S2 JPS project

[Paul Coleman]

1 hour ago, LOTUSMAN33 said:

Brilliant, not seen that one Paul 

Well that's made me feel really old

[LOTUSMAN33]

Just had contact and It’s hitting our shores on the 20/07 😎😁👍🏻
Hopefully home for beginning of August so happy days!

Dave  

[Lotusfab]

Well done Dave, looks like a great car!

[Rolls]

Hate to be biased but I love the black. Always exciting to see another resto begin.

[LOTUSMAN33]

All loaded at Southampton and on route home......😀

Dave  

[tomcattom]

I presume that aeriel by the A-pillar is an aftermarket addition?

[LOTUSMAN33]

No doubt Tom, it will all be going back to original albeit in UK spec losing all the emissions air pump equipment but keeping the Air Con. 

Going to keep it LHD I’ve decided as quite happy driving them in the UK having owned a LHD beetle and 911 (Same thing as some may say 😂).

I haven’t seen it yet as that photo came from Nick who does all my car moving.

Dave  

[Lotusfab]

Glad to see you back with an Esprit, especially a JPS.

[LOTUSMAN33]

After poor Nick took a 5 hour drive back from Southampton to Plymouth my JPS is finally home and from the look of the dust as seen water for the first time in years with the rain today!

I don’t think I can be any happier with it! All tucked away in its new home before surgery begins 🤭

First impressions are great with no rust on the underside and everything is present including all the covers, Jack but no tool kit which will be on the list to obtain.

I like the dust as gives it a lovely barn find feel although tomorrow will be bath time 😁

Dave  

[Steve4012]

Really pleased for you Dave, enjoy!

[LOTUSMAN33]

Thanks all

A taste of the underside just laying on the floor, the federal springs have to go 😂

One thing is for sure I don’t need to do a body off restoration just some sympathetic TLC. 
I will pull the engine to do the belts, seals and fitting a nice stainless full system binning the CAT, a new clutch for good measure should do nicely.

Really looking forward to doing this as all the bolts look like painless fun to release.

Dave  

[v8vantage]

Even better it has original shocks. Made a huge difference to my "JPS" when I fitted a new set.

[Guest]

Still  has the ‘ Unleaded Fuel ‘ stickers on the petrol tank caps. I can see lots of original items that normally get lost and/or discarded over the years, that and the lack of corrosion certainly points to a sympathetic previous owner(s).  As Roo says, the Armstrong shocks are a big plus, I have a NOS set on my S1. Nice find Dave. Best of luck with the refreshing. Will be watching with much enthusiasm.

[LOTUSMAN33]

It is really nice to have all the original parts and makes an excellent basis going forward and having just 12000 miles on the clock has obviously helped.

The doors have absolutely no drop whatsoever and the bonnet hinges are as new, the paint has suffered hot weather and storage though so not decided what I’m going to do, the worst areas are the roof from bird droppings which may cut out and general chips, gel cracks and scratches.

My thinking is although I would love a gleaming repainted car they are only original once so perhaps just paint the roof and capping rails then detail the rest ignoring the remaining gel cracks?
What’s the general view?
I have been busy today doing work on the wife’s Alfa and renewing the webbing on my Elans hood along with fibreglassing the shed roof as fed up with squirrels wrecking the felt every year.

I did manage to start clay baring the JPS for an hour or so removing years of grime which was rewarding, you can see through the windows now as well 😁

So happy to have the original speaker covers and a really tidy head lining, the interior is generally pretty good but will need a deep clean and feeding.

Both seats will be off to have some leather work along with the A post trims and binnacle. Thankfully I can salvage the gold cloth so no real drama just finding someone competent to do the leather, anyone know anybody in the south west?

I have the front of the digital clock, it was in the glovebox so will test it once I get a battery fitted.

Tomorrow will be survey day getting into the mechanics and placing a healthy order for anything needed, I have two alloy tanks ready to go 👍🏻
The car has four as new Goodyear Eagle tyres which need to go as old but will be heart breaking so I may look for a spare set of wheels slow time.

Tonneau cover is in excellent shape and still fits without stretching the hell out of it 😉

Dave  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lotusfab]

That looks pretty good!

I love the JPS cars!

[v8vantage]

That could have been yours Fab! Whatever you do don't paint it, once original leave it that way. My car has lots of spider cracks in the black paint but is totally original, also the decals are original.

[ChrisJ]

I'd keep original as you can always repaint it later if you want.

[RichardJGC]

What a great starting point! 
Always nice to see original cars still turning up....not many out there in that condition.

I’d just do the bits that need doing. You can always revisit in the future if necessary. 

Whatever you decide to do, document what you have as it will be a great reference going forward for other restorations.

S2’s look great in black 

Enjoy!

 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Thanks guys, I think that settles it and just be sympathetic with the paintwork. In fairness 099 and 013 were similar and with lots of TLC they both came up well. 
I’m going to spend a couple hours on the roof tomorrow to see it I can cut it back and remove those marks from bird acid.

The only paint I can see which has been done is the passenger front wing, I can’t find any damage or repair work so suspect it was a cosmetic scrape, unfortunately they masked the decals and just refreshed the black so that’s going to be a tough one. I may buy the decals and see how well they match and get this area redone properly,  my wife and son couldn’t see it though so maybe some time will sort if I’m careful.
Does the federal car have the same exhaust manifold as the domestic car? I’m going to see if the clutch is seized and if not I will just do the belts and go for a run.

The carbs are new Webber’s which looks like the result of a fire so someone got lucky before it ended up as toast like Domestic 100!
 

This will be a fun repair, I may try and find another cover as recreation of that finish will be difficult albeit not impossible 😏

A fire system is definitely on the cards, what’s the most popular choice?

Dave  
 

 

 

 

[v8vantage]

Exhaust manifold is the same, just the down pipe that was different to fit the catalyst if it was fitted. Wet sand the bird poo with 3000 sand paper then polish, will remove the damage easily. Find a set of Dellorotto Carbs, much better than the Webers. Mask the decals then wet sand the edges of the paint to blend in smoothly.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Thanks Roo, I’ve done the wet and dry trick on a few cars over the years and did it today on the wife’s Alfa sill as she inherited white paint from the road line markings which were fresh.
Thats good news with the manifold, Dennis gave me the DHLA carbs with the car so I’ll rebuild them over the winter time and fit the original filter which I already have.

Do you still have your emissions gear on yours Roo? 
 

Dave  

 

[v8vantage]

No emissions gear on mine.

 

[pete]

15 hours ago, LOTUSMAN33 said:

 

A fire system is definitely on the cards, what’s the most popular choice?

Dave  
 

 

 

 

Speak to @ChrisJ he has a neat system on his esprit

[ChrisJ]

Different engine cover in my Esprit, so it wouldn't fit there. @Lotusfab has his under the nearside rear window in his Turbo Esprit. Not sure where in his S1.

I bought my kit from JJC Race and Rally - mine is a much thinner bottle than they are now including in their current kits, and only cost around £130. Prices seem to have increased somewhat.

[LOTUSMAN33]

Thanks Chris, I thought you may pop along and answer 👍🏻
I’m looking at Demon Tweeks or JJC as options, shame all the shows are off as I’ve seen these at good prices when doing the NEC classics.

301312182622 This looks ok and very reasonable on eBay through JJC, they do a good automated kit ( 362531587205) as well which is tempting having been in a car fire before in the ferrari, it takes hold in seconds not minutes. (Why I’m no fan of 3 door family cars TBH).

Where is your pull handle?

Whats the favourite hand held for the cabin? Dry powder?

Dave