The Lotus Grand Tourers

For old motorbike petrol tanks it is common practice to seal the inside by using a resin compound which is sloshed around while it goes off. This after derusting inside. The petrol tap hole is plugged with a wooden peg which is later drilled out. For the Excel double tank you would have the problem ...

My opinion is faulty belt manufacture or inadequate Packaging/Storage before being sold. There are comments around about belts being stored for a long time, and sometimes crimped while on the shelf. Interesting reading is: 1/ Differences in Synchronous Belts as from Gates Facts Technical Information...

Thanks for the reply Pete. Rather disconcerting that you can pay so much for a rotor set and not be sure it works adequately, particularly when dealing with such a vital mechanical part. Where can I buy a guaranteed rotor set, Gary Kemp? I think I need to again free the cam belt and spin the auxilia...

While replacing the distributor I decided to change the oil pump rotors, obtaining new rotors from SJS. I am checking the lobe patterns between old and new. The result was oil pressure getting to 40 lbs/in2 at 1000rpm and no matter how many more revs there is no oli pressure increase. This with engi...

While working in the front grill area check out texts on the devlopment of the Elite spoiler, a vital piece of aerodynamics for body control.
Many were knocked off and not replaced, with disastrous results.
Well worth getting it right.

Dave the cog.

I thoght Texas is Spain!!!!

Dave the cog.

Our cars are known as GRP bodies.
But is the P plastic or Resin, very different materials?
Can someone who knows explain the difference and what exactly we have got, better still Not Got?

Dave the cog.

I am getting close in age to not giving justice to my 85 Excel, and as part of the pleasure is to be able to maintain the car at relatively low cost with no need for computer analysis nor ABS indicator failure to fail MOT, so have decided to pass the car on to an owner who can enjoy a true Chapman i...

Cam carrier covers look like LC saddle covers painted red.
I might be wrong.

Dave the cog.

As a long time resident in Spain, since 1969, and Lotus fan have had initially an Elite and now have an Excel LC. The Elite was purchased in UK and I modified it to LHD, not difficult but time consuming. Sadly the engine took fire in Calais while driving back to Spain so I sent the wreck back to UK ...

Zaphod. With the auxiliary housing off you can check to see if your cam bearings are shot allowing a lot of oil to go up there, without knocking noises from below. In the same way we bleed brakes with a pressure bottle you can set up a pressure feed to the cam bearing inlet from the exposed engine b...

Zaphod, I share your comments on Oil Pressure. You may find it re-assuring if you Search on this Forum for posts under Oil Pressure Question dated around June 2018 and mainly authors Lotus-e-Clan and Esprit2 (Tim Engel) These posts indicating quite low oil pressures at different oil temperatures and...

Looking at the Christmas card there is a model which I believe never reached production, bottom right hand one.
Who knows what it is?
In Oliver´s book there is some mention perhaps?

Felices fiestas

Dave the cog.

I usually remove the Steering Wheel to do any work behind, even changeing dash bulbs for LED´s.
But as I do not like pulling the centre boss, I simply undo the six small screws that bolt the wheel to the boss.
just a tip.


Dave the cog.

Feliz Navidades.

We would probably see an increase in value for our cars if they are recognised as an Esprit equivalent (or Better)

Dave the cog.