The Lotus Grand Tourers

Three horse race. I might just be favourites. There's an incentive

Yep. Even I might beat Pete

Does this mean I have to get on with my SE as well - finished painting it 2 years ago and done nothing since!!!!

I'll be at LITP - don't think the Elite will be

Pete

Does this mean I have to get on with my SE as well - finished painting it 2 years ago and done nothing since!!!!

Good point. You could be a serious contender in what's now a 4 horse race.

But I'll have most horses!

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 19:35 But I'll have most horses!

Pete

Can’t wait to see them set free!

But I haven’t decided how I’m going to rebuild mine yet!

But, I’m sure it won’t be anything close to yours !

I've learnt how the original lower grill sat and was retained.

Picture is a little confusing as it has the remnants of the original frame and the new SS remade one, courtesy of Pete.
As seen, the original is much larger, covering the whole area from the bottom of the upper opening, to the back of the lower opening. There's a stainless trim clip ( circled in red) that held the front edge, with two tabs, one either side, about 3 inched back (one circled in Orange). I think the bottom edge probably just floated. The side clips face down, so the grill can be removed from underneath, allowing access to the A/C fittings.

No reason it needed to be so large, so I'll be investigating a fix (Clip) at the lower edge and use the same side tab idea as the original.

I have 1 of the original Smiths cooling fans ( with steel fan blades) and in the interest of keeping some originality, would like to return to these blades from the plastic ones so readily available these days (hence the 'wanted' post). Conscious they are most likely less efficient, I'd thought about mounting a Revotec slim fan in front of the radiator (blowing) in the space between the A/C condenser and the rad. Mocked it up yesterday though and there's only 45mm max space between the two. The thinnest Revotec fan is 53mm !
I'm trying very hard to avoid any Spec creep - Are you listening Mr Boole? - so although I'm sure I could move the condenser forward slightly (or even leave it out as the AC never worked and probably never will again), I think we'll just stay with 2 originals steel bladed fans. It was no doubt considered good enough in 1974 by Lotus, and I don't think Global Warming has been so great in the last 50 years it will make a huge difference.

Also I believe that reducing the distance between the rads would be more efficient for air flow. Mission creep - me?

Pete

Some say that 'modern' fuels make an engine run hotter, but I suspect it is really modern fuel systems can run engines leaner hence hotter...but I'm sure if all is in good but original order it will be fine, if the traffic is that bad on hot days you can always cut the engine until the traffic moves on, and then hope for a successful hot restart with no purge! I've had a look and mine look like the original style of motor in the original location but with yellow plastic fan blades: it's always been 'cool' with me. I did get a 'box of old bits' from the previous owner that I seem to recall had one maybe two steel fan blades in. I'll get up in the garage roof space and take a look this weekend...

Andy

Never really had any overheating problems but I have found that having the headlights up allows alot of hot air out from under the bonnet when sat in traffic.

Heading for a milestone later today.


This is the last of the "original" 1970's Lagoon Blue, soon to be gone. N/S door in the background already in 2K filler primer.
I don't want to tempt fait, but I feel there's a real chance I could be checking out an unopened tin of Cellulose Lagoon Blue paint, (bought approximately 35 years ago ! ) in the next few weeks. The tin has never been opened, and been turned over every few years. I spoke with the distributor I bought it from recently and I think he'll be as interested as me in how it has survived. He did say there is a chance - Place your bets now.

Take the in to a paint supplier / DIY store and ask if they'd put it on their tin shaker

That sounds a good idea.
Bash