Norfolk mustard S4

[Clarky5150]

The glass was scratched initially by the outer finishing strip metal retaining strip rusting and twisting. while the window was out I removed any rusted parts and due to unavailability of the strip reattached the weather strip to the body with sealant.

[Steve V8]

31 minutes ago, Clarky5150 said:

The glass was scratched initially by the outer finishing strip metal retaining strip rusting and twisting. while the window was out I removed any rusted parts and due to unavailability of the strip reattached the weather strip to the body with sealant.

Another cross ref job for @swindon_alan, the lumps that those rusty clips make under the weather strip are visually annoying, and IMO are a real let down to the beautiful lines of most Esprits, I think most of us would replace them if we could find an alternative. 

[Clarky5150]

the entire strip could be held on with sikaflex but the reposition would be critical

 

[Clarky5150]

A year to the week since I picked up the Esprit. Spent most of the Summer just enjoying the car as oppose to taking her to bits. Still a few 'niggles' to sort but they can wait till Spring. She is going under cover for the Winter at a friends place. I was going to do an annual service but having only clocked a few thousand miles since the last I think Spring will suffice for that also.

In the meantime this years Winter project has taken root on the driveway. Sorry Barry but another Pork has found its way to our door. She was too good to break for parts so I had to save her. A months hard work has turned this....

[Clarky5150]

... to this.

Sorry for crappy pics but losing light fast. Will finish paint on roof and polish out the bonnet this weekend. S2 lower rear spoiler to mount. Interior final fit and hopefully MOT Monday. Full new braking system including lines, master, slave and fluid, new clutch slave, bushes dampers and springs. Ready for a weekend off and then winterising the Esprit to be done.

 

[stephenwhyte]

Always liked the 944 and have had a couple - that one looks great now👍

[Clarky5150]

I bought it primarily because the sills and inner arches are all solid and have been wax treated from new. The p.o 'lost' the seats and wheels when the local trimmers went bust. The seats I have used are actually 986 boxster (were blue, now re-connolised black) half the weight at look fit perfectly and a third of the price of old and sagged 944 seats. This is my 4th 944 but first Lux (turbos and S2s before but their rocketing price makes them overpriced or complete basket cases). Love em.... sorry Barry!

 

[Barrykearley]

Nice work - but of value added there for sure.

im making no comments about winter projects......

[Clarky5150]

I really did expect you to buy that GT3 with the armour plated front wing....minor restoration my arse, that thing was hanging.......you didn't buy it did you?

The phrase 'winter project' is officially banned in our house by my ever suffering wife lol.

[swindon_alan]

I like 924s, 928s and 944s...

Proper shaped Porkers.

Kill me now Barry

[Clarky5150]

When we talk about proper shaped Porkers here is my Carrera which I sold in 2005 to make way for a 996. Sold it for, wait for it.... £7500 and thought I had properly got a good deal. Would be worth 45-50 now

 

[swindon_alan]

Nah, that still looks like a Beetle with a wing

You had better stop posting these pics Shaun otherwise the TLF police will be round to remove your connectivity...

[Clarky5150]

Agreed. Esprit only from now on!

[swindon_alan]

The difference is that Colin Chapman and Lotus with brilliant engineering and production innovation developed the VARI two piece mould technique for the Esprit:

Porsche just made an existing mould bigger for their cars:

[Clarky5150]

Well the 944 has moved off to its new owner. He lived nearby and had watched its rebuild before popping in with a cheeky offer. So while there is space on the drive I thought I would have a day on old Yella.

Oil and filter change (no pics needed im sure)

Fluids topped up (chargecooler seems to have a slow leak somewhere as this needs a quarter of a pint every 6 months or so)

Still getting a very faint aroma or petrol on occasion and I was aware that when replacing the breather pipes I had left the ones connecting to the canister alone as they appeared sound. Another inspection showed cracking in the pipe from the anti roll valve to the canister so replaced this. The air intake pipe seemed worse for wear too so fitted a new one and re-routed this to the rear of the car to rule out any blow back of vapours.

[Clarky5150]

Took her out for a good hours 'test drive' and everything feels solid and tight. Quick wipe down and back to storage pending any late February chills.

[Clarky5150]

Finally bit the bullet and ordered the new heater control graphic to replace the crumbly one in situ at present. Bizarrely she is currently running better than ever and barring a mystery clunk over speed bumps I really don't want to take spanners to anything and temp the Norfolk gremlins into showing their faces.

Guess ill just drive and enjoy instead. 

[Llewelyn82]

Just catching up on all this! Great work mate  enjoyed reading about it all...

[Clarky5150]

Thanks. Not done much on the Esprit over the last year but I have a few little jobs I will be attending to and posting on in the coming weeks. Postie bought some parcels this morning so I can crack on.

Have a retro motorised mask head unit at the moment but can only listen to a cd so many times. Taken the plunge and upgraded to DAB, hands free etc head unit. This pioneer unit looked fairly understated so should look in keeping. 

[Clarky5150]

New bits all fitted last week along with sorting out the centre rad fan (slightly seized so occasionally blowing a fuse and getting 'Fan Fail' warning'). The new head unit looks very in nice with no nasty flashing graphics and the like. Now have iPhone charging and play, DAB (thank god), Bluetooth connection for Android and Apple and hands free phone with voice control. The higher power head unit runs the Infinity speakers far better.

Front number plate was looking very tired so popped a new one on. Car looks much fresher now with lip and plate.

[Clarky5150]

Speaking of fresher I never thought I would say this but I now have ice cold air con!! 

Having been quoted daft money to go through the system and re-gas with the correct gas I had been putting it off for a fair while. Then I remembered having an older 911 done by Geoff at Carairconservices.com  at Chesterfield.

Gave him a bell to confirm he still had all the old equipment and popped over this morning.

Geoff is a bit of a petrol head himself and genuinely has a passion for working on less common stuff. He went through the whole system, sorted a wiring issue and re gassed the system for £70. It would have been cheaper but he needed to do a full re gas and Esprits hold a shed load of the more expensive stuff!

He explained everything as he went and talked to me about the sight glass under the ABS unit cover behind the headlight. If the system is fully charged (or completely empty) this will appear clear however with the engine and aircon running you will see a pulse in the fluid as the system operates. You will also see an occasional bubble. If you see lots of bubbles as the system operates it indicates you are getting ready for a top up. The joy of this system is unlike new cars which have to be emptied and a full charge added the technician fills using the glass as an indicator so can 'top up' with however little you need (meaning a cheaper job).

Geoff also can repair hard and soft aircon lines and components so well worth bearing in mind for any older car with hens teeth parts.

 

[Clarky5150]

A full day today sorting all the HVAC system and reversing some heinous bodge work by a ‘Lotus specialist’.Just  been for an extended test drive on a warn moist muggy evening with air con blasting out  resulted in almost frozen face! Result indeed. All the work under the dash seems to have sorted several annoying squeaks and rattles too. Bonus.

[Clarky5150]

Brake overhaul started this weekend with disassemble and clean rear callipers. Slides were solid on one side and the piston was very stiff to wind back in on t’other. New pads and a clean up of the discs which although have been on a few years had done very few miles so we’re retained. One ABS sensor had been replaced but the drivers side was original and in solid. I needed to clean it to hopefully eliminate an occasional ABS light flash so had to persuade it out and replace with a new one from SJ. 

One of my pro tech damper adjusters has seized. Annoying after only low miles. Has anyone managed to free these off with lube or is it best left till replacement is required. They don’t need adjusting but would like the option.

 

[Clarky5150]

The aircon has been fantastic over what was the hottest weekend of the year btw. Very pleased in that department ❄️👍🏻

[Chillidoggy]

I'd give the threads a good dose of easing oil of one's choice first, leave it overnight, then try to shock the lower locking nut into moving. I use a C-spanner for this, coupled with a suitably-weighted knocking stick. If the seat and locking nut both move, then you'll need to use another C-spanner to hold the seat while you beat seven bells carefully tap the C-spanner on the locking nut.

Assuming you manage to get the seat and locking nut separated and moving, then grease all the threads with some LM grease to prevent any locking up in the future. Wipe off the excess, obv.