The Lotus Grand Tourers

OK time for an update..
The driver's side carpet was torn up and partially missing and the passenger side was filthy and not looking like much would remain after it had been scrubbed so that all had to come out, the headlining had been ripped out and replaced badly by a previous owner with creme vinyl which had lots of air bubbles and lumpy glue. So I have replaced the carpets and started on the headlining.

This is just as I was clearing the lumps of glue from the roof.


I hooked an oversized section of headlining in the gap at the rear of the roof and used bits of cardboard to wedge it in



Then sprayed High Temp glue on the underside of the roof and upper face of the headlining material.





and then cut the excess off with a Stanley knife OK the edges are a bit rough, but the trim panels go over that area...



and then put the rear seats back in, I know the bit over the roll over bar will have to come back out when I do the front section next weekend but it's safe from dirt where it is!



and some pics of the rest.. Eventually I might get the leather clean!

I capped my rear section with a piece of plastic U Channel sprayed black.

Just push fit it into the gap between glass and roof with the excess material holding it.

Did a tidy finish.

Was the aerial foil in ok condition under the front section?

Hawaiis0 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 17:58

Was the aerial foil in ok condition under the front section?

It was. Sadly, the glue used for the vinyl headlining is a bit too strong and it's ripped a lot of it off. I am wondering if a roll of speed tape will do the job!

Zaphod wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 23:50

Hawaiis0 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 17:58

Was the aerial foil in ok condition under the front section?

It was. Sadly, the glue used for the vinyl headlining is a bit too strong and it's ripped a lot of it off. I am wondering if a roll of speed tape will do the job!

Just glue some Turkey foil on the roof to replace it. Needs to be metallic.

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...

Major milestone. And in under 2 years : Well done. Just the final push to the finish line then
Tony

Yep - excellent progress! Just in time for the summer

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 05, 2024 14:30

Yep - excellent progress! Just in time for the summer

Pete

Which summer? the power steering lines have rusted and won't come out of the rack...

Zaphod wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 01, 2024 22:51

the power steering lines have rusted and won't come out of the rack...

MetBlue had a similar issue I believe. See his thread

Yep. Been there and got the scars.

There's a bit in this thread
viewtopic.php?t=11650&start=15#p102279.

There's a bit more in the thread about the Saginaw pump. Search on "Saginaw". I'll find and edit with a link later.

It's possible to get the rack out of the car with the pipes still attached - just.

It's bi-metallic corrosion that 'welds' them in. Chances are that if you DO get the pipes out, they won't seal again when refitted. If the rest of the rack is serviceable, a machine shop could maybe sleeve and fit inserts.

In my case though, the valve block was Donald Ducked, but fortunately the company doing the rebuild had a serviceable outer they could use.

The pipes are expensive too, so don't get tempted to cut the pipes out to make removal easier unless you intend to replace. Once the racks on the bench you can gouge out the corrosion and save the pipes.

Good luck.

Tony

Do you know if the pinion casing they used was from a normal sierra rack or the variable one? I ask as I actually have a very good standard sierra rack which may provide the main pinion casting if needed (the casting looks identical)

No idea, but if casting looks identical it will fit so why not just try the Sierra rack in the car?
Where abouts are you? I still have the old casing for comparison, although cut up.

MetBlue wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 05, 2024 08:48

Where abouts are you?..

My neighbourhood

Clue in his avatar details

Saw the Uffington reference, but there's more than 1 in the UK.
Assume the one near Swindon then.