S1 Project car - part 2 - the continuation

[LOTUSMAN33]

Now that would be cool Fabian 👍🏻👍🏻

[williamtherebel]

When they started talking about the capabilities, I thought straight away that that's what they would come up with. It seems so logical.! Go for it Fabian!!

[gary allason]

Hi...I have that very car SOS instrument panel and it certainly is impressive...although the Mustang one knocks spots off it in my opinion.

[ChrisJ]

Hi Gary - you'd better post some pics of the panel plus your car.

We love Pictures here

Chris

PS - have I mentioned some pictures?

[Lotusfab]

58 minutes ago, gary allason said:

Hi...I have that very car SOS instrument panel and it certainly is impressive...although the Mustang one knocks spots off it in my opinion.

Hi Gary, welcome to the Lotus Forums. I'm so pleased they fixed up the S1 for you. I hope your enjoying driving it. Its a great privilege to own an S1. Im especially jealous of your instrument panel!  I think it a fantastic addition to the car. Hope you bring it along to some Lotus events. I built 1/2 of the one in this blog some years back and have been in my garage for the last 4.5 years trying to build the FYEO Turbo Esprit with skis(on the other blog of mine here). It must be brilliant to get such a big suprise of a fully restored car. I really enjoyed watching the show and I' m really pleased they picked you. Thanks for posting on here.

[Suddabym]

1 hour ago, gary allason said:

Hi...I have that very car SOS instrument panel and it certainly is impressive...although the Mustang one knocks spots off it in my opinion.

Nooooo!!! That's amazballs. 

Can I have your instrument panel, please (I asked first)?

Mustangs are for girls.

[Dan E]

2 hours ago, gary allason said:

Hi...I have that very car SOS instrument panel and it certainly is impressive...although the Mustang one knocks spots off it in my opinion.

Gary welcome, emotional episode as always pictures are required as Chris says, how is the car? 

[Lotusfab]

This relic from the cold war is ready to take on Corona if Mr Bond needs it! All the usual refinements and a fully equiped missile system!

[Lotusfab]

Interesting

 

[Lotusfab]

Updated pics. So far this car has been running perfectly since it was finished. Always starts easily and the engine doesn’t miss a beat! 

[Lex Templar]

@Lotusfab It's absolutely gorgeous.

 

[Lotusfab]

Thanks mate.

[Barrykearley]

That’s a pretty thing for sure.

[Lotusfab]

Now my Turbo is complete it will soon be time to restart work again on the S1, I intend to take it to the next level. Theres some upgrades I would like to do ilike adding a bleed to the radiator. I will also be switching over the wheel centres to the correct ones that were supplied by Paul Coleman and made from the original dye!
S and J sports cars have remade the wing mirror since I did this project, so I need to check this out for authenticity. The one I have is made from Kevlar and although its almost indestructible there is a very slight difference in its shape. Probably only a handful of people would be able to tell.
It also needs a new timing belt and a mechanical overhaul. Its has run perfectly without fault since I restored it. Amazingly no electrical faults. I also need to address the door seal issue. Basically the door new door seals that are provided have a different cross section to the original and are much stiffer. This makes it difficult for the doors to close flush. I will have to find a solution. I don’t like the idea of the catch taking all of the extra load. Part of the issue maybe the new seal I bought was made too long. All the extra seal compression lengthwise has made it very difficult to compress. The seal was about 1 1/2 foot longer the door perimeter when I fitted it. I was told this was normal, but have my doubts! Luckily I have another new seal made by a different company so I can compare. Its nice to be in a position where all the work from now on will be refining my two cars and hopefully making them better than when they left Hethel.

 

[Lotusfab]

I now have about 6.5 years experience with these cars and have spent almost everyday reading, researching or rebuilding something. It will be good to revisit the S1 and go over it again with a fresh pair of eyes and a lot more knowledge!

[Lotusfab]

Gave the S1 a shakedown yesterday. It drives really nicely, as I set the suspension up myself using a hunter align(see earlier). I have noticed some misfiring as low rpm. I think the jets need cleaning so I plan the take the  carbs apart use Seafoam cleaner and my Ultrasonic cleaner to breakdown and remove varnish. It will then need a full tune. I also plan to tackle the door seal problem. They have never closed fully. Never get rid of the original door seaIs unless you really have to. The new ones are the wrong profile and the rubber is too stiff. Even if you get them to close I believe the loading on the catch will be excessive. I am 90 per cent sure the seals I have been made incorrectly.I believe they are far too long and cramming the excess material into the aperture has made them incompressible. I have a new one from a different supplier so will check the length.

I have done about 800 miles since I built this car. It always starts and has been totally reliable. It has made me realise I will have to set up the Turbo suspension, as the ride on this is so good in comparison. Its been 4.5 years since I did any major work on this car, so its time for TLC. 
I am very pleased with the Turbo. Once the suspension is set up, it will be totally sorted, with absolutely nothing left to do. Anyone who has worked on these knows that is a real achievement for one of these cars, as it takes so much time, effort and money to get to that stage!
 

 

[Lotusfab]

Here you can see the door closure isn’t perfect. I am also changing the wheel centres back to the origials. These ones here were aftermarket and the shape is wrong.

I wish someone had told me not to get rid of the original door seals.The doors shut perfectly before I switched them, at a cost of £140!

[Lotusfab]

So finally got to the reason the new door seals don’t work. The replacement seal is 29 mm thick with the rubber tube at 15 mm. The original is 25 mm with the tube part at 12 mm. Its annoying how so many replacement parts are rubbish . So only two options, have the correct ones remade or find an existing one that fits. 
 

[Lotusfab]

Ok so I can have the exact profile remade. It will not be cheap but it will work. Anyone interested in a group buy? These will fit the Turbo and S1/S2/S3

[skiing]

I would have a pair - does depend on cost of course so perhaps when you have a ballpark on this? 

[Lotusfab]

Sure will get a solution and numbers. The reason the replacement seals don’t work properly is nit only the size Discrepancies but the actual profile is all wrong. There is a lip on the original that sits away from the U channel so it does not resist compression when the door is closed. The replacements I have the lip is moulded to the  U channel which increases the thickness of it and fouls the door when you add the bead thickness to it. I have some drawings and I hope the company already had the profile, they have hundreds already! . If they do it will be really cheap. 

[LOTUSMAN33]

Sounds good Fabian so count me in 👍🏻
Dave  

[Steve4012]

I'd be interested too Fabian. Thanks.

[Lotusfab]

Well it already seems there is enough Interest. The original seal is unlike any I have seen on the market. It has an outer lip which  on most seals is in a different place On the moulding. The production dept of the company I have found are looking into it, so fingers crossed it can be replicated at a sensible price.

[Fridge]

I just think you need a bigger hammer Fabian.