Resurection of my SE

Resurection of my SE

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Scotty2

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

265 months

Sunday 15th January 2012
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After two years off the road I have raised enough funds now to get my Turbo SE resprayed. I got it all mechanically sorted then the OSF oil cooler let go and it was put away as I had no time or cash to sort it out. Started it yesterday and prepareed it to go to the garage for a rebuild of the front valance (new one) and the oil coolers. Mine must be one of the earliest still about (# 11) and I will post pics when work has started.

The coolers seem a bit dear but I can't see the alternative part - Still it's a Lotus...

Looks like a sod of a job to get at hence it's farmed out to someone with a ramp.


Oilchange

8,421 posts

259 months

Sunday 15th January 2012
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Oil coolers rot in other cars too, not just Lotus'. Maybe people don't talk so much about it...

My Esprit has 2 and they went (a year apart) at the connection, corroded pipe threads that eventually had to be cut off then drilled carefully out to protect the thread on the hose. Incidentally, the cost of new ones was very similar wherever I looked.

Still, glad your car is up and about, a garaged Esprit is a sad Esprit, after all.

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Monday 16th January 2012
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My V8 Esprit has done 27000 miles and has needed due to rust, petrol tank re furb, turbo lines, new turbo studs and clamps, de rust and repaint suspension arms etc etc
The last owner for 7 years hardly used it - the spacesaver spare had 22psi in it!

BIRMA

3,803 posts

193 months

Wednesday 18th January 2012
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Mine is a 2001 V8 and I'm planning on having the suspension arms removed blasted then powder coated as they are well rusty/manky, while its all out I plan to fully polybush it and probably put the final series suspension/shock absorber package fitted, having looked under a few they all seem to suffer from this. As V8 FOU has mentioned the petrol tanks, turbo acctuators can be a problem with the Esprit as well. I guess its all part of the Esprit experience.

Hedgerley

620 posts

267 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I can sympathise. The arms, springs and damper bodies and most of the undercarriage on mine (2001 V8 also) are very corroded. I have focussed on the engine ancillaries recently as they seem to be in the spray all the time. I've already replaced the turbo lines, waste gates and cats and have a couple of new turbos to install as there appear to be lumps of metal falling off the turbo bodies, exactly the same as my previous 1998 V8. And one has a small oil leak as well...

Do the factory still do the bush and suspension upgrade? I enquired a few years ago and had a reasonable quote.

BIRMA

3,803 posts

193 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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The guys who replaced my turbo lines have wrapped them tightly in a foil type material which makes sense. The full polybush set costs a bob or two but if my RX7 was anything to go buy its a night and day transformation.

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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My turbos had the same problem, so I made new tabs to hold them together - needed a lot of oxy/acetelene to get the bolts out though. PNM do some rather good braided Aeroquip type lines which should last better than the oe ones.
Lotus do an upgrade suspension kit, Bilstein shox with Eibach springs for about £1200. They also do polybushes - but SJ are a lot cheaper for those apart from the front lower arms which are Lotus only at £33 each and you need four!
On the subject of heat wrapping, I wrapped the INLET pipes from the turbos to plenum with heat wrap and the exhaust manifolds and turbos with heat blanket from Agriematch.
I did the suspension arms by grinding off the rust and painting with Hammerite smooth. I prefer this to powdercoat, as powdercoat can chip and the moisture then gets underneath. The Hammerite can be touched up. You need a lot of new bolts for a suspension overhaul - the rear housing is not easy and needs a press to avoid breaking it.
Then there's the petrol tanks - real rusty fun too!

Hedgerley

620 posts

267 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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I had a quote from the factory 2 years ago and it was nowhere near as expensive as I thought - £1420 for the Bilstein/Eibachs including all the necessary poly bushes. That was without the full geometry check and set up or labour of course.....

Are they still available from 'new' Lotus - I am thinking of getting it done in the summer.

BIRMA

3,803 posts

193 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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You might be in for a shock (excuse the pun) I've just got the prices for the final edition suspension package £1500 and a full polybush kit all around about £800 then there is the cost of doing it, as its not the sort of thing I could attempt to tackle but I know a man who can. When I was setting up my RX7 for track days I had it fully polybushed and new Tien coilovers and the transformation was night and day although there was a bit more noise transmitted through into the cabin it was worth every penny particularly after Wheels in Motion did the tracking.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 23 January 16:06

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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You will get the polybushes for a lot less at SJ Sportscars. Current retail price for the shox/springs from Lotus is around £1100 + vat. Price quoted last week.
Tried mine out with the bushes done this weekend. Big improvement, and no difference in ride quality.

BIRMA

3,803 posts

193 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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Do you know what the complete set cost? We seem to have the same taste in cars as i've just bought an Alpine A610

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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Approx £350 + vat as I remember. If you look on their website that will give you an idea. Better have a look myself as I have to quote the same job for a customer!

Bibs_LEF

790 posts

206 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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As a point to remember, SJ's (and PUK) sell bushes which fit the holes, Lotus bushes have been through the engineering dept at Hethel and are the right ones for the car. Ask SJ's what research they did, what testing etc before you save a few quid and completely alter your cars handling.

Oilchange

8,421 posts

259 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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Good point. Lets face it, it's what Lotus do best after all


Hedgerley

620 posts

267 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
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I was going to have the upgrade done at the factory. As well as the Lotus hardware, the bonus was the test drive and set up to original spec by a Lotus chassis engineer on the Hethel test track and surrounding roads. In my view that was well worth any extra expense - and good bragging rights down the pub as well biggrin.

Is this still the deal Bibs?

Scotty2

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

265 months

Saturday 3rd March 2012
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MOT in hand and oil cooler and a few other recommissioning glitches sorted!

Been for a quote for a respray to my local trusted bodyshop and just waiting for the estimate.

Body is good with no blisters or crazing but laquer is peeling off and some areas have gone matt.

Must check on if there are older ones on LEW.

Scotty2

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

265 months

Wednesday 6th June 2012
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Dropped car off at the bodyshop today for full respray. Will have before, during and after pics...

Just need to buy a set of tyres now for the fresh wheels.

Scotty2

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

265 months

Friday 7th September 2012
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Back today.

Delays due to me getting bits and not keeping my deadlines...

Excellent job and with the new tyres, no vibration. Driving like a new car!