The Lotus Grand Tourers

So, the Excel addiction continues. I have just picked up an 87 SA on Friday that has been off the road since 2008/9.

I took a chance and bought unseen, other than photos, but after a good chat with the current owner, and pleased to say it appears to be better than I expected - but early days.

It has a genuine 57k miles and general wear seems to back this up.

It has a few known faults, sorry foibles that need sorting

1. Hazards only work on right side
2. front indicators work ok until side lights turned on, then stop.
3. Steering rack gaiters falling to pieces
4. upper ball joint and track rod end rubber boots split
5. passenger window not working
6. carbs p***ing fuel all over starter and distributor from accelerator pump
7. A/C not working
8. passenger foot well turns into a pond when car washed
9. Central locking not working
10. unable to lock, unlock passenger door from outside
11. Needs full service
12. Bonnet release cable to passenger side broken
13. tyres are correct size, but cracked

Some good stuff

engine starts instantly with good oil pressure and runs well
door beams and window frames appear solid
working purge pump
working dim dip headlights
paint work generally very good
still has rear brake back plates

things already sorted

indicators fixed - had 21w bulbs fitted in sidelights, fitted correct 5w and now indicators flash
hazards fixed - relay replaced

And some photos

















The carpeted roof The rest of the roof sections appear to still be factory covered, but in very poor condition


two thirds of the family

Well done dude, love the leather interior ( still jealous of other peoples leather interiors ), that looks a keeper. Hopefully you wont roll the car and need the carpeted ceiling but Im sure you will be putting the correct one on your list. The colour of the car is also cool. Ready for the Winterbottom run perhaps ?
No pressure.
Bash

Fantastic purchase Alan! Genuine rolling resto.

Pete

Nice choice - 1987 Excel sa.....your list is fortunately not as long as mine

Neil.

Looks great. Roof carpet isn't that bad -maybe a darker red would have been a better match with the paint, but in principle, I like carpeted roof linings. Had one in my 1972 Stiletto back in the day!

Nice one Alan. Cracking colour, but it won't be the same without the patina of lacquer peal. .

Tony

Cracking choice. See it saturday at castle coombe

Love it! You’ll enjoy driving it I promise!

Cheers, Richard

Looks a great project. Need to sort the fuel going on the distributor ASAP. Good spot regarding the wattage of the indicator lights.

Another Excel will be saved.

Keep on the good work.

Rgds Curt

A little update

1. Hazards only work on right side. - relay replaced and correct wattage bulbs have fixed this.
2. front indicators work ok until side lights turned on, then stop. - correct wattage bulbs fitted and working.
3. Steering rack gaiters falling to pieces
4. upper ball joint and track rod end rubber boots split. - removed old boots, cleaned and greased ball joints as no play in them and fitted new rubber boots
5. passenger window not working. - found to be faulty switch on driver’s door panel supplying constant 12v to window up relay - switch replaced and working window
6. carbs p***ing fuel all over starter and distributor from accelerator pump - replaced accelerator pump diaphragms and springs - no more leaks
7. A/C not working
8. passenger foot well turns into a pond when car washed appears to be door seal. This actually too short in circumference to match aperture, so there’s always a gap somewhere. I also tried the door seal from my other Excel and this was the same. So it appears the door aperture has been cut larger on this car ?
9. Central locking not working
10. unable to lock, unlock passenger door from outside - operating rod found to be missing so lock not connected to anything. Also central door locking rods all removed
11. Needs full service
12. Bonnet release cable to passenger side broken
13. tyres are correct size, but cracked
14. coolant tank internal pipe to expansion chamber blocked - swapped to one from other Excel at the moment
15. short solid brake pipes on front callipers - driver’s side kinked so badly fluid flow would be affected although appears new along with new callipers. Passenger side pipe is older, but leaks at union with flex hose. Drivers replaced (passenger’s to do)
16. small leak into boot when it rains - found spoiler bolts loose - tightened and leak gone.
17. needs new fuel breather hose fitting

Look how quickly you got through that lot, knowing exactly what to do from previous experience.

Lotus-e-Clan wrote: ↑

Sun May 15, 2022 16:11

Look how quickly you got through that lot, knowing exactly what to do from previous experience.

Seems to be going slow, but coping with a dose of COVID at the moment which is slowing me down, but previous personal experience and the collective experience of this forum certainly makes things easier.

Re 8 in your issue list above - maybe you have the LWB version?

Cheers, Richard

richardw wrote: ↑

Mon May 16, 2022 14:36

Re 8 in your issue list above - maybe you have the LWB version?

Cheers, Richard

LOL, maybe? Could Lotus having copied the AMC Pacer for this feature?

I seem to recall Tony also came across the issue of the original door seal being too small, so he used a Woolies seal bought by the metre. I think I will be doing the same.