S4 Restoration page on Facebook

[dodge1979]

Hey there folks! Well, Im not very good with putting pictures on here...well...I havent been able to so far...so I figured why not go with the rest of the youth and do a facebook page! Ive pout so much work into the rebuild of my S4 so far..and had no one to bore with pictures..so I put a few up on a page Ive made... http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Darrens-Lotus-Esprit-Restoration/158187830894475 should be the link..if note just search out Darren Lotus Esprit Restoration! cant miss it..

To some up..Ive spent a few months nut and bolt dismantling the running gear, cooling systems etc and sandblasting, Zinc coating and Powder Coat finishing everything myself...a long old job! I bought the car the naughty way..over the phone having never seen it in person...although I had spent months looking at just about every car available and totting up how much they would cost to get up to scratch..it amazed me at the 13 to 15K price range how much work needed doing really! But this one I got at a good price...I paid 9700 for a 1995 S4 in my childhood dream colour, 3 owners, seller nearly 10 years..laid up for a yr n a half as he worked for 6to 9 months a year at sea..54k miles with a full history of course!

It arrived on transport and that was the first time I saw it in the flesh! I had got lots of pics, and videos to suit all my questions about is and I was satisfied it was the best I had seen so far..for a lot less money! I was not dissapointed..although obviously there are more things to do on the car than originally planned...but as it came well below my budget I could afford to do a thorough rebuild and upgrade to suit!

To cut a few months story short...Ive been sand blasting and zinc coating and powder coating all myself in the evenings...even in this cold freeze! Its slowly getting there...although I have a huge pile of parts and no more room! Ive had a few custom items made for me by local people here in Coventry...Ive scoured bargain alternatives to parts.although not many to be found of course...but most importantly is the knowledge Ive gained so quickly from talking on here...I absorb it like a randy sponge!

My project aims are;

complete refurb to powder coated standard of every suspension and running gear component, to include all brackets associated with engine and exhaust too

polybush upgrade - ongoing

all new bearings, joints and shocks

cooling rad upgrade to 3 core rad - locally made again, new frame to be built

combined aircon and chargecooler rad to be binned - Ive cut off the aircon, had it repaired locally and ready for re-use; chargecooler rad had been custom built locally too to surpase just about any realistic chargecooler upgrades

sports exhaust including sports cat

power steering rack and all pipes overhauled/replaced - again I had pipes made locally at a seriously small fraction of those from specialist suppliers

All new clips, bolts, nuts, washers..whatever is needed or not will be changed

engine out service with all oil seals and gaskets being replaced - in the new year/feb

fuel tanks removed, inspected cleaned repaired, new fuel hoses throughout - again new yr/feb

wheel refurb in a snazzy finish..they look awesome!

and any other repairs as needed as I go along...like the fibreglass radiator frome/duct thingy....Ive repaired that using stainless steel sheet and proper fibreglassing repairs..

As we all know..it doesnt look like a lot on paper...but in reality its many months hard graft..wish I could put up pics here..Ive only put a small amount on my facebook page..so much more detail to be seen!

If anyone is working in similar areas on their car and is interested, Im sure I can let them know what Ive done in more detail..or even learn more off them...or if pics help I can email them....its hard to detail all work here or this would be a massive job updating this in itself..let alone the car..

I respect those resto posts Ive been reading with some excelent photographic detail..reallly good insights....anyhow..must get back to the Speckled Hen now....Im sure more progress will find its way here!

THanks for reading to the end!

Darren

[Bibs]

We've recently set up a blog system for restorations...

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=blog