Red Turbo Esprit recommission project

[top-plumber]

4 hours ago, Andyww said:

Exactly. Maybe its not supposed to be there.

Later cars had a large parallel recess for a ball bearing thrust bearing. The picture Gotti posted above shows this and appears to have the wrong type of bearing installed. Waynes picture above shows the correct bearing on a later car.

But thats not the same as that rounded-off counterbore which looks suspiciously like its been worn away to that shape.

Hey Andy, been going over this all day in my head and I think you are probably right about the shaft eating the crank. What a pain, thanks for the info. Much appreciated fellas. 

[Paul Coleman]

16 minutes ago, top-plumber said:

Hey Andy, been going over this all day in my head and I think you are probably right about the shaft eating the crank. What a pain, thanks for the info. Much appreciated fellas. 

That usually indicates that the circlip which retains the input shaft has rusted away. On my S1 the input shaft could be withdrawn from the gearbox completely because the circlip was almost non existent...

Without the circlip the input shaft acts as a milling cutter and eats its way into the crank.

The spacer behind the bearing is not curing the cause of the problem. I bought the uprated circlip from Harry Martens and fitted that. With the circlip in place the spacer is redundant as the shaft can't move beyond where it's supposed to.

 

Edited October 29, 2017 by Paul Coleman

[top-plumber]

Might leave them like this. Or colour suggestions welcome. ✌️

[Gotti]

For the cam covers and plenum i,ve used "wrinkle plus" structure paint.But it have to be heated in the oven after painting.My girlfriend was not happy about this!But the end result was perfect!

[top-plumber]

I have bought black wrinkle finish also. Was having second thoughts but they look great. 

[cbclotus]

Got to say they look fantastic .Cool .....Mike

[top-plumber]

You show me yours I’ll show you mine. ✌️

[Gotti]

Well done!!! 

[top-plumber]

Carb rebuild

[Dave Eds]

Red or white Wayne?  

[pete]

White Wayne

[top-plumber]

White✌️

[top-plumber]

Might have to start a white wizard page. Getting a bit of crossover with the Red Devil. ??‍♂️

[top-plumber]

Been busy in the workshop today. Bored out the old spigot bearing and replaced with the more robust type from the later S4 engine design. Also have to rub about .002” off of the input shaft so it enters the new bearing. Total solution. ✌️

[top-plumber]

Ready for the constructive use of the Christmas holidays. 

Really not sure whether to upgrade the con rods or not. 

Any thoughts welcome. 

[cbclotus]

Great work .....Wayne ..Said it before lot of clever guys that do their own work .Must be a good feeling . Keep up the good work .Mike 

[Chillidoggy]

Nice work, Wayne.

My two-pennyworth: I'd have the assembly dynamically balanced, and keep the standard con-rods unless I was planning on increasing the rpm at the top end.

 

[pete]

What Ian says and treve also said this morning

[top-plumber]

Agreed chaps seems that the gains will be negligible for the out lay. Bigger fish to fry now..... lost some oil pressure on the red car and have knackered one of the ends on the way home today....arghhh...

pretty sure I can change them with the engine in situ... 

any other thoughts? 

?????????

[Chillidoggy]

You do love a challenge!

Changing them in situ might be possible (never done it on a Lotus myself), but if you've trashed a crank journal, or spun a bearing in a con-rod, then it's game over, and engine out anyway.

[ChrisJ]

Oh bugger!

[top-plumber]

Trying to stay positive about the crankshaft. Only time will tell. ?

[top-plumber]

[top-plumber]

OK. Trying to get the white cars engine assembled so I can get the red car into the garage. 

Need to get the head machined so I can finish the build. Unfortunately the workshop is closed all over the holidays. 

Looks like I may have to push the rebuilt engine to one side for now. Red car is priority atm. 

Pete spoke to Gerald and he is of the same opinion as me. Blocked oil pickup. Or oil filter. Although I have a k&n filter. 

[top-plumber]

On 17/12/2017 at 09:37, Chillidoggy said:

Nice work, Wayne.

My two-pennyworth: I'd have the assembly dynamically balanced, and keep the standard con-rods unless I was planning on increasing the rpm at the top end.

 

Yeh I agree Ian, after some discussion with Trev and Stuart at brekkie last week I tend to agree. So I have gone back with standard setup. I’m polishing the ports myself on the head and have got new exhaust valve guides to install. Then skim. 

Just want to get done now as the red car has taken over my focus.