The Lotus Grand Tourers

Good evening Ladies and Gents,

Well i am new to the forum and thought i better come on and introduce myself as i will be spending messages out there quite a lot. I was advised from a gent from the lotus forum to come on here. I have a 1987 Lotus Excel which is my childhood sports car. My dad bought it when i was 4 and every chance i got for years i would grab the keys and jump in to pretend i was driving. Back in 2004 the old girl was put in the garage for winter as it took to long to warm up for my dads liking and thats were it stood until 2 weeks ago where he text me out of the blue saying if you want it she is yours. Taken aback by the message i worked out how i was going to go about it. After a fair amount of thinking ( one evening ) i sorted getting the old girl out of the garage and to my house. bless her for the last 16 years she hasn't seen day light until i dragged her out and now she is on my driveway getting stripped down and put back together with new disc, pads, pushes all round, shocks spring and one hell of a service . One day soon i will finally be able to put the key in the ignition and finally be able to drive the old girl and i cant wait.

I will hope that i can ask some questions to you lovely people and have great answers thrown back at me on how to do all i need to do

Welcome, Sparrow - you found us!

I'll be over next week to check on you

That's 3 of us now. How long a project do you think you have in front of you .

Welcome to a great and helpful forum Sparrow.
Is this turning into an impromptu meet up ?
I'm not far away and had PM'ed through TLF I'd be happy to drop by.
Tony

I meet up would be a great thing. I'm up for it

Welcome welcome! What a great story behind your car. Since it wasn't parked up as a result of a major problem, hopefully what you've outlined should be all it needs to get it back to good working order. Make sure you drive it regularly once it's ready, that's the best way to keep them working well!

Let's see some photos - I don't suppose you have any from when you were young and your dad was driving the car??

Welcome, and a great story.
Just make sure you replace the cambelt before any attempt to start the car.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for the lovely welcome. Below is a link to the lotus forum page where my phones of her currently are as i am not sure how to add them to this forum. I do have a couple somewhere when i was a kid trying to drive it which i will have a look for over the weekend.

https://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/t ... ent-930594

Does anyone local know someone that could change the cambelt for me as it cant be taken to a garage as she is currently stripped on the front waiting to get the cambelt done as well as all the bushes .

When I come over we can discuss it and try it ourselves maybe

I've also been following your story . Welcome to the forum!

Pete

Sparrow wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 21:03

as i am not sure how to add them to this forum.


Does anyone local know someone that could change the cambelt for me as it cant be taken to a garage as she is currently stripped on the front waiting to get the cambelt done as well as all the bushes .

This might help with how to add photos - viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11571

Cambelt - this is relatively straight forward in the Excel, just need to take your time and follow the instructions. The following videos might help, but if camshaft seals need replacing DO NOT remove them using the technique shown. This was a previous owner doing it on my car and I had to fix the damage done to the camshaft by that screwdriver

https://youtu.be/QPdLNZFE_Ps

I may also be able to come over and lend a hand.
Do you have a new cam belt and cambelt tensioner bearing? It would be wise to fit new V-belts while doing the cam belt.
https://www.sjsportscars.com/home.htm should be able to supply you with all you need. Not always the cheapest (esp P&P), but I've always found them good quality, fast and reliable.

Tony

Hi Sparrow and welcome to the forum get most of my bits from SJSports always found them to be good quality...

Hawaiis0 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 21:05

When I come over we can discuss it and try it ourselves maybe

Thank you very much mate and thank you for advising me to come on everyone has been great so far thank you all for the lovely welcome.

Alan_M wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 21:53

Sparrow wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 21:03

as i am not sure how to add them to this forum.


Does anyone local know someone that could change the cambelt for me as it cant be taken to a garage as she is currently stripped on the front waiting to get the cambelt done as well as all the bushes .

This might help with how to add photos - viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11571

Cambelt - this is relatively straight forward in the Excel, just need to take your time and follow the instructions. The following videos might help, but if camshaft seals need replacing DO NOT remove them using the technique shown. This was a previous owner doing it on my car and I had to fix the damage done to the camshaft by that screwdriver

https://youtu.be/QPdLNZFE_Ps

Thank you very much Alan i am hoping to get someone soon to do it soon which would be great at least i get her fired up. I did smell the fuel which does smell alright but i am thinking of seeing if i can find someone who can suck all the fuel out the tank so i can put fresh in there.

tonypoll wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:41

I may also be able to come over and lend a hand.
Do you have a new cam belt and cambelt tensioner bearing? It would be wise to fit new V-belts while doing the cam belt.
https://www.sjsportscars.com/home.htm should be able to supply you with all you need. Not always the cheapest (esp P&P), but I've always found them good quality, fast and reliable.

Tony

Hi Tony,

Yes i have a cambelt which my dad bought 16 years ago which dont worry guys will be going in the bin but he did buy the tensioner which is rather big with a big hole in the middle. looks like the below link so i am hoping that is the one i need as it looks bloody expensive. https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and- ... /SJ510.htm. I will be getting all my bits from there but if i buy bulk then it will be more worth the delivery.

You may only need a new bearing which is £50, that is a kit.

I pass by Lotusbits near rugby most weeks so can do collections for you if needed.

Postage is usually paid in beer