Norfolk mustard S4

[Clarky5150]

Jack nut

 

 

 

Rivnuts are much more of a pain to seat.

I assume they are called Jack nut as they collapse like a scissor jack. Can of worms opened??

[Chillidoggy]

No idea why they’re called that!

Rivnuts are a piece of cake to fit if they’re alloy, but the stainless steel ones are a pain, sadly that’s all I had in stock at the time.

[Clarky5150]

Just popped in to catch up on all things Lotus. As happens my last few months have been hijacked by family matters, specifically Daughters first car. Being a bit of an oddball like me she wasn’t happy with a modern chariot so this transformation was undertaken.

From this mesterpiece complete with entire front end held on with self tappers by previous owner...

To this..

Old Yeller has been tucked up in the garage since June but work on rad fans and the high tickover issue are planned in the very near future 👍

[drdoom]

Ever amused how young things seem to find these abominations appealing. 😃

[Clarky5150]

Ive found it mostly amusing myself. Engine out and on trolley single handed in 38 minutes. Not bad for a first time. I recon i could crack 20 now i know what im doing!

[Clarky5150]

Tick over has been tamed. Big thanks to sailorbob for giving me an afternoon of his valuable time to nail down the offending issue. Turns out it ‘may’ have been self inflicted while trying to chase down other niggles. Either way tickover is now playing ball again so a steady list of jobs can commence with the target to be a return to the road for the full April unwind. Just a quick spin round the block brought a huge smile to my face 👍

[Barrykearley]

Come on then - what was it??

[Clarky5150]

Looks like the many perished hoses, gaskets and elbows that I replaced chasing down the high tickover would have solved it..... had I not also had a fiddle with the idle screw part way through replacing stuff.... I’ll get my coat.

I know Barry, I know. NEVER TOUCH THE SCREW!!!

[Clarky5150]

Following on from the success of taming the tick over Sunday will involve an annual service. 

Its also time to renew the brake fluid. I do get an intermittent ABS light blink to which i thought i would dedicate a few hours trying to resolve with a full bleed following the Delco Moraine walk through. 

I know the braking system on the S4 is unloved and leaves something to be desired but given the option i would rather keep its originality.

Continual problems down the line may seek me to entertain an ABS delete but not at this stage.

I might even take some pictures...

[Barrykearley]

Don’t forget the bleed nipple which you need a triple joined midget for

[Clarky5150]

Is that the one underneath the relay array?

 

[Barrykearley]

It’s a complete pig to get to.

[Clarky5150]

I can just feel it with my finger ends. Is this the 'outboard' nipple as described and is there a secret to doing it?

 

[Barrykearley]

The triple jointed midget is the secret.

failing that - get that tree out the way and fiddle some pipe down there and slip over the nipple and simply struggle and swear.

[tomcattom]

That one was a right game to get at. Took my knuckles several days to forgive me after that job.

Getting a spanner on it was relatively simple, it was getting the bleed hose in there that I found more of a challenge.

[Clarky5150]

Ill make sure i have my selection of implements handy. Its going to be a full day with coolant flush also so i best get a few bottles of tonic in 

[Clarky5150]

A great few days tinkering with Old Yeller. Full service including plugs, new front hard lines, brake pads, coolant swap and brake fluid change following the walkthrough to bleed the ABS system which it definitely needed. Special thanks to Sailorbob for pointing out the service notes are for a left hand drive so reverse everything! Brakes are now immeasurable better.
Wheels cleaned inside and out ready for new tyres and MOT on Tuesday.
Headlamp pods realigned.
New braided hoses installed from swirl pot to expansion tank.
New jacking points fabricated and bonded on. 
Clean polish and ceramic sealant. 

oh and I cooked a belting Chicken Madras for tea. 

Btw a large pair of long nose pliers makes a cracking replacement for a triple jointed midget.

[Clarky5150]

New MOT this morning with only an advisory for a rigid brake line which ill swap this week.

Treated the car to a set of nice sticky rubber for the rear. The old tyres still had 6mm of tread but had gone off over time so i though i may as well go for something that wears a bit quicker and still will probably never get near the wear markers before they expire.

 

The Exige lads seem to like em.

[Bibs]

Had them on my Elise, very good tyres. 

[Chillidoggy]

I have those Yokahamas on the front. No problems so far, and as good as the previous Michelin’s they replaced.

[Clarky5150]

After stripping, cleaning and lubing the rear camber adjusters last year i was aware that i was running too much negative camber at the rear.

A new 4 wheel alignment carried out showed waaaay too much. Looked good with the race car stance but those new boots would have been scrubbed in no time.

The difference with the alignment and new tyres is amazing. The geo took out the nervous steering and the car now has epic rear grip in the dry compared to before. The 'catch me if you can' oversteer has gone and the chassis is now very neutral. I can even force some understeer into tight roundabouts as those new Yokis grip like mad. 

Having put a new battery, fresh fuel and few hours driving in the engine has tuned up considerably. First test drive after the brake bleed and battery i was certain the intake pipe or the actuator had failed as there seemed to be a lack of power on boost. 

Had a good hour hoon on Friday evening (essential journey) and the car is flying.

[Clarky5150]

Quarterly check in. Been using the car a few days a week since the MOT. Running better than ever!

Nothing really to report other than the headlight flash has become intermittent (relay I'm guessing as normal usage remains unaffected) and although still functioning the air con isn't cooling at 100% so will need a little top up.

Had a nice little care package arrive from SJ that i forgot i had ordered (back order parts).

Car now sports the nice Lotus design badges on the front wings, a lid to the fuse box and new caps for the cooling system.

My main concern now is the nice lady along the road who has allowed me to use her garage over past Winters has evicted me for her grandson's work van.

The Beetle currently resides in a garage in the locale which could take another 3 cars (but full of stuff) and sits on its own plot. The elderly Gentleman who owns the garage refuses to take payment for me using it but also wont entertain selling it.  

 

[Clarky5150]

Had a great Summer using the Esprit and other than the core plug failing in the inlet manifold (26mm cup and less than a quid) which I repaired with the manifold in situ the car has been completely reliable. Decided to SORN from today as I have plans to do some odd jobs over Winter.

I have also bought another Loti to keep me busy on the cold dark nights….. more to follow.

[Clarky5150]

Shes Green... 

Not me in the reflection btw 😀

[Barrykearley]

M100 by chance