2023 and new beginnings….. what next.

[Barrykearley]

Tbf - slip gets used on anything I might have to remove again. Care must be taken with bushes though - since the lotus ones don’t like lube.

anyway - all calipers have been off, cleaned, worked on the bench to ensure they work freely. All back on the car now, new flexis fitted and the system bled up. The car has brakes again 😎

the second set of alloys are now gracing the car - the others are down having the tyres removed and refurb. Just need to source some new rubber now

[Barrykearley]

Some time in the garage today

[Barrykearley]

It’s been a few days of thinking - tooth sucking and planning. Oh and a dirty weekend with the plus one which didn’t involve cars 😂

The old back to work and school runs have sucked my time this week. But….. I now have a full set of refurbed wheels with new tyres back in my possession. Enroute from Alunox is a new manifold. Next up is to get the service items on order for the engine I require and assess the plan. 

what I really need is my steam cleaner from my own garage at the farm - but I’m not willing to collect that at this stage. The entire garage of mine up there needs emptying and I just ain’t got the space.
 

 

[Barrykearley]

Delivery today….

just the pressure washer steam cleaner issue to resolve this afternoon - been down to Nobbys and the one I got him a couple of years ago was broken. Two new pipes and unblocking and servicing the lance and it’s now relocated to the esprit shed ready for operation clean up.

[Barrykearley]

Managed a couple of hours down the shed yesterday. Fired the steam cleaner up to get some of the filth off the engine and box - then had a go at the engine bay. 
 

before

 

after

this will at least make the next stages somewhat cleaner. Mulling over if the plenum will be red or black - as you can see the paint fetched off with ease 🤪

On closer inspection - the engine absolutely needed to come out and the manifold from alunox is easy justified. The other stud clockwise round from this one is missing. The manifold gasket in places looks rotten as well. 

 

 

 

 

[Barrykearley]

inlet and exhaust manifolds off. Black stuff at the powder coaters.

today - I sat and tooth sucked. But the bullet and oiled up the cam lobes and buckets - some oil down the bores and turned her over by hand.

yep - all looks good so far. There’s compression there - all the valves look to be opening and shutting just fine. Feels like compression on all four. 
 

need to get the feeler gauges out and check clearances - but now it’s time to order parts.

 

the pulleys look to be a tooth out each though - both green dot pulleys. Need to have a hunt on what they should be.

[Rambo]

So, should those circular indents in the pulleys be lined up?

[Escape]

The green dot pulleys are correct. From what I can find, all Turbo Esprit came with green dot 104° pulleys, except NAS and the later Stevens, that had red/blue 110°/100° timing because of emissions.

In that picture, both cams seem to be advanced 1 tooth too much. Easy enough to correct.

[Barrykearley]

After a slight delay in proceedings last night I managed an hour down the shed. One tank internal cleared of all debris and gunk - just the other to do now.

life’s been hectic and I’ve just had other priorities like assisting in revision for the youngest and her A level mocks - those are over and now she’s learning to drive so every night we are also out driving. I’m aiming to get on that car every night for at least an hour from now on 💪

[Barrykearley]

Nope - I’ve failed 😂

both tanks are clear of mess though. 10/12 exhaust manifold studs are out - only two remain and they are problematic and will need some extreme fire to free them.

I now have the thinners to complete the tank cleaning prior to sealing.

[Barrykearley]

So it’s been an interesting 24 hours.

work has got in the way a little bit with me having to go on a call out Sunday. Today was windscreen fitting day - and I needed to sort some trim stuff first.

the leather round the top needed swapping - the stuff that came with the car wasn’t wide enough - so had to get my friend Mandy to sew it on her machine - I have a joint by the rear view mirror.

the brand new trims I have for the windscreen A posts - well they were miles out - I’m sure they were for the X180. Lots of adjustment with the flap disc and angle grinder. A flash back to the conversation with the PO this was the reason the screen was removed. 
 

today - it’s all done - screens in for the first time since 1994 - some small details left on the trimming to do.

[Barrykearley]

Right then - a lot of dust has settled on the car - but now it’s time to roll the sleeves up this week.

the only thing that’s bugging me is the cam pulleys on this thing. Both Green dots and defo both a whole tooth out from TDC.

tomorrow some progress will be made.

manifold studs finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. All the intake stuff has been powder coated black. All new stainless fixings for that in a heap. Carbs have been fully rebuilt by dellorto, best not to ask the cost of that 😂, alunox ready to fit. 
 

new set of carpets ordered from the best carpet maker on tlf 👌

just need to find the car under the dust

[910Esprit]

Well I guess it will run better when you sort the timing out.  NB - As I'm sure you will be aware, you are missing your earth strap from the tensioner, which protects the bearing from static discharge & erosion (not that I've ever actually see that occur)   

[Barrykearley]

I noted that @910Esprit - I have a full rebuild kit for the tensioner that has that bit in it.

Just had a chat with Dave whom has confirmed green dot pulleys are indeed correct for the car - so I will get the belt sorted and timed up tomorrow.

[Barrykearley]

Today has been very busy indeed. Had Danny and Nobby assisting today and we have got loads done.

the bulkhead has been repaired, reglassed and engine bay painted.

engine has had valve clearances checked. Cam belt and tensioner done. Alunox fitted. Carbs on, powder coated bits fitted. Loads and loads of paper, bubble wrap and boxes now tidied up and ready for the fire. There’s lots left to do - but wow - what a difference and some real progress.

[C8RKH]

Gosh, that engine looks really pretty!  Nice.

As ever, I'm in awe as to what you mechanical types can do.

[Barrykearley]

A trip to the shops for new hoses this morning and clips. 5m of 6,8,10,13mm fuel hose and clips etc come to a grand sum of £65. All new fuel hoses fitted to the engine today with clips. Carbs mounted to the 2p standard. Water pipes to inlet manifold fitted. Some other pipes fitted to the lump.

Danny has washed the thing off - and stripped out all the old carpet and underlay. The fiddly stuff really has taken ages today but we do have progress.  I can’t help but keep looking at the auxiliary belt pulleys on this thing and think something is wrong on the water pump side of things. It never had any of those belts fitted when it come to me. I’ll need to find some pics online.

[Barrykearley]

Today was prep the cabin time. A few brackets prepped and painted.

New carpets are on order from the one and only carpet guru @Steve V8and since they are so incredible it’s only right they are put into a clean cabin.

Leather trim that was removed now in the side in the kitchen soaking in Naf leather soap - this stuff is about the best you will ever find to make leather supple again - I’ve tried loads of different stuff but this is without doubt the best there is. We will do the dash and door cards tomorrow.

[Barrykearley]

There’s been some odds and ends fitted on the engine too

[Barrykearley]

All the fuel lines replaced today, pump, filter  all clips etc done.

Driveshaft bolts and plates all cleaned up ready for when they are needed.

Tanks internally treated with POR tank sealant for good measure. 

Coolant hoses looked at - some swapped - some tooth sucking over the aluminium pipes so something to consider there. 

Clutch red hose ripped off and braided hose fitted.

Rear bumper removed - the bumpers will be going back to black.

[Barrykearley]

Rubbed down all the old rattle can paint, some decent flexible primer and a top coat of flexible satin black. It’s incredible just how long it takes to prep stuff like this.

tank top welding all sorted for Tuesday evening. Now I just need to buy even more bits 🤣

[Barrykearley]

So tonight Alice and myself went to the cinema. She spotted the lotus before I did in the advert for sky cinema and vue

makes me glad I blacked the bumpers

[exeterjeep]

seen that ad on tv several times, makes me realise how good it still looks.

[Barrykearley]

Today has been busy.

interior underlay installed.
New handbrake cables fitted.

handbrake mechanism repaired as it was bent and not working properly.

front bumper refitted

3x aux belts fitted to engine

engine mounts installed

Alun the tank man has welded the tops onto the tanks.

feeling very satisfied with todays graft.

 

[Barrykearley]

Spun past the workshop this afternoon.

Tanks bolted up, fuel lower link pipe fitted, new fuel sender installed and tank tops painted. Even found a bonus 10mm socket.