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

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Pete Boole
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Re: Just bought a semi dismantled Excel.. What could go possibly go wrong!

Post by Pete Boole »

That's going to make a great car when it's done 8).

Pete

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

Post by Zaphod »

The number of parts has been reduced!

Image
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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Hawaiis0
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Re: Just bought a semi dismantled Excel.. What could go possibly go wrong!

Post by Hawaiis0 »

When can I visit? :)
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

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

Post by Zaphod »

Well the engine is in
Image
Image
Image
Now to hang the doors..
Image
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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

Post by Zaphod »

Just noticed something, my car appears to have the front bumper from an earlier car.. is this the case? (It's a 1990 car with the center bonnet vents)
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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

Post by MetBlue »

From the one photo I can see with the front bumper, it certainly looks like the earlier one.
Missing the black over riders also.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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

Post by Alan_M »

MetBlue wrote:
Fri Feb 04, 2022 22:53
From the one photo I can see with the front bumper, it certainly looks like the earlier one.
Missing the black over riders also.
Tony
I concur.

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

Post by Zaphod »

MetBlue wrote:
Fri Feb 04, 2022 22:53
From the one photo I can see with the front bumper, it certainly looks like the earlier one.
Missing the black over riders also.
Tony
The overrides are on the bench in the garage.. one is a little 'distressed'. The bumper is currently fitted to the car as a safe place for it to be! but looks like I may have to hunt down the correct bumper.. this displeases me!
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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

Post by rbgosling »

SJ Sportscars supply new front bumpers for a '90 car (or at least they did about 7-8 years ago when I needed one). Downside was it was a 2-3 month wait, so I presume they are made to order, and not with any massive urgency.

Alternatively Lotusbits may have a serviceable used one from a scrapped car.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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

Post by MetBlue »

Watch out though, because late front bumpers come as two discrete moulded parts. Lights and overriders will transfer across and the grills are easily made with a bit of chicken wire of suitable size. There's also a heavy duty rubber strip running along the bottom edge, retained with a steel strip that rots away.
Best bet would be a full bumper from LB if they have one
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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

Post by Zaphod »

Todays progress, brakes are all bled, last weekend was fitting of new flexible hoses and replacing the steel brake pipes with copper, bonus was I found all the rear ones were already copper. Brakes appear to work, however the clutch does not. I seem to have nothing like the 15-18 mm travel it should have according to the service notes, more like 2-3 mm..
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

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

Post by Zaphod »

Well the engine had to come out to investigate the lack of clutch travel.. however no faults found :( The carbs are back and fitted to the engine and I have acquired a '90 bumper from lotusbits
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

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

Post by Zaphod »

Well The negine and box are back in the car, and this time the clutch appears to work.. the exhaust, speedo cable and reverse light switch are all back on and the fuel lines are back on, and the electrics all wired back up.. I now need to refit the fuel pump and fill the cooling system, after that its add battery and fuel, see what it does..
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

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

Post by Zaphod »

just a pic of the engine status as it is today..
Image
I'm fast running out of parts to put back on!
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

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

Post by Zaphod »

New plug keads arrived yesterday, so this morning they were fitted, and then I spied the easy start can so I just had to find out where the engine was. The result was with easy start the engine does fire so later today I think I will feed it some unleaded for further testing..
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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