NEW FRONT SPOILER FOR MY 84 TURBO ESPRIT HELP.

[andrew tolley]

HI I HAVE BADLY CRACKED THE FRONT SPOILER ON MY 84 TURBO ESPRIT AND I INTEND TO FIT A NEW ONE FROM SJ SPORTCARS, IS THIS A STRAIGHT FORWARD JOB, ALL THE BOLTS ARE QUITE NEW AS THE CAR AS BEEN FULLY RESTORED, ARE THERE ANY PROBLEMS I AM LIKELY TO COME ACROSS.
THANKS ANDREW.

[Esprit2]

Andrew,

Just cracked? Fiberglass is easy to fix. Unless it's really shattered, just have it repaired. At least get a quote. The new part will need to be painted to match anyway, so separate out painting costs. Then compare new replacement costs with repair costs.

Removing it isn't difficult. Just lots of bolts... some difficult to reach. Normal Lotus access issues.

You won't have to mess with the radiator duct, just the airdam assembly. Airdam, two closure panels, mesh grill.

Remove the bottom closure panels.

The wire mesh grill bolts in between the body and the airdam, so you'll have to unbolt it from one or the other. Or both to remove it entirely. Two small studs go up through the boot floor, way forward in the spare tire well. Three small studs go down thru the airdam. Remove the nuts.

The airdam itself bolts to the body tub. You will need to get a wrench on the top and bottom sides. An assistant will come in real handy.

Whichever side you start unbolting from, leave one loose but still hanging on. That will support that side while you work your way around to the other side.

Good luck,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
Minnesota, USA

[bojangles]

is the bumper piece plastic or fibreglass?
and where of the north are you ?

[Esprit2]

[quote] is the bumper piece plastic or fibreglass?
and where of the north are you ?[/quote]


I haven't torn up a bumper assembly (fortunately) and can't tell you what they look like inside. I suspect early G-Turbo bumpers are a fiberglass shell shot full of urethane foam. Just a guess. They could be RIM molded urethane. Just another guess.

Later Esprits with the full bumper caps (like yours appear to be RIM urethane. RIM = reaction injection molding. That makes sense since RIM tooling is much less expensive and makes more sense for low volume production than injection molding.

If a urethane bumper is cracked, it can be effectively repaired with hot-gas welding and/or some modern adhesives. The urethane cap on my grocery getter has two significant welds on it that are 7+ years old and still invisible.


I'm not as "up north" as you... I live in Spring Park, a western suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Regards,
Tim

[andrew tolley]

thanks for the advice, i will get a quote for repairing it and respray, i was just worried that stress cracks might return after it as been repaired, i am quite sure its fibreglass.