Just bought a semi dismantled Excel.. What could go possibly go wrong!

[Zaphod]

Hi I have just bought a large 3d Jisgsaw puzzle of I believe a lotus Excel fortunately it's not one of the 5000 piece variety (Yet). I found it on Ebay I like the colour (Anyone know what the colour is for when I get round to painting it..) The engine is alleged to have been recently rebuilt with new pistons, rod and nikasil liners (Is this a problem, I seem to recall Jaguar and BMW having issues with this) and had the crank reground with new big ends and mains and has yet to run. The doors are in bits but were in the process of being re hung so fingers crossed the beams are OK. My first experience of Lotus was 'helping' my father replace the chassis of his Elan in 1974 he sold that in 1984ish and I still have the original steering wheel from it, since then I have rebuilt an S3 Jaguar XJ6, MG Midget, Frogeye Sprite and an SE5a Reliant Scimitar and along the way learned to use a MIG welder, lathe and milling machine! However I can't paint for toffee..

but here is the link to the auction I won.. If you were bidding.. sorry!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Excel- ... 7675.l2557

[rbgosling]

Good luck! Looks like it shouldn't be too much work to get that all back together, but time will tell...

Nikasil liners are not a problem - I had mine re-coated with fresh Nikasil when I rebuilt my engine. The issues back in the day came from when cars were sold in countries with poor quality fuel, over time that damaged the coating, but in the UK it was never a problem, and certainly isn't now. Unfortunately the reputational damage was already done.

For the paint, there should be a code on the VIN plate (riveted to the RH front wing under the bonnet), then go look for that code on t'internet, that will at least tell you what the original colour was. Mine is Midnight Blue, which is a much darker shade of blue than yours.

[rbgosling]

Since the engine and gearbox are apart it may be worth replacing the clutch. I didn't do mine, and it's still holding fine, but I know when it does go I'll kick myself for not doing it when it was easy. That said, I've done 60,000 miles on this clutch and who knows if it had ever been replaced before then, so they do last a while (lightweight car!).

[Pete Boole]

Hi and welcome! Looks like a great project . Post up some photos as you progress. Do you know how long it is since it last ran?

Pete

[Zaphod]

I have no idea when it last ran, but it will have been a long time ago. The chap I bought it off has had it two years and he rebuild the engine, apparently one of the liners was beyond hope (I will post pics of that as all the removed parts will be with it) I do know there are no recorded MOTs online and that the HPi check is clear. From what the seller said it had not been on the road for at least 15 years before he got it in 2019. It does need new shocks and he said that the clutch plate looks worn. My plan is to get it back together MOTd and made presentable and daily it, a full respray can come later. As it will be a daily I would like to acquire the AC parts at some point, I was also hoping that the speedo was electronic so I could fit cruise (Average speed cameras on motorways are so tiresome!), but it seems it's driven off an old fashioned cable. But getting it back on the road is step one!

I should ask.. Is the clutch a Toyota one? and the seller says it needs a gasket fitting before the flywheel goes back on which he does not have, I've not seen the manual yet so not sure what this would be.

First silly question, does the engine use imperial or metric fasteners?

[Hawaiis0]

Hi Welcome.

You don't need the electronic speedo for cruise control.

You could try retrofit the lotus (BMW VDO) cable driven system fitted to the SA - as per mine. And yes it does work .

Stu

ps where are you located? I need some spares

[rbgosling]

First silly question, does the engine use imperial or metric fasteners?

So far everything I've found on the car is metric, and I've been over most of it, including full engine and gearbox rebuilds.

[Pete Boole]

Most fasteners are metric - there is some imperial stuff on the suspension and the doors have both!

Pete

[MetBlue]

Looks like a very worth while project.
Fully agree with your strategy of getting on the road and running it for a while. After 15 years, it's just itching to go again.
Pictures as your project progresses always goes down well here.
Tony

[Zaphod]

Hi Welcome.

You don't need the electronic speedo for cruise control.

You could try retrofit the lotus (BMW VDO) cable driven system fitted to the SA - as per mine. And yes it does work .

Stu

ps where are you located? I need some spares

Uffington!

[Hawaiis0]

Uffington!

You might recognise this then from last week - (i'm 13 miles away)

[pistolpete]

Your pretty close to me 25 miles away, shout if you need help or need to look at a stuff I drive over your way sometimes.

Pete

[Zaphod]

Well the car has arrived. As is often the case with remote purchases in some ways not as nice as thought and in others better than expected. The brakes and it seems nearly all the electrics outside both doors work! However.. there is a lot of blistering on the front of the car and the headlining has been redone in cream vinyl the doors have been reassembled but probably need th window frames re fitting

[richardw]

Sounds an interesting project.

I’m not sure if the OE cruise control was ever used on a manual, so there would be some additional wiring to do. There are kits that you can buy that include a Hall sensor to detect speed and include switches for clutch and brake that might be easier to fit than the OE version.

Anyway good luck and look forward to seeing your progress!

Cheers, Richard

[Zaphod]

All safe and sound..