Esprit Turbo project car - part3 - the further continuation

[stephenwhyte]

By way of inspiration @Lotusfab😎 but with incorrect bonnet😉

[Lex Templar]

It's magnificent @Lotusfab

 

@stephenwhyte did you take the photo above? Have never seen that one before. 

@Lotusfab Have you gone with a boot bag? I suspect all these Bond cars had this rather than carpet - but I could be wrong..

(The Autoart models have a boot bag) copied from the car above with HC bonnet as we know.

 

[stephenwhyte]

No I never took it @Lex Templar - stolen from someone’s post on Facebook😉

[PhilW]

Whats this then Fabian.  Is it just an adapter so the flexible inlet that reduces in diameter can not be a parallel tube and the rubber pipe relocated from the air filter box.  If it is just an adaptor where did it come from?

 

 

[Andyww]

Thats standard fitment at that time, mine has it.

[PhilW]

Never seen one Andy. Thinking about it though the airbox diameter is larger so it cant allow a parallel pipe i dont think anyway.

 

[Lotusfab]

2 hours ago, PhilW said:

Whats this then Fabian.  Is it just an adapter so the flexible inlet that reduces in diameter can not be a parallel tube and the rubber pipe relocated from the air filter box.  If it is just an adaptor where did it come from?

 

 

That allows the crankcase breather to be attached and connects to the air filter with the pipe that goes small to large. 

Here you go Phil....

[Lotusfab]

4 hours ago, Lex Templar said:

It's magnificent @Lotusfab

 

@stephenwhyte did you take the photo above? Have never seen that one before. 

@Lotusfab Have you gone with a boot bag? I suspect all these Bond cars had this rather than carpet - but I could be wrong..

(The Autoart models have a boot bag) copied from the car above with HC bonnet as we know.

 

Yep going with a boot bag. S and J sell them. I may get Steve Fulcher to make me one.

9 hours ago, stephenwhyte said:

By way of inspiration @Lotusfab😎 but with incorrect bonnet😉

Love the picture, especially as I have not seen it before! You can see how the ski racks are curved to the roof profile to keep the skis horizontal.

[Lotusfab]

All tuned! Oil leak fixed. Just need to put the extinguisher pipework in then out for a first test drive! 

[Lotusfab]

First refuel and outing! Engine is running perfectly as is the gearbox. Only annoyance speedo is not working. It appears to be the angle drive which I tested!! Its not the speedo or cable. Still if thats all I can fault I’m happy! 

So far I have covered about 12 miles. 

[PhilW]

Hey hey!  Fantastic Fabian

[Steve4012]

Well done Fabian! Ps nice parking😆

[Lotusfab]

Parking is for non Lotus drivers!😄😄😄

[Lotusfab]

My luck has really turned. Just got the speedo drive working! I jacked the car up, put it in gear and ran it whilst I messed around. I discovered even with the nylon and brass drive held in by a 9 mm bolt the drive can move upwards. Only about 2 mm, but enough to disengage the gear from the shaft. I wire locked the whole thing down and all is working correctly.
One of my last jobs is to refix the rear view mirror which I managed to knock off whilst messing around installing the fire extinguisher

I have the fire nozzels in the engine bay just awaiting parts for the final fix.

Hats off to Lotusbits engineering the engine sounds superb and is so responsive. There was nothing different in the assembly this time around apart from much more thorough oil pump checking. I am running in so trying not to boost. Very very tempting to put the foot down! 
 

Theres two things I would replace immediately on the Turbo. They are the oil cooler and the three way thermostat. These two items have made a massive difference to this car.. It runs just below 90 degrees and the fans come on much much sooner. Nothing gets too hot like before. Filling the coolant the first time easy!

Well  I’m not counting my chickens but the car feels right. So I hope thats it for the car bits...Just skis and racks.

I don’t want to temp fait but here goes, thank you to all those who have help me get this far.

PNM engineering

Lotusbits

S and J sportcars

Dave Changes who pushed me on to a better build.
 

Roo  who helped with the skis

The retired American who gave me a pair of Olins

and of course everyone on the Lotusforums that has contributed and encouraged me.

👍

Don’t worry Sparky, not many more pages left to write.

On to finishing  the ski racks.

 

 

 

[PhilW]

15 minutes ago, Lotusfab said:

My luck has really turned. Just got the speedo drive working!

 

 

 

Dodgy car now Fabian.  Incorrect mileage displaying I reckon 😂

[Lotusfab]

Very! 

[Lotusfab]

Rear view mirror now attached using Loctite 319, lets see how long it lasts!

[jonwat]

3 hours ago, Lotusfab said:

Rear view mirror now attached using Loctite 319, lets see how long it lasts!

When it drops off take a look at this 

[drdoom]

On the other hand, the adhesive used at factory permits removal of the mirror with a heat gun therefore without risk of grief should one have cause to change the thing out. The OEM stuff was surely some early form of cyanoacrylate, commonly called crazy glue this side of the pond.

[Lotusfab]

10 hours ago, jonwat said:

When it drops off take a look at this 

That looks really good and reasonably priced. Mirror is holding at the moment. Its fixed with a mesh and I think Cyanoacrylate based superglue that comes in a loctite fixing pack. I think grease is the main failure cause. I cleaned it with professional degreaser.

[Lotusfab]

Speedo working now! 24 miles done.

[Lotusfab]

Turbo Oil return pipe

Just found a slight oil leak from where it joins the Turbo. No matter how tight the bolts are it still leaks. Looking on here its quite common, but why? The first thing that comes to mind is the gasket. Why has the gasket got a square centre when the Turbo pipe is round. I think the gasket being supplied is for a different pipe design. The gasket is the picture is the one I have fitted. But the design of the pipe is totally different and round! Surely the gasket should have a round centre? I have bought a generic round one and will see if it fixes the issue. 

[Lotusfab]

Turbo pipe

Well the square centre lower gasket is correct because the outlet from the Turbo is square. The issue is the oil return pipe. The top of it should be square but its round! This makes sealing less than ideal. The centre of the Turbo rotates. Mine was rebuilt and the original angle was wrong which resulted in strain on the Corrugated pipe. If you loosen the  bolts the centre. can be rotated to any angle. I had to stretch it to get it on! Andy explained Lotus did this at the factory and had a lot of claims after the pipes had cracked! Andy just happened to have a braided pipe, which he gave me, so its now installed with no strain and  new gaskets. Be careful what gaskets you use there are a lot of paper ones out there which really are not ideal. Another test drive tomorrow and then rack up the miles! 

[Lotusfab]

Forgot to say all the time I spent calibrating the pump jets using Dave Nobles rig was very well spent. The acceleration stumble is completely gone. The engine pick up has been transformed. I would say the pump jet calibration is essential if you are rebuilding your carbs.

[Lotusfab]

60 miles done!