The Lotus Grand Tourers

Where is the throttle return spring fitted on a 1989 Excel SE? I remember there was one hanging off the carbs when I dismantled them to take then off the euro carb, however as the engine was in bits when I got the car I have no idea where it attached to and I’ve forgotten how it was connected to the...

Both bonnets I have show this issue! I bought a spare the instant I saw one, my cars original bonnet that is currently fitted has been repainted which was not too bad, sadly the rubbing down was a little too zealous and both sides of the bonnet bulge are slightly concave… one of those once spotted y...

Now I have my car running it makes the most awful noise when the bonnet is shut. The reason is obvious, the lower section of the central bonnet vent that holds the mesh in place ha come adrift and rests on the alternator fan. The question is what was used to attach it and how do you fix it back in p...

Well, I finally drove it.. Brakes work, steering works, gearbox and clutch work.. Now I need to get the lights all working again, the radio to work again and the windscreen changed.. then I can take it for an MOT! Didn't take too long really...

One other thing… when you get the engine out your very fist job should be to check the main bearing ladder for ‘+15’, this is bad news if it has, it means it is one of the 1% or so of 912 engines with 0.015” oversized outer diameter main bearings which are near impossible to buy, when I needed them ...

Hi I have three pistons spare, depending on the grade letter on your pistons (I also have a 4th but it’s terminal, as was it’s liner). Along with three liners that could benefit from re coating, you have PM I also have the lotus 900 engine ‘training manual’ which look more like the engine section of...

I have used a marginally different approach, fill the system with water/washing up liquid, run to temp (to get the system to operating pressure) the leak will normally have bubbles coming out of it, (unless it runs at silly temps) if not apparent let it all cool down and empty it then pressuring it ...

Thanks Zaphod. I'd got the car, but not the numbers. Like a lot of the later cars, I suspect your build date is at least 9 months earlier than the first registered date. I have an SA recorded with VIN just 10 cars earlier, but registered 28/04/89. Reg date was 16th Feb 1990, It does have all the 89...

I would guess you already have mine but..

Reg G867FRF
Engine number DB912890426103
VIN SCC089912KHD12857

Registered as an Eclat Excel

Pacific Blue with cream leather

Still yet to fit it, I also am uncertain if I have the cam belt tension right as I'm unsure of the operation of the 'guage'!

it’s the other two holes that attach it to the unedersidenofnthe car I am wondering about, the captive nut side seems missing, or the bolts I have tried to use are too short! It also looks like the under-tray is a poor fit, this may just be a function of it being a hand built car, or does it all pul...

I am at the stage of refitting the air intake undertray. However I did not remove it so am uncertain how it goes back on! I can see some holes which I assume had bolts through them on each side but is there a captive nut I can't see or do the headlights have to come out?

Well.. It has now run under its own power and made 3 bar cold dropping to about 2 when warmish before running out of petrol. It does have an odd squeak, however as the PAS is near devoid of fluid I won't worry too much about that!. Currently it has no throttle cable attached or front wheels fitted (...

No, I got genuine Lotus parts from JAE in California in the end.. cost me £380 delivered, ordered on a Tuesday and on my doorstep on the following Thursday can't fault them! They have them on the shelf with the exception of the plain bearing with a hole, so I got an extra plain one and put a hole in...

OK I having acquired the correct bearings and got my engine back together I have primed the pump using a drill. The last time I tried this I got a maximum of 1 bar. This time I got 5 (72 psi ish?). The pressure takes long enough to drop to see the dash gauge still falling after stopping the drill an...