The restoration of a 1978 Lotus Esprit S2

Doh! I can't believe I let yous slip this one out from under me in my hood! Well, I guess I have too many projects going as it is.

Good luck on this one!

Paul

 

When I got my MG the engine wouldn't turn over no matter how hard we cranked on it. This was after pouring oil down the spark plug holes. In talking with the neighbor who restores tractors he told me that what they do is dump kerosene into the motor and let it sit for a day or two before trying to turn it over again. Worked in my case and obviously requires an oil change after.

 

Jason,

Looking at the photo posted above, are you trying to turn the engine by the camshaft sprocket? Don't -- the belt can tear or skip and they you have bent valves. Put the wrench directly on the crankshaft, from below. It's tight, but a normal-depth socket with no extension is all you need. It's either a 17mm or 19mm (I forget). Just turn the engine the same direction you would tighten the bolt.

- Tony

 

alot of times there is a plate or access hole in or near the bellhousing so you use a flywheel turning toolor big pry bar , filling the motor to the top with kerosine ( pickleing ) is what we do when a boat sinks + locks , let it sit a few days , pull the plugs and try to turn it over, then when free lube it up real good. good luck , i had a 85 turbo lotus , i liked it lot , it was alot of fun , shifted like butter , + handled super , they are cool cars . you know they make a kit to install a SHO motor and gearbox in that chassis .

 

i really love the series 2...a pure sports car and about as pure a mid-engine wedge design as there ever was! have fun and block sand the bodywork til your finger tips go numb.

at all costs, resist using a DA as you will not be happy with the waves in the bodywork.

pcb

 

DA = Direct Angle (sander or grinder). Because the body is fiberglass (as opposed to steel), it's too easy to sand right into the gelcoat when trying to remove paint/strip the body. Sanding into the gelcoat is the cosmetic equivalent of grinding into the metal on a steel-bodied car; now you're messing with the contours of the body. Only it's much easier to grind into than steel, and not as fun to patch/recontour.

I agree with Pete -- hand (block) sand -- best way to carefully preserve those razor-straight lines and very slight contours.

 

bump

 

I'm probably a bit late, but a few words from the UK. Those are not rivets holding the ignition lock, but security shear bolts. The bolt heads are necked so that the heads shear off once you reach a sufficient torque. I practical terms you are probably right that drilling the bolts out may be the answer, but if you can cut a notch into the steel with a cold chisel you may be able to drive the bolts around and out.

The same lock failure happened on one on my Rover SD1's, jamming the key.

The lock is standard LUCAS fair that looks very similar to that on Rover SD1's I used to own, also Austin Maxi and Austin Princess/Ambassador and very much like my current Triumph TR7v8. Given that Lotus used Austin Princess electrical switches it is not a great leap to imagine that this is also an Austin Princess ignition lock...

The electrical switch can be removed from the lock, although the switch isn't designed to be rebuilt I'm sure something could be done if you are careful. That said, it sounds like your lock is a bigger problem?


As it is a Lucas part, look beyond Lotus specialists, maybe try: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/
They specialise in Leyland / Rover / Triumph... They are not listing anything in stock on the website, but may be able to find something to match?

Otherwise there are enthusiasts for Leyland cars (Austin, Morris, Rover, Triumph, Jaguar...), so a search for these might help.


I hope these ramblings help... Good luck.


David
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Wow, Jason, what a basket-case.

That car is lucky to have stumbled across you

Keep the updates coming, it's really interesting to watch the transformation.

 

updates?

 

Thanks.

Best of luck on the new job.

 

Holy Moly, omg, ohhhhhhhh shiiz, I think thats the same car that my dad bought and then sold to some Junk Yard Owner in Stafford Va and then the guy took it to his house on a hill to restore. Cause when my dad bought that from the auction it had the same hole in the door, the mirror was crooked, all the tires were dry rotted and flat, the interior smelled horrible, had some receipts in the dashboard thing, and WE put oil down the spark plugs cause it wasnt cranking. WOW, and it had the F'ing washington dc plates, no rear bumper, holy #$%. Did you really pick this up in Washington or In stafford Va. Where was it parked, behind a house infront of a garage on a hill, or in a storage unit. PLEASE REPLY cause I just wanna know if this is that car cause everyday I get up and think that the car was crushed, thanks