Esprit Picture & Video Thread

[drdoom]

Thanks, Gavin. I'm loathe to admit it after hearing account of a number of ugly, largely pointless engine swap bodges but this appears to be a winner. That LS series engine just seems to be a silver bullet solution for swaps, one example being a 4th generation RX-7 circuit racer seen in this region performing beautifully. The Renegade package is so far removed from such hack jobs as the Ford 5 litre swap which required carving a clearance hole for the water pump in the cabin aft bulkhead!

[peteyg]

Took advantage of the chilly backdrop. Too cold to wash the car though.

[drdoom]

7 minutes ago, drdoom said:

Thanks, Gavin. I'm loathe to admit it after hearing account of a number of ugly, largely pointless engine swap bodges but this appears to be a winner. That LS series engine just seems to be a silver bullet solution for swaps, one example being a 4th generation RX-7 circuit racer seen in this region performing beautifully. The Renegade package is so far removed from such hack jobs as the Ford 5 litre swap which required carving a clearance hole for the water pump in the cabin aft bulkhead!

Curious, though, how the GM lump + Porsche trans can come up 200 lb. short of the Esprit OEM package.

[Kevin Wheeler]

16 hours ago, peteyg said:

Took advantage of the chilly backdrop. Too cold to wash the car though.

You expect me to go out in a dirty car tonight?

[peteyg]

9 minutes ago, Kevin Wheeler said:

You expect me to go out in a dirty car tonight?

She's clean on the inside. You'll be fine!

[Bibs]

On 09/12/2022 at 17:10, chipp said:

I think @OwenGT3 will no the answer to that one.

I've checked his posts and can't see anything other than when he did a shoot with Caroline Munro (the helicopter pilot in the film). 

@OwenGT3, can you help further?

[drdoom]

On 12/12/2022 at 12:33, drdoom said:

Curious, though, how the GM lump + Porsche trans can come up 200 lb. short of the Esprit OEM package.

LS weight advantage by piece: plastic inlet plenum vs alloy, 3 fewer camshafts, lighter heads and cam drive, no turbo's. To the contrary, plus 4 con rods for the LS. Crankshafts likely comparable.

Clever strategy on Chevrolet's part, foregoing state-of-the-art design for lightness, simplicity and minimal bulk. Have to think ACBC would have looked favorably upon this lump. 

[jep]

SW6 today. Spotted 

[LOTUSMAN33]

They still look so sleek and beautiful even today, looks like that cab ate all the pies and several portions of greasy chips 😁

[Fredrik Larsson]

Please be summer soon......

[TpupNomad]

On 22/12/2022 at 00:27, drdoom said:

LS weight advantage by piece: plastic inlet plenum vs alloy, 3 fewer camshafts, lighter heads and cam drive, no turbo's. To the contrary, plus 4 con rods for the LS. Crankshafts likely comparable.

Clever strategy on Chevrolet's part, foregoing state-of-the-art design for lightness, simplicity and minimal bulk. Have to think ACBC would have looked favorably upon this lump. 

I always assumed that Chevrolet's decisions were based primarily on cost.  When they launched the C7 I watched an in-depth discussion with the lead engineer regarding design/technical decisions covering every aspect of the car.  I was blown away with the detailed thinking that went into the overall decision making process around all technical decisions with cost only being a small part of the decision.  Regarding the engine I remember service costs mentioned but a lot of it was packaging and keeping the motor light, keeping the weight lower chassis, and keeping the height smaller to keep the hood line lower and the weight as low as possible.  I walked away with a whole new level of respect for the corvette engineering team.

ps.  I also remember him saying they had 50 engineers just working on the exhaust!  

[TpupNomad]

Post office run.  Don't want to be rear ended by that Penske truck!

 

 

[drdoom]

On 06/01/2023 at 09:32, LOTUSMAN33 said:

They still look so sleek and beautiful even today, looks like that cab ate all the pies and several portions of greasy chips 😁

True beauty is timeless.

[calvan]

22 hours ago, TpupNomad said:

 

ps.  I also remember him saying they had 50 engineers just working on the exhaust!  

Compare that to the Lotus approach where there are five engineers/designers assigned to every part.

One to design the functional part. A second to simplify. A third to add lightness. And two more with the sole mission on ensuring that, once installed at the factory, the part is bloody near impossible to work on.

[obi-nu]

As the sun was shining, I decided to go for a mid-winter shake down drive today in the S1 taking the next generation of Esprit owner with me...🙂

[Bazza 907]

Summer luvin

[jep]

Had you a blast? 

[Bazza 907]

Yeah, happened so fast

[jep]

Tell me more.

[Bazza 907]

This thread's drifting away

[Hornsey Boy]

Found this beautifully edited Lotus Esprit engine out restoration video on you tube......enjoy 

https://youtu.be/woFTORdX-tQ

 

[Sparky]

Superb video.  They could have done with a balance bar though.

Love the shimosaurus!

[Hornsey Boy]

@Sparky I think Watford Studios need to produce their "Tarantino" style video.....complete with strong language and graphic blood splatted scenes  

 

 

[Sparky]

Go fer yer grease gun ..

[Bling]

Great video @Hornsey Boy, thanks for sharing.