Engine work to be done

[Dave Freeman]

Hi Guys and Gals, well Dunsfold seems years ago, and its all gone very quiet, anyway I think I have decided to pull the engine to do some nagging little changes, I will start in dec when things are less busy at work. I need to replace / repair the following:-

1. New clutch, thrust race and pins (will have to do the drive seals as well)
2. Vacuum pump, not so noisy at present but it needs changing.
3. Water pump, just dripping but again annoying.
4. The stainless steel header unit will be ready in a week or so - getting excited now. (wondering how it will change that great engine note at full chat in a tunnel)
5. Hoses, not a problem but I have had the car about 12 - 13 years now (1990 plate) and I have never changed them, any of them, rubber or silicon?
6. Finally, the body work is very shiny, but although clean underneath its getting a bit tatty. so I am going to paint it all, engine, gearbox etc. BUT what paint. When looking at some of the rebuilt race cars at Lotus they seem to have used a black semi gloss, and it looks fantastic, but what paint is it. I have a spray gun so I would want to spray rather than paint, its the finish I am after. So I need to know how to properly degrease, whats the best treatment for metal parts prior to the finish coat (going to paint all suspension parts as well.

Oh, and I need to re look at my fuel tanks whilst the engine is out, anyone got any other stuff that might need doing while the engine is out.

Nice to speak with you all again, Megan and I are thinking of having a party shortly if anyone is interested, I feel a bit embarrised as I failed to get the "body work event" up and running but I guess it was more to do with Custom Exotics being busy, maybe early next year.

Looking forward to any comment

Take care all, Dave

[Sparky]

I think it should be an engine removal party, followed by much rejoicing, plenty of rum, and a modicum of singing, followed (a few hours later) by one of those famous Classybird breakfasts. Just my opinion, mind...

[Dave Freeman]

Hi Mate,

long time no talk. Great idea, we could have an engine out party, Saturday pulling the lump, finish about 6.00ish then have a party, like the idea of Rum, we could do some singing again. Felix hows your bango thingy.

Still have a fridge load of beer, things are slow thing time of year so a party early Dec could be a good thing.

I will arrange............

incidentaly, heard about BA and the further losses, how are you holding up, anything that effects you.

Dave

[fsrowsell]

I'll second that!!! Dave I'll get some new strings...

Edited November 8, 2009 by fsrowsell

[Dave Freeman]

Hi Felix, how are you, we all need to get together again. Seems to have been ages since we all got together, hope you are both well. How is that oh so looowww car running.

Dave

[Sparky]

Woohooo! Hanging in there mate, despite BA's best efforts. Time will tell.

[fsrowsell]

Dave, it'd funny...Saparky and I were just talking about a get together yesterday while doing Trev's Car....

Dave, I'm not happy with the new springs... I bought AVO's 9" 200lbs and in order to prevent the springs from collapsing, I have to turn the damper up all the way..... I think I will go back to the original Lotus springs that I had on there before and just raise the front a little... It was worth a try, just the same, but I think a 250 or 300 at 10" would of been better for me...

Cheers

Felix

[Dave Freeman]

Oh, well it was worth a try, GAZ shocks do a good range of springs, sure they would be happy to help. Again I fitted 225 lbs on the front but the shocks needed to be up full. Then I fitted 275 on the front and that mean't I could reduce the shock rate to only 15% stiff. Its much better. The springs I got from GAZ, about

[internets]

hey all

Gearbox, hopefully Maybe front suspension, check out CC pump!, other odds and ends.

Like the idea of the pull an engine weekend...did someone mention rum??

[Dave Freeman]

Well, Megans just woken up, fell asleep last night on the sofa whilst whatching a film, think she saw the first 3 minutes. Well after discussion we've agreed that Dec may be a bit early, so we are going to set it up for mid Jan, when we are all bored and have nothing to do, no shopping, nothing happenng, looking forward to hols etc.

So I can start to collect the bits, including (I left it of the list) adjuctable top links. So in Dec I am going to pull the suspension apart and get it all nicely painted - anyone got thoughts on my questions regarding paint and prepwork. With any luck all the suspension will be done before the new year in readiness for mid Jan. I so much want a clean and tidy under body.

Any thoughts on the questions (openning post)

Dave

Edited November 8, 2009 by Dave Freeman

[internets]

BTW Dave, got a hoist if its any use

[Dave Freeman]

Oohh yes please, was going to buy one. May buy an engine mounting trolly to help with handling the engine - its big and heavy as you know.

will take you up on that Chris, thanks.

Dave

[Andy67]

Morning Dave,

Think you are right about pulling your engine out and getting all the jobs done at once. seems like the best bet to avoid any niggles next year when we want to be out having some Esprit type fun! A good steam clean is a good place to start with the prep I reckon,made such a difference to my engine bay and was able to spot oil leaks ffom sump plug and driveshaft oil seals very easily.

Shotblasting or similar and powdercoating for the suspension components and the POR 15 route for chassis?

[Bibs]

Dave, bookmark this page...

http://www.frost.co.uk/result_search.asp?keyword=POR15

[Andy67]

I got a catalogue from Frosts last week and you can also subscribe to a newsletter containing details of new products and offers etc.

[Mike6]

Count me in - not seen an Esprit engine pulled before. Currently got the floor pan of mine out and spent a week putting a big metal plate across a big split in the fibreglass right across the body mount point. Looks like a good possibility that that whack which cracked the bumper must have created a stress crack at this point. Took a long time to shape the plate both sides but seems a good job and feels very solid. Also replaced to red clutch hose but it seems the clutch adjustment is set to that for a citreon gearbox (22mm) rather than the renault. Also noticed a fair amount of play on the gearchange mechanism so about to order the kit. At the same time cleaning everything up, painting the water header tank, replacing distributer cap, plug leads, coil and doing an oil change. A bit worried about the water temperature which seems to run very low. Could be someone took out the thermostat or that it has simply stuck open. Will need to investigate as turbo boost will be reduced. Could also point to engine wear which might not be creating enough friction to reach operating temperature.

All good fun!

[rocket63]

Well i have had my engine out a couple of times, so would look to reunite with the possee. Evening drinks and some vocal warbling sounds good too Count us in please, work prevailing on any given weekend.

[esp88]

Hi Dave

Oh, you have a big Espirt project for the winter ...

check also engine and gear mounting bushes, heat shields..

When you fish the eninge you can also check/unpack the gearbox !

have fun..

Yasuo

[Dave Freeman]

Not sure what you mean about "unpacking the gearbox" Yasuo, if you mean dismantling it then, oh sh t. last time I took something apart, "undo the screws seperate both halves" I heard a dull thud, a wharring sound then bang, a lap full of bits and always one or two bits left over, no sorry, its too hard, besides there is an old syaing - leave well alone, the box is fine, just oil leaking from output shafts.

Good to talk again Yasuo, what are you doing over the winter....?

Dave

Edited November 9, 2009 by Dave Freeman

[Dave Freeman]

Bored, bored and even more fu ing bored. My back is killing me, a I can hardly move, and my expensive osteopath tells me 3 weeks before |I will feel better.

I look out of the window and it Piss g down, it has been for what feels like most of my life. So what is there to do for a bored Esprit lover. Pray for no rain, it did not work, pray for your back to get better, did not work either.

So I am going to dream, when the engine comes out what colour should I paint the engine, semi gloss black seams good, but what about those loverly red bits. The hoses will be blue (possibly) so I need something to match, and while the engine is out - fuel tanks, how should they be treated - or is it new ones. thats costly.

So I am babbling now, but how much more boring can it get.

I have an idea, what events can I look forward to in the new year, when do have the first event, is it a on mass event to kick of the season. Maybe I should hold another weekend workshop to sort all the problems that arisen over the winter. Anyone interested and when

Dave

[esp88]

Hi Dave

Sorry to hear your back problem (I also had some time ago)

also short after Factory frolic visting dentist ....

Well, at the moment not very cold outside so, this weekend I upgraded to V8 seats which I bought from Germany. and my next project will be front brake upgrade.

how goes with ST. exhaust manihold ?

Have a nice day

Y.Hotta

Edited November 29, 2009 by esp88

[USAndretti42]

...... A bit worried about the water temperature which seems to run very low. Could be someone took out the thermostat or that it has simply stuck open. Will need to investigate as turbo boost will be reduced. Could also point to engine wear which might not be creating enough friction to reach operating temperature.

All good fun!

Mike, it's not the friction that brings up the engine temperature. It's waste heat from the combustion. When running at full throttle about a third of the energy from the fuel is turned into power, a third is heat in the exhaust and a third is heat to the water. Like you say the thermostat should let the water get up to temperature so I would check that.

[Mike6]

Thanks Andretti. When I checked the thermostat it was jammed partially open and a new one did the trick. However not had the car out yet as getting into all sorts of bother trying to set up the gear change kit. My aircraft engineer friend said he would have thought a company like Lotus might have set up some sort of locking system as a default for setting it up.

Also discovered that the pipework at the rear to take rainwater away has 'Marley' stamped on it. Don't think I will advertise that fact as people still like to have a little laugh at the Marina door handles.

Sorry to hear about your back Dave, not much you can do really other than watch porno films. Would really like to meet up again so whenever you feel better.

[gbleaves]

Hi Dave,

Sorry to here about your back, I am having a few pains in the same spot at the moment!

I am interested in the 'engine out' party when you are up and kicking again!! [hopefully when it's a little warmer!]

I have a set of disc upgrades 310mm PNM & 4 pot calipers go on mine at some point too...?

Cheers

Steve

[Dave Freeman]

Hi mate, my back is much better today but not sure when I will be fit enough to work on the car, its a difficult call, too early and I will be back at square one. My guess is next week end I can make a start. Pulling the engine will have to wait until after Xmas.

Dave