The Lotus Grand Tourers

For Monkeyzak. I have an 85 LC and have recently changed the distributor for an SJSportscars distributor which has no vacuum advance mechanism. All works fine. The distributor for the LC is electronically triggered and has no mechanical points. It does have a plastic Dog ring which can fail and cost...

My 85 Excel had fitted before my ownership a Cobra 7928 Alarm system as an after factory installation. after a major engine refit when trying to start the engine by ignition key and as usual using the Cobra fob to enable the ignition nothing started. I found a very low voltage at the coil, no sparks...

The only special bit of kit you need is a spring compressor and there are some good and some ugly versions.
This is a job you do on the car, you cannot take the suspension arm to the local garage.
Do not try tying up with string, tyraps, only the right tool.

Dave the cog.

When you buy a 35-40 year old car it does not matter much whether it is an 85 or a 90. The original 85 Excel has all the qualities of an upgraded Elite without the additions of polished wood, run-on aspirator motors or air conditioning. A good Excel is one which is being used daily and has a caring ...

Hi Hawei. I am in the middle of an engine rebuild, carnk, liners , rings etc. and need to finish this week as I have sold the house and need to move the Excel. We are moving back to Madrid after 17 years here in Malaga and it is likely the Excel will go to a new home in Mallorca. Have a good time in...

For Peter B. The photocopier does not change the size, A4 paper to A4 paper.

Dave the cog.

Out here in Spain and post Brexit it is a pain to need just a gasket, delivery from UK is costly and slow and I needed one for the auxiliary housing. Fortunately I had photocopied a previous gasket, which I used in my printer and put in a sheet of gasket material, A4 size, and the copier printed out...

This green Elite is not the one which appeared some months ago as a Youtube video and showed a yellow car having the top half cut off to make a coupe. The carvery is somewhere on this Forum but I have not been able to find the reference. Sorry to the owner of the green Elite if my comment has caused...

The first post mentions that a Robinson Prototype Elite Coupe will be on show. If this is the same car that was carved up some months ago I strongly oppose to such an unsafe vehicle being shown on a Lotusexcelnet stand. We cannot promote the concept of destroying the concept of structural capacity o...

While in the boot, for my 85 LC I understand there was no under boot strengthening bracket and the rear suspension mountings to the fibreglass were originally horizontal, creating cracks in the bolt and fuel pump fixing. I have reinforced the fibreglass but as yet no underboot bracket. So I got to t...

I imagine that body flexure, which can have an impact effect can take up small gaps and may lead to radiator joint fracture.
Perhaps with a new Chinese radiator it is worth reworking to provide a larger gap and reinforce support struts and have steel bolts.

Dave the cog

Neil, I see you have twin oil radiators, and two fans.
Have you installed the second radiator and why did you add this? Is there a noticeable lowering of oil temperature?

Dave the cog.

I have had good deals from Brakes International Ltd who supply Budweg calipers.

Dave the cog

I have been watching the series of videos put on Youtube by Neil Donaldson. Apart from personal opinion about his approaches to restoration I would draw attention to methods for jacking up the Excel and the need to ensure jacking under the body where it is vital to locate the jack under the body pil...

I have recently bought a high torque starter motor from SJS and fitted it including removing the Air Box for better access. When replacing the air box I could not clamp the outer half (filter holder) to the inner half as the lower left hand clamp was obstructed by the new starter motor. I have found...