Lotus Esprit V8 Construction & Safety | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Lotus Esprit V8 Construction & Safety

Discussion in 'British' started by MD355, Jul 2, 2018.

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  1. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
    Full Name:
    Stu R
    Great post, but what, can I ask is the difference between the beam part used for US vs Can that have different part nos? I thought the US has additional reinforcement?


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  2. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,769
    Toledo, Ohio
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    Tony K.
    #27 Tony K, Jul 12, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2018
    Stu,

    I don't know the difference between the US/CAN and Rest of World door beams, but I am certain they are both alloy, and expect that the difference is going to be something ancillary, such as a notch or screw hole for a hinge, door handle, making space for another component, etc. For example, maybe the different location of door mirrors necessitates a slight modification to the beam to allow clearance? Or maybe they altered or revised the beam at one point but had to continue to use the existing Federal beam as-is because it already met regs and they didn't want to have to re-test? Just guessing.

    - Tony K
     
  3. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
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    Stu R
    The beam picture as I recall looked different. Happy to bow to your knowledge, only worked on and around UK models. Never saw roll protection as an issue. Parking, speed bumps, aircon and interior clips maybe


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  4. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
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    Stu R
    A079U4396K (there’ll be a L/R hs one too) is the fella! I believe this was a USA (Federal) market door stiffer for at least S1&2 cars. Not used on UK and RoW markets (eg CAN). Don’t remember S3 and in fairness later V8. But a lot of older parts carried over to S3 cars simply because of the cost of renewing US safety certification - eg the exterior door handles. Not sure at what point it became cheaper to produce a universal door beam that met US certification standards, or if this continued.

    Still not worrying about the roof - most likely scenario: glue failing on the headlining and falling on you and suffocating you whilst trapped upside down!


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  5. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,769
    Toledo, Ohio
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    Tony K.
    If you have a picture of each beam either a drawing or in real life, I'd love to be able to compare. Or if you have a pic of a UK beam, I can try to get a pic of a US/CAN beam . . .

    (EDIT: Typed this before you posted your most recent post)
     
  6. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,769
    Toledo, Ohio
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    Tony K.
    Interesting . . . I'm not sure what this piece is, and I've taken apart enough Federal S1 doors that I should . . . I see that from about the 9th Federal car onward they switched to all markets having the same door beam . . . so I presume Federal cars got door beam + stiffener . . . and maybe in later years they just ended up with different door beams as opposed to adding a part to the Federal one?
     
  7. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
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    Stu R
    No worries T, half the time my giant thumbs mean my posts are two posts behind!!

    I ran a car club when in the Forces a long while ago and a couple of guys had lotuses. There was a lovely V8 that was pretty sorted but a very unloved Essex and a S2 that was original except for the 2 chassis, 3 bodies and the changes mechanicals!! It was hanging around these, some fun but unreliable Elans and an Elite and excel. It was the Elite that actually pushed me to a Mondial, as I decided a 2+2 was what I wanted and found the F relatively easy to work on and personally preferred the look.


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  8. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
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    Stu R
    LOL and there I am a post out!



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  9. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
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    Stu R
    Yeah - I just don’t know at what point the S3 or later cars got the same. I have a parts book on disc somewhere - show my age. Not sure if it has the V8....

    I posted a link (much) earlier which is for a UK specialist that was used and still going. If I get a mo I may dig into their parts piece. No football worth watching anymore, sorry, soccer!


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  10. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
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    Stu R
    I need to get out more!

    A082U6228J Door Beam,
    RH Non USA/Canada

    A082U6230J US CAN.

    So I believe these are the V8 door beam numbers which suggest a different part for US/Can vs UK/ROW.

    No idea of it’s a grommet or 18” of plating. But I’m sure it’s a safety cert issue - cheaper to have 2 doors than make all like USA or revert a part for US/Can market.

    Do you remember when searching the www was for pn!?!?


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  11. hyenahf

    hyenahf F1 Rookie

    May 25, 2004
    2,603
    i have an euro S3. the beam is extruded alloy and probably the nicest structure in whole home depot like built car ! haha its looks the same as my buddies fed S3 turbo.

    whats curious is my and other ROW cars dont have the pad strip running across the dash forward of the glove box you see on usa fed cars. i reckon its some sort of impact safety addition.
     
  12. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
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    Stu R
    That dash piece sounds like the dash knee pads some US Mondial (t) had. Was all part of safety kit.


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  13. MD355

    MD355 Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2004
    794
    Athens, Greece
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    MD
    While we are talking about Lotus Esprit V8, do you know if a 2001 US version Lotus Esprit V8 has Secondary Air Injection (SAI) system/pump ?? Thanks !!
     
  14. MD355

    MD355 Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2004
    794
    Athens, Greece
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    MD
    Finally, I took plunge and bought this amazing 2001 Lotus Esprit V8 Black / Magnolia Creme !!
    I already own a Ferrari 360 Modena (Rosso Corsa with Manual gearbox) , a Porsche 993 (Polar Silver with Manual gearbox) and a Mercedes SL 55 AMG (Black - daily driver), so the Lotus Esprit V8 was a great way to complete my garage !!

    I only drove it 50 km from the delivery warehouse to my garage and I am waiting for the license plates and new registration to be able to drive it !!

    The first impressions were amazing !! In comparison to the 360 , the Lotus seems like a race car - you sit very low, lots of vibration, very very little ground clearance, and a tight fit in the seat !! But it definately feels special to drive !! Like an event !!

    The build quality is average, but the interior leather is top quality !!

    Driving it is a little tough, especially the gearshift and the twin disc clutch, I think I can get used to it !! It makes the 360 look like a refined luxury car !! LOL

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  15. MD355

    MD355 Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2004
    794
    Athens, Greece
    Full Name:
    MD
    To provide further justification for my purchase, the Ferrari 360 is the perfect mid-engined car with NA engine, 5 valves per cylinder that revs up to 9000 rpm and sounds amazing !!
    The Porsche 993 is the top of the line, most modern, prettiest (IMHO) and has the last evolution if the legendary metzger aircooled wngine !! Plus it is rear engined, something completely different than what other sports car makers build !!
    The SL 55 AMG is a German dragster in disguise !! It has a hand built 5.5 liter supercharged V8 with tons of HP and torque that drifts like crazy and sounds amazing with its cross plane V8 !!
    So I was always missing a turbo charged car that you can tune !! I wanted to feel the turbo lag combined with the sounds and characteristics of a turbo car !! Plus something that you can tune and get more power !! So the Lotus Esprit V8 was the ideal choice !! I will keep you updated !!
     

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