The Lotus Grand Tourers

Thanks Paul. I have weighed the pistons/wrist pins and have a 3.5gm underweight on one. I will now weigh the pistons and wrist pins separately and see if I can take weight off the wrist pins as to take 3.5 gms off a piston requires removing a lot of material. The old con rods have up to 2.5 gms diff...

The aluminium cradle perimeter has no difficulty in absorbing the thin (very) joint. However you will have a different circumstance when you assemble the cam carriers as with the recommended Loctite 504 between head and cam carrier you will get an extra 0.0015 in of lash on the valve shims and when ...

I am in the process of rebuilding my 912 LC engine after a big end failure. I have purchased a set of (equally balanced) con rods to replace any defects with the con-rod where the big-end failure occurred. May I ask Forum members to advise on allowed tolerances of weight difference between 1. Con-ro...

When assembling the crankshaft cradle to the main block you only need to seal the perimeter and should not not apply sealant to the main bearing housings.

I am on an engine rebuild for my LC, chasing out a big end failure. Although I have the time to make two liner clamps I preferred simply to use large diameter steel washers under copper pipe on head studs. This still allows the piston to be removed, the main load on the liner is when you are asking ...

As anyone who has opened up the exhaust cam carrier cover there is a large amount of oil which puddles naturally on the lower side of the cam and must hinder oil and head cooling. On other engines I have worked on there are known tweaks to provide lower drainage paths usually with small holes drille...

Can someone tell me what the Excel World Map is and how to make an entry?

When refurbishing front suspensions including ball joints, and Excels are champions in rusting up nuts and bolts, I find a Dremel high speed cutting disc ideal to cut the side of the nut vertically through to the thread, this frees up the friction between nut and thread. On new ball joints, without ...

I wish to replace the complete fuel line on my Dellorto 85 Excel . it being a vital safety item and I am not convinced with the original plastic version. Will members kindly advise what upgrades are used and possible suppliers.

With a strobe light connected and with the lamp inside the car when you drive you can keep a constant view of when it cuts out. You can do the same with a voltmeter on either the coil or the fuel pump. Although not likely to be the culprit, open the petrol chambers on the carbs and inspect for clean...

For my 85 LC Excel I purchased a master cylinder from British Parts UK NRC8690 for 31 pounds which comes from a Land Rover Defender and so far all seems fine. Previously I tried repair kits on the existing cylinder but could never get brake pressure, probably scratched bore.

Hello Lads and Lassies, as resident in Spain some 25 years ago I turned a RHD Elite (2000cc) into a LHD, the main bit I needed was a LHD steering Rack ( non Power Steering) but I have read these can be obtained in Europe as they are not original Lotus (Ford??). The original electrical harness can be...

Hello Pete, as a new member I am still discovering how to post replies and not yet round to posting photographs. I have just had the door latch off to cure a partial closing of the door, one latch only and no final closing on my 85 SA. There is no central locking as original. Having got access from ...

I am a new member to lotusexcelnet although I bought my 1985 Excel here in Malaga Spain more than two tears ago, RHD UK plate including a valid MOT. My main attraction was clean interior, good oil pressure and clean Calypso red, no gelcoat cobwebs. I previously owned an Elite and can handle mechanic...