Search found 1361 matches

by KevW
Sun Mar 17, 2024 09:40
Forum: General
Topic: Battery
Replies: 6
Views: 239

Re: Battery

Four years ago I replaced the battery on my Excel with a much beefier 680 CCA battery intended for a Rover 75/MG ZT Diesel /https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172718062417 I reasoned if that battery was happy starting my MG on the coldest winter morning it would be fine for my Excel too. The battery's termi...
by KevW
Sat Mar 16, 2024 17:10
Forum: General
Topic: Throttle Cable replacement
Replies: 6
Views: 1172

Re: Throttle Cable replacement

Last week the throttle cable on my SE snapped at the carb end. Fortunately the small metal barrel which holds the carb onto the linkage fell straight down onto the manifold rather than being lost on the road as the car was moving. The barrels are 15 quid new! I bought a new cable from SJ and opted t...
by KevW
Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:42
Forum: General
Topic: New Excel model coming soon
Replies: 54
Views: 5570

Re: New Excel model coming soon

Well after much procrastination I've decided not to take my model apart to paint it in the same colour as my real Excel. The model is clearly not designed to be taken to bits and after paying £146 for it I'd rather have an unbroken red one than a damaged blue one. I did run a little diluted Humbrol ...
by KevW
Mon Feb 19, 2024 14:43
Forum: History & Memorabilia
Topic: Chapmans obsession with lightness
Replies: 2
Views: 584

Re: Chapmans obsession with lightness

Thanks for that interesting article. Whilst the Elite/Eclat/Excel isn't especially light when compared to similar main stream cars it is strong due to it being effectively a monocoque bolted to a chassis. Years ago when my previous Excel collided with the Astra of a dear lady who didn't take notice ...
by KevW
Fri Jan 26, 2024 20:17
Forum: Bodywork, Fitments, Interior and Trim
Topic: Elite interior with lighter coloured wooden panels
Replies: 3
Views: 558

Re: Elite interior with lighter coloured wooden panels

That does look like a nice car. Tidy under the bonnet, paint the bumpers black and off you go!
by KevW
Sun Jan 21, 2024 20:25
Forum: General
Topic: New Excel model coming soon
Replies: 54
Views: 5570

Re: New Excel model coming soon

The rear badges on the models are correct, that's how the real cars left the Lotus factory. It seems over the years owners reposition the badges and sometimes add a round Lotus badge. On my car I moved the Lotus script badge from the centre of the rear bumper where it looks out of place and vulnerab...
by KevW
Sat Jan 13, 2024 06:37
Forum: General
Topic: New Excel model coming soon
Replies: 54
Views: 5570

Re: New Excel model coming soon

Be very careful with that superglue Peter. The fumes from super glue can fog clear plastic. If I were you I'd apply masking tape to the windscreen to protect it and apply the glue to the broken aerial rather than the aerial base.
by KevW
Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:46
Forum: Spotted/New Owners
Topic: Green Eclat (Mathewsons Restoring Classics garage)
Replies: 5
Views: 893

Re: Green Eclat (Mathewsons Restoring Classics garage)

You must have developed those arm muscles driving an Excel without power assistance Peter! Or did you have a manual rack fitted?
by KevW
Wed Nov 22, 2023 13:00
Forum: Spotted/New Owners
Topic: Green Eclat (Mathewsons Restoring Classics garage)
Replies: 5
Views: 893

Re: Green Eclat (Mathewsons Restoring Classics garage)

I spotted thazt car too and think it looks really good in that green colour and with the whitewall tyres. It also shows how much better Elite wheels fill out the arches with their greater negative offset when compared with the Excel. I wonder why Lotus decided to reduce wheel offset for the Excel
by KevW
Sat Nov 04, 2023 15:16
Forum: General
Topic: Heater cable problem
Replies: 3
Views: 478

Re: Heater cable problem

A while back I did a similar fix on my car using the flexible drive of my Dremel to drill out the broken plastic peg. I then superglued an Ikea Billy bookcase shelf support peg into the hole i'd just made. You'd think the Ikea peg was made for the job it's such a good fit. NB I once went to my local...
by KevW
Mon Oct 16, 2023 20:36
Forum: General
Topic: 1992 Excel SE - How far is too far?
Replies: 55
Views: 6944

Re: 1992 Excel SE - How far is too far?

Looks darn impressive !
by KevW
Thu Oct 12, 2023 02:56
Forum: General
Topic: 1992 Excel SE - How far is too far?
Replies: 55
Views: 6944

Re: 1992 Excel SE - How far is too far?

Thanks for the tip about the Wurth plastic dye Dwayne. Do you think it bonded with the plastic rather than sitting on the surface like Back To Black or Armorall etc ?
by KevW
Wed Sep 27, 2023 08:19
Forum: Wheels and Tyres
Topic: Kumho Ecsta AST
Replies: 9
Views: 3836

Re: Kumho Ecsta AST

Years ago I tried 225 tyres on the Excel SE I owned at the time and found they rubbed on the inner n/s wheel tub on full lock. I have seen an Excel using 225 tyres without any problems in the flesh and chatted with the owner. It's clear that some cars will take them without any issues and some cars ...
by KevW
Mon Sep 25, 2023 20:11
Forum: Electrics and Electronics
Topic: Speedometer Needle Bouncing
Replies: 6
Views: 864

Re: Speedometer Needle Bouncing

My car also does this every now and then. This is despite having my speedo reconditioned and fitting another speedo cable. I took care to well lubricate the cable before fitting and have tried re fitting the cable at least four times at both the speedo and gearbox end to no avail.
by KevW
Fri Sep 08, 2023 13:27
Forum: General
Topic: Excel Model
Replies: 2
Views: 599

Re: Excel Model

Looks like it's available in red or dark green