Excel on eBay - what do ya reckon?

[rbgosling]

There's an Excel on eBay right now - item 370410188072. Non-SE, '87, blue.

It's in Falkirk - close enough to Aberdeen that I don't mind travelling there to pick it up, but too far away to go over and view in person before the auction ends. So, if I buy it, it'll have to be sight unseen (unless someone on this board lives in Falkirk and would volunteer to take a look for me!).

Couple of issues - apparently it's had Dellorto 40's fitted "to improve fuel economy". Any thoughts on this? What carbs are normally fitted - I thought it was already Dellortos, or is it a different model? Do they really improve fuel economy? Is this at the expense of performance? The owner says it could do with a tune-up, so I'll probably do that - but if the original carbs give better performance I might swap back first (particularly if the seller still has them).

Front diff seal is weeping oil - how major a job is it to fix that?

There's a paucity of pictures, so I've e-mailed the seller to ask for more, plus questions on other issues that may/may not be a problem - door beams and window frames, any engine work, headlining, electrics, air-con.

The seller had originally put it on for £2,700 starting bid, and no-one bought it. He's now re-listed it at £2,000, seems like a reasonable price? But there is the risk of committing to buy it unseen.

Grateful for any thoughts that anyone may like to share...

Richard

[Bagpussawake]

Glad to see you're still looking!

I've got Dellorto DHLA 45 Carbs on mine, they are £680 for a new pair at SJ Sportscars so worth getting the original ones from the owner if you can.

Not sure about the front diff seal but the thread here seems to reckon the output shaft seals are easy to replace in-situ:http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... eal#p17089

Diff can apparently be difficult to remove but I'm not sure if that needs to be done to do the front seal...

I'd ask about the timing belt, I was just under £200 to get a garage to fit the belt and tensioner I gave them, the belt and tensioner cost about £130 from Lotusbits so you might want to budget for that anyway for peace of mind....

Btw Went to Skye for the weekend with Mrs Bagpussawake and the little monster, the car was just awesome despite the (slightly longer now ) list of things needing 'fettling' so you're definitely making a good choice looking for an Excel!

[rbgosling]

Not only still looking, but jumping the gun a bit! Had meant to wait until the MG BGT was MOT'd and sold. Cracked radiator delayed the MOT (got a new one to fit this weekend), then I'm off on holiday, so she won't be for sale 'til mid-August. Still, they don't come up for sale in Scotland too often, so I'm sorely tempted to jump on this one!

I'm getting more suspicious about the carbs. Did some brief research and as far as I can tell Excels all had different variations of Dellorto 45s. My best guess at this point is something went wrong with the original 45s and the owner replaced them with 40s 'cos that's what he could get hold of most cheaply or easily that would fit. The "for better fuel economy" sounds to me like an excuse come up with after the event to try and justify the swap to the potential buyer. The car is a Lotus - why would someone prioritise fuel economy over performance in this sort of car???

[Bagpussawake]

Nothing wrong with jumping the gun, I had to agree to sell two cars before I was allowed to get mine but still managed to buy first

I think you're right about the explanation for the carb choice being a bit odd for a car like the Excel, makes me wonder if other cost savings have been made in the maintenance

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Very sus! I would not bother considering it even (especially!) at that price.

You can tune Dellorto 45s for economy by fitting smaller chokes and appropriate jetting....for Gods sake some 1040cc (less than half a 912 engine!) Imp engines use Dellorto 45s!

Assuming it's a non SE, the 40s will strangle the top end so it is very unlikely to produce 160 bhp at the revs the cams are designed for. You could make the 40s feel very torquey at low revs, but if it does, it will run out of puff quite quickly....plus if the ign advance curve hasn't been modified to suit the fueling then ...again very sus! And if the advance curve has been modified then it'll have to be rectified along with the carbs!

You can get 33 mpg out of an 180 bhp SE on long runs without sparing the horses!

Wait for something else. If you are tempted 'cos of the gutter-level money then that's just what you might get. Sounds like false economy to me.

[irishwolfhound]

i agree with clan sounds dodgy if you want better fuel then why not do a rolling road detune lot cheaper??? and why didnt it sell the 1st time i wonder.asking price youd want a pretty clean standard car for the price, dont get me wrong some great buys on ebay some not so good i bought mine of ebay needed work but and the big but here is i only paid £475 for mine

[rbgosling]

Got some answers back from the seller. Good news is that the door beams have been done and there's a recent cam belt change. Bad news it's not only the wrong carb, it's the wrong engine! His full reply:

"I replaced drivers hinge bar.all electrics are working ok.cambelt changed at MOT time & full service then.no aircon.headliner replaced in spring but glue not good in heat,will restick.window frames sound.A 907 was fitted around 2004 as i was unable to get a 912 at that time but have retained power steering,car flat until 2k then takes off,will require tuning,cheers."

With the engine issue I don't think this is for me!

[Lotus-e-Clan]

907 engines went through a lot of development. It wasn't until it got to "E" spec cams (about 1976) that the 907 engine began to produce useful torque below 3 krpm.

If the 907 engine fitted had lower than E cam spec it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding below 3.5 krpm. ...And the Excel will be significantly heavier than an pre 1976 Elite or Eclat especially if a 501 or 521 (no PAS or A/C).

Still should have Dellorto 45s though, even on a 907.

[rbgosling]

Well, I didn't buy it, nor did any other sucker.

The search continues...