Esprit Tinkering

[silverfrost]

Well not much of an update on any of my projects due to time restraints and cold and wet weather stopping me from getting the workshop finished.

Still getting hold of little bits and bobs and hopefully when the time comes the car will go together like a mechano set fingers crossed. 

I am trying to make the project car almost a nut and bolt rebuild within reason. Hopefully today will get the rear suspension sorted with new bearings and paint the radius arms etc. 

Still looking for the bit that goes on the front stub axles that the track rod end attaches to.  Will also paint the top ball joints in clear to prevent rust !  Yes sad I know lol.  The stub axles from lotus bits are zinc plated not sure how long they will stop looking new so may paint them also.

Also may be looking at having my S3 painted light metallic green and put the s2 wheels on that to make it an s2 replica,  just not sure how the 215 70 14 tyres will handle the torque of the V8.  But this will give me the desired look i am after and the colour car I have always wanted within a decent time line.

The the project S2 will have the s4 chassis and will be build as originally intended, I.e the full clam shelled turbo replica project time long lol.

The lotus esprit the complete story by Jeremy Walton is to blame for my love for the s2 this picture in the book says it all to me

[Lotusfab]

Looks very nice!

[Barrykearley]

Can't help but notice the absence of Front Anti roll bushes........ very best of luck fitting those bstewards...

[silverfrost]

New anti roll bar bushes already fitted Barry ! The bottom arms came complete, they have been shot blasted and new bits fitted.

They do not show in the picture very well due to over spray from when the last owner painted them silver !

Thankfully not a job I have to do 

[Lotusfab]

Dan, where are you buying the bolts etc from. I am coming to the conclusion some engineering companies on the internet are a lot more cost effective that the usual suspects?

[silverfrost]

Hi Fabian,

Yes the usual suspects as the large suspension boltsr the top arms are specialist only,  to be honest its little and often so when I buy a few little bits from lotusbits I get new nuts and bolts etc 

I pre assembed the front suspension not only to make sure everything fits but also to stop me muddling up the nuts and bolts as i have bags full of the things now.

Most of the washers i will go stainless with though now i think.

But to be honest i have always gone to the local hardware store and buy as required, just make sure the say 8.8 on the head which is the industry standard strengh.

You can never beat finding a local friendly hardware store with racks of nuts and bolts 

[pyropolymer]

luv the idea of your project silverfrost.

didnt you converted a 4lug turbo s3 to a 5 lug hub in the past?  this was the reason i wanted those rare turbo 4 lug hub!  

 

 

[silverfrost]

Do not even go there lol.   That turbo ended up been an S2 2.2 but had been changed onto a dry sump turbo chassis during its life and the turbo sills and front valance had been fitted.  So ideally i should of just left the hubs on as it would of saved me a lot of money in the long run.  So its now getting the later S4 chassis but with alloy hubs to convert back to 4 studs for the speed lines,  Talk about the long way round lol !   

 

[pyropolymer]

So the S4  chassis drops on an early G body without any mods?  

 

I was always trying to figure out which esprit was the best handling wise. Some have suggested it's the 2.0T gt3 Stevens esprit.  

A big thing for me is how to retain the deep dish look of the S1,2and 3s over the more modern offset of the Stevens cars.  

I wonder if there is any interest her for larger S1 wheels even though the S2 are my fav. Say like a 7-1/2x15,  9x15 rears? S1 wheels seem to be in demand and wheel lends its self for a 4 or 5 bolt pattern in which I can't do with gorgeous s2 speedlines. 

Edited August 29, 2017 by pyropolymer

[silverfrost]

I have no idea if it goes straight on lol     The later chassis that was fitted i.e the dry sump one had been converted and had 2 of the chassis support bars relocated to fit a rover v8 at some point in its life,  Plus i was not keen on the trunnions,  So looked for a replacement chassis.  

The next one that popped was a s4 chassis in fantastic condtion for decent money, so this is what i purchased,  I would of been happy with any 85 onwards chassis to be honest.   

So this will be popped underneath the body 

It will fill though as anything can be made to fit ! but it may require some tinkering,