will take her out on the road.

OK so head gasket has gone. Dont blame you not paying out another £2k to get it fixed - might not be the liners that are out. You could take the head off without removing the engine just to verify that nip is out. As Scott says if they skimmed the head and didnt do a proper job then that could be the problem. Also an incorrect head gasket. If you simply return the whole lot to the original rebuilders they are likely deny it was anything to do with them and say it was how you drove the car..

How does SJs know that the gasket is leaking in about 8 places. Have there been telltale signs such as large amounts of steam coming from exhaust, mayo under oil filler cap or water getting into oil. If the dizzy problem has been fixed I would be inclined to run it a while before throwing £2k at it.

Sorry about your problems. Out of interest did they fit new liners or move them around when rebuilding the engine. If they kept the same orientation then the clamping pressure from the cylinder head should seat them properly. But, why would a leaky head gasket cause overheating of the exhaust box??

Thanks Garry. Thats what the length of the leads would indicate so it was a long shot as to whether I had put the leads in the wrong order. Didnt find anything obviously wrong with the carbs although the pump diaghragms were a bit slack with could affect fuel progression above tickover.