The restoration of a 1978 Lotus Esprit S2 | FerrariChat

The restoration of a 1978 Lotus Esprit S2

Discussion in 'British' started by JasonMiller, Aug 7, 2011.

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  1. JasonMiller

    JasonMiller F1 Rookie
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    #1 JasonMiller, Aug 7, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well, slap me silly, I found another S2 to restore.

    Bought the car for a great price in my opinion, clear title, frame perfect. Slight fiberglass damage to the driver door but the rest of the body is straight. All glass is good.

    Engine is complete but hasn't ran in many years.

    Interior, seats are crispy and torn, carpet shot, but the mouse hair (or whatever the interior is called) is absolutely perfect.

    Tired, worn, dryrotted and shot, wont even hold air for a second.


    With winter looming I plan to restore the car to original condition. I plan to do the work myself and if I blow it, who cares...

    Here are some pics as where it sat (In Washington DC) and bringing it home
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  2. JasonMiller

    JasonMiller F1 Rookie
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    #2 JasonMiller, Aug 7, 2011
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    Once home and tucked away in the barn, I removed the engine cover and wheels to inspect the brake system. They work fine when rolling the car but want to replace the brakes and rotors anyway.


    First purchase will be new tires so I can roll it around when needed.


    Like my black s2 I will put 225 60 R14 on the back (which are hard to find) thankfully I found a set on ebay!!

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290591151187&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

    On the front I will put 205 60 R14 which I found new at a local tire shop for $60 ea.

    ///////////////////


    I am not familiar with the Zenith Carburetors but will begin tinkering with the engine soon.
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  3. JasonMiller

    JasonMiller F1 Rookie
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    #3 JasonMiller, Aug 7, 2011
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    Any parts leads would be most helpful! I used to buy all my parts from a catalog or place called Sports Car world in Texas. Well, there website doesn't have the catalog anymore and seems as if the went out of business...

    If anyone has a source for new Lotus parts please send me the link...


    Today I hooked a battery up to see if anything worked, lights, windows etc. It seems as if someone destroyed the ignition switch as the key just turns around and around and doesn't engage anything. I cant even pull the key out!

    So on my first order will be a new ignition switch.....

    Any advice as to prep the engine for turning it over?


    Here is a pic of it tucked away in my little barn workshop taken late last night
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  4. etmracing

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    #4 etmracing, Aug 7, 2011
    I saw this on Craigslist. Looed like a great deal.
     
  5. JasonMiller

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    #5 JasonMiller, Aug 7, 2011
    Yeah, I saw it on Craigslist, made him a lowball offer and he said "sure come get it" I dropped everything and left for DC. He said a few guys were in line if I didnt show up..

    Anyway now the fun begins :)
     
  6. zygomatic

    zygomatic F1 Rookie
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    #6 zygomatic, Aug 7, 2011
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2011
    Congratulations (and good luck) on the new project. It's in rough shape now, but your 3/4 angle on the trailer shows just what an eye-catching a shape the S2s have.
     
  7. etmracing

    etmracing Karting

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    #7 etmracing, Aug 7, 2011
    Congrats im happy to see it on here. I look forward to seeing it come back to life. Any Lotus is a very special car.
     
  8. Wade

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    #8 Wade, Aug 7, 2011
    Nice find and cool picture of your shop... almost surreal
     
  9. kevfla

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    #9 kevfla, Aug 7, 2011
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    Yeah...it looks like a very detailed diorama! A ton of character! Is that a beadboard ceiling?

    KevFla
     
  10. JeremyJon

    JeremyJon F1 Veteran

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    #10 JeremyJon, Aug 7, 2011
    kool......fitting workshop, like a small english country side carriage house.....just need a union jack hanging in there somewhere :)

    ...speaking of which, as a boy i always wanted a union jack paint scheme S2 or turbo! LOL
     
  11. JasonMiller

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    #11 JasonMiller, Aug 7, 2011
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    Yeah,

    My shop is a 1850's miner cabin close to the Cumberland Coal mine in Kirby Pennsylvania. The farmer bought it in 1920 and moved it to its current location to use for a woodshop. It has wooded floors and an old wood burning stove that barely heats the place.. two lean-to car ports on the side.

    Here is another pic of the outside in interior in the day
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  12. lotustt

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    #12 lotustt, Aug 7, 2011
    awesome
     
  13. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #13 rdefabri, Aug 8, 2011
    Love it! I like the early Esprits, and for some reason find projects attractive.

    Best of luck - keep posting the progress!
     
  14. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
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    #14 Schatten, Aug 9, 2011
    Subscribed!
     
  15. climb

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    #15 climb, Aug 10, 2011
    Will look forward to the pictures....
     
  16. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 wax, Aug 10, 2011
    Each inanimate object in those photos looks like they've got Soul & Stories . . .
     
  17. brownsgolf

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    #17 brownsgolf, Aug 16, 2011
    What is the red car in this picture? It looks like some sort of pre-war race car.
     
  18. GrigioGuy

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    #18 GrigioGuy, Aug 16, 2011
    VW-based Bugatti replicar.

    Technically, the VW is a pre-war design ;-)
     
  19. Pepsi10

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    #19 Pepsi10, Aug 16, 2011
    Good luck. An '85 was my first super cool car, mine was jupiter red
     
  20. JasonMiller

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    #20 JasonMiller, Aug 17, 2011
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    It WAS a Bugatti kit car, I removed everything referencing Bugatti .. It on a VW chassis and is truly a blast to drive
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  21. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #21 climb, Sep 3, 2011
    This thing restored yet?
     
  22. JasonMiller

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    #22 JasonMiller, Sep 3, 2011
    Thanks for asking, some pics and updates coming tonight!!
     
  23. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #23 climb, Sep 3, 2011
    Nice.
     
  24. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

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    #24 4re Nut, Sep 3, 2011
    Ditto! Neat project.
     
  25. JasonMiller

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    #25 JasonMiller, Sep 3, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have multiple projects going at once, while I am waiting for a part to come I focus on another part of the car. The interior carpet and seats are shot so I am stripping them, the exterior needs paint and has some damage so I am also working on it.

    I have not tried to turn the engine yet as I cant seem to get the spark plugs out, not that they are stuck, but my socket will not fit into the small place the plugs are located to remove them, how the heck are you supposed to remove them??



    Unfortunately the starter ignition switch is broken, the key turns with no friction or spring action as it should.

    I have searched for a part number to no avail to replace the ignition switch and also I cant find a way to remove the switch from the steering column. It appears as if I will have to drill out the rivets to holding the ignition switch around the steering column.

    Below is a picture of the ignition switch and the rivets holding it in place...


    Also maybe I can rebuild the switch in place??? Dunno...


    ..
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