Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
Member
Username: 86mondial32
Post Number: 489
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 10:43 am: | |
WOW... I just got back from a machine shop that i was referred to for some major work on my Esprit. 4 other local shops had said no and this was my last hope. From the outside it looked like crap and was in the worst part of town. It was a two man operation ( the boss and his helper) and the front room reminded me of pics from the 50's.
They took a look at the Esprit block and said that both the deck and all of the liners were off. The deck was high to low and all of the liners had been machined incorrectly before ( they were now tapered and beyond factory limits).
According to Lotus you must buy a new piston and liner set if you go past a certain amount of clean up. We were WAY past that and I was looking at about 6k in liners. The shop boss reccomended that I have a set of custom pistons made and that we just clean up the liners to fit. Okay... why not.
Just got back from seeing it all... WOW>>>>>>
the new pistons are forged instead of cast so much lighter and stronger. They are already balanced and laser cut perfectly. The block looks like new and the honing is incredible. Best news... total cost was UNDER a grand.
I learned a lesson today. Finding an old fashioned engine builder beats all of the new pristine shops anyday. He was a wealth of information and was willing to spend time working with me and answered all of my stupid questions. The shop that made the pistons sent a full build sheet so I know every step they preformed and also they included an install sheet with checklist. I also foudn out today that even though they look like a hole in the wall they have a full rolling road in the back and a engine dyno room that looks like NASA. |