Ian's S4s refurb

[mdw]

If you are doing the water pump replace the bolt hidden behind the pulley wheel with a caphead one for easier removal at a  later date.

[Chillidoggy]

Is that the removable cross-member you're referring to Bibs?

 

Malcolm, I shall have a look at the water pump bolts as you suggest.

[Bibs]

[Chillidoggy]

Hmmmm. That is a stressed member as I found out when attempting to remove the effing bolts from it. Mine appeared to be in tension, but it could just be the way the car sits on the scissor lift, so I don't really want to drill any holes in it. Maybe a couple of very small holes perhaps 4mm could support a bracket though, because I don't really want to hang the pump from cable ties.

 

Is it galvanised? It doesn't look like it, but if it isn't, then it's off to be sandblasted and coated.

[Bibs]

It'll be under tension with the car in the air, compression when it's on its wheels. Cable ties are fine, that's what everyone does with the pump

[Chillidoggy]

But I'm not your average cable-tie guy!

 

I'm more of your "mount-it-on-a-nice-purpose-made-bracket-that will-take-an-age-to-design and-manufacture-because-I'm-such-an-anal-retentive" sort of chap!

[Bibs]

Sure.

 

[Chillidoggy]

I managed to get the engine and box out this afternoon, with the assistance of my wife, of course. As it turns out, the unit came out with considerable ease, and I didn't have to tilt it hardly at all, just rotated it slightly and up it went. Splitting the box from the engine was a little fraught, with one bolt in particular giving the old "will it shear or won't it" feeling, but it came free eventually. The engine is now on its stand, and now I can get to the fuel tanks with ease.

[Sparky]

About bloody time too.

[Chillidoggy]

Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.

[Vanya]

Congrats man. Hey where's the "Chargecooler" nameplate?!

[Chillidoggy]

There isn't one, it was missing when I bought the car.

[Vanya]

Hmmm......

 

http://www.thelotuscentreonline.co.uk/Esprit-Name-Plate-Chargecooler-Lotus-Sport

 

They want 50 quid for it though. Bit steep. I'll keep an eye out on eBay if you want.

[Vulcan Grey]

But I'm not your average cable-tie guy!

 

I'm more of your "mount-it-on-a-nice-purpose-made-bracket-that will-take-an-age-to-design and-manufacture-because-I'm-such-an-anal-retentive" sort of chap!

 

No cable ties here.

[Chillidoggy]

Does anyone know where I can have my flywheel rotary ground, please?

[Sparky]

I'm guessing Watford isn't the answer you're looking for?

[Chillidoggy]

Well, somewhere closer to home would be nice,  but actually I have just got off the phone to a company in Slough, H.T. Howard, they quoted £74.65 + VAT, and they can do it in the next couple of weeks. Plus, the guy I spoke to knew what he was talking about.

 

Reckon that's a good option, and not too expensive, either. Well, cheaper than a new flywheel, anyway. I shall probably deliver that tomorrow if I can.

[glynherron]

Mine cost £20 through Cotterall engineering. About 15 mins of J29 M1.

They also reworked the head Inc valve guides.

[mdw]

From memory when they have done the Blanchard grind  they need to reinstate the small step on the face.

[glynherron]

On the s4s yes. The step spec is 0.5 to 0.6mm.

[Chillidoggy]

I have the specs as 0.5 - 0.6mm friction face height, and a minimum flywheel thickness of 12mm.

[glynherron]

Agreed

[Chillidoggy]

Few more engine removal pics, showing the angle of dangle for the lift (it almost came up vertically), and how much I had to rotate the unit, which was only a few degrees clockwise. I did of course put plenty of bodywork protection around the aperture.

[Sparky]

I'm all excited now.

[Chillidoggy]

It's better than looking at tits on the Internet, then?

Should have the fuel tanks out later, assuming I don't get covered in Shell's finest and accidentally set fire to myself. Pics to follow, but only in the event of a successful extraction.