S1 Lotus Elise 111S

[Joehow]

Tin Hat said:

The Nitron upgrade is night and day with an Elise, it doubled my enjoyment of mine.

Just keep an eye on those blisters, that may well be moisture in the fibreglass and if that is the case, you need a pretty specific bit of prep to eradicate them ( no prizes for guessing how I know……)

Lovely colour, have fun with it, looks to be a very nice example.

Thanks chap! Will be sending to get paint fixed soon enough once it's back from all the mechanical work. Ultimately it needs a repaint but I think I'll hold that off until next year!

[Resto157]

This looks like a cracking little car, fluid, braided hoses and some good quality pads made a massive difference to my Elise. Has the car had its Toe-links replaced? A must if tracking.




They go quite well once sorted, here’s a recent clip of a session round Donington

https://youtu.be/hvNW0MSxDF8?feature=shared

Edited by Resto157 on Wednesday 30th August 11:41

[Joehow]

Resto157 said:

This looks like a cracking little car, fluid, braided hoses and some good quality pads made a massive difference to my Elise. Has the car had its Toe-links replaced? A must if tracking.




They go quite well once sorted, here’s a recent clip of a session round Donington

https://youtu.be/hvNW0MSxDF8?feature=shared

Edited by Resto157 on Wednesday 30th August 11:41

Yeah toe links all done last year got the bills and can see the parts are nice and new. Donny looks good!

[Joehow]

Found the culprit for sure of the blowing exhaust. New Flexi all ordered and hopefully Simon will have it on asap. Everything else exhaust wise apparently looks good.

Overall he seems confident haven't bought a lemon!

Edited by Joehow on Wednesday 30th August 12:02

[Joehow]

More updates from the man... Cambelt is done and little switch installed to turn the fan on earlier when in traffic. Love someone who has this level of attention to detail.

[Joehow]

So cars all done and I pick it up tomorrow. The man says it's a car transformed! So cannot wait to pick it up!

RBF660 didn't turn up in time so had to put liquid gold in for brake fluid... Thought I left Castrol SRF behind with GT3 ownership... Ah well!


|https://thumbsnap.com/Ped8YP9H[/url]

Also the man fixed a few other little bits!



[url]

Geo wise we've gone for something that I can get used to the car on the road but will be okay for the odd bit of track work. We can then go from there!

Ride height 130/140
Front toe +0.5mm
Rear toe ~3mm
Front Camber ~1.75
Rear Camber ~2.0
Damper settings 12 from hard all round

Will report back once I've driven it tomorrow.

[Joehow]

So cars back!!!







What a transformation... I mean it was good before but my god this is otherworldy good. Simon at Classic Modern Sports in Heathfield is an absolute wizard. Everything feels like it's gone up in intensity the mechanical grip is incredible, damping sublime and steering which is simply majestic.

I cannot wait to get back on track now and see the transformation. If you're in the south near Sussex or Kent sod the big boys off and give Simon a call.

[MTW]

Nice! I bet it feels like a new car with those nitrons

[Joehow]

MTW said:

Nice! I bet it feels like a new car with those nitrons

Thanks pal

[Joehow]

Knocked the damping back another two clicks today to 14 from hard all round. Given how st our roads are at the moment this feels necessary and certainly has smoothed out the ride somewhat!

The bubbles in the engine cover are off to be sorted in Monday by the supplying dealer so hope that is a decent fix for a while before I do any big scale painting of the car.

I'm still enjoying it though, it's such a special little thing.

[bencollins4]

Joehow said:

So cars back!!!







What a transformation... I mean it was good before but my god this is otherworldy good. Simon at Classic Modern Sports in Heathfield is an absolute wizard. Everything feels like it's gone up in intensity the mechanical grip is incredible, damping sublime and steering which is simply majestic.

I cannot wait to get back on track now and see the transformation. If you're in the south near Sussex or Kent sod the big boys off and give Simon a call.

Looking good mate! Simon has looked after my Sport 135 since purchase six years ago. I’m just along the road from him so you must be fairly local to me? Highly recommended!

[Joehow]

bencollins4 said:

Looking good mate! Simon has looked after my Sport 135 since purchase six years ago. I’m just along the road from him so you must be fairly local to me? Highly recommended!

Hey Ben, I'm in Kings Hill in West Malling so a little further afield but not that far! Simon will shout at me but I'd like the car a bit lower so going to see if he can sort that for me. I'd do it myself but I'd ruin the rest of the alignment.

Sport135 sounds lovely!!!

[Joehow]

After getting stuck in the heat in the car in traffic yesterday I decided to get up early and meet some other 90s heroes in the form of my uncles 993 C2 with factory sport kit, LSD and suspension and then my Dad's fully restored 205 GTi 1.9. We all did a bit of back to back driving and while all very different it's so clear the similarities of what makes them special...

You as the driver make a huge difference, each have sublime chassis that are a joy to drive slowly as they are quickly. I may only be 35 but I am firmly in a place where 90s and just creeping into early 2000s are peak for just enough modernity mixed with classic characteristics.

Some pics....

[keo]

All three look great!

[RS Grant]

What a 3-car combo!!

[Joehow]

Thanks both!

[busengineer]

Great photos, its a picture of 1 I've owned and 2 I'd love to

[Joehow]

Been away for a bit but managed to pick up the deck lid from paint after it blistered from heat.... what an absolute b0ll0ck if a job to get that back on and aligned. Got some heat reflective strips to come which I'll run underneath to try and stop it from happening again.

The car then goes back to Simon tomorrow for a bit of adjustment on the exhaust alignment which I can't seem to get right myself.

Then finally after the initial geo, I've got some feedback on a few bits I'd like to change so some adjustments to be made. Then finally get it back!

[Joehow]

Exhaust now about as central as we can get it. It's a 20 year old Janspeed system so just pleased it's still alive.

Then I've managed to get the car a bit lower whilst retaining a bit of compliance and a nice neutral geometry setup. Can go much lower but the 195 NS2R tyre comes up so much bigger than any others so don't wanna have any rubbing or having to chuck a silly amount of front camber at it just for cosmetic sakes.



Gearbox mount feels a bit loose so asked Simon to have a look at that.

Then it's about getting some miles in it as I've shamefully only done 650 since I bought it in July. And I need to get confidence in it if it's going to the Black Forest next year.

[bencollins4]

Joehow said:

After getting stuck in the heat in the car in traffic yesterday I decided to get up early and meet some other 90s heroes in the form of my uncles 993 C2 with factory sport kit, LSD and suspension and then my Dad's fully restored 205 GTi 1.9. We all did a bit of back to back driving and while all very different it's so clear the similarities of what makes them special...

You as the driver make a huge difference, each have sublime chassis that are a joy to drive slowly as they are quickly. I may only be 35 but I am firmly in a place where 90s and just creeping into early 2000s are peak for just enough modernity mixed with classic characteristics.

Some pics....

Mid 90’s -Mid 2000’s is totally where it’s at for peak fun before things get too safe / sanitised / complicated!

I recognise that driveway above! Hope it feels better for you now it’s a bit lower? A yellow 111s was what I was after 5 or 6 years ago but once I saw someone selling a Sport 135 on SELOC, I had to have it! The close-ratio gearbox makes a big difference. Not sure off-hand if the 111s has that or not?

And to your other point weeks back, we have an office at Kings Hill that I worked from pre-covid and pre-home working - small world! Do miss taking the Elise through the back roads around Paddock Wood / Brenchley / Horsemonden / Goudhurst!