bumper conversion...

[Ozzy_UK]

many people swapped to the later style '89 bumpers/bonnets from the original ones?

anything to watch out for? im hoping to get a 2nd hand one, build a plywood splitter, and blend it into the bumper, then send to be painted...

Oz

[steven popay]

The 89my bumper is the same as the 85 onwards but a lot of it is cut away and has the fibre glass spoiler riveted to it, the 89 bonnet may need some fettling as my replacement bonnet was not a straight fit and needed the bobbins moving but my replacement bonnet had been "worked" on before.
steve

[terry]

Don't forget Ozzy, that the bumper is not GRP, it's plastic, and flexes a lot more than GRP would.

It will have to be rivetted or bolted,I don't think that GRP will bond very well directly to it.

Terry

[amarshall]

Ozzy - I have a spare 1990 bumper in my parts store at the moment - and will have a slightly damaged spoiler to go with it (missing the brackets that hold it on at the side) when I've finally found time (and weather) to spray and fit the replacement.

Make me an offer ?

[steven popay]

Angus i think my bonnet is the matching one to your bumper if it was the one from durham, wasnt a good bonnet but the only one in the uk available at the time with central louvres"

[Ozzy_UK]

Ozzy - I have a spare 1990 bumper in my parts store at the moment - and will have a slightly damaged spoiler to go with it (missing the brackets that hold it on at the side) when I've finally found time (and weather) to spray and fit the replacement.

Make me an offer ?

what color? was hoping i could get a 2nd hand one in white from mike taylor for circa £80ish... so would need to be considerably less than that?

[amarshall]

Ozzy - I have a spare 1990 bumper in my parts store at the moment - and will have a slightly damaged spoiler to go with it (missing the brackets that hold it on at the side) when I've finally found time (and weather) to spray and fit the replacement.

Make me an offer ?

what color? was hoping i could get a 2nd hand one in white from mike taylor for circa £80ish... so would need to be considerably less than that?

The bumper is calypso pink and the spoiler is monaco white between the stone chips I think I paid around £40 or £50 for the whole assembly so around half that would make me a happy chappy.

[Ozzy_UK]

Ozzy - I have a spare 1990 bumper in my parts store at the moment - and will have a slightly damaged spoiler to go with it (missing the brackets that hold it on at the side) when I've finally found time (and weather) to spray and fit the replacement.

Make me an offer ?

what color? was hoping i could get a 2nd hand one in white from mike taylor for circa £80ish... so would need to be considerably less than that?

The bumper is calypso pink and the spoiler is monaco white between the stone chips I think I paid around £40 or £50 for the whole assembly so around half that would make me a happy chappy.

done msg me on facebook and we will sort out monies/pickup... (im in northampton tomorrow - sat for a friends funeral... with 89 other lotus's)...
Oz

[bash]

this might upset some purists...but
A few years ago I was at Donington when a guy was walking by with a very late Esprit front spoiler assembly under his arm, the one with the big chin and lots of scoops (the spoiler, not the guy), and being cheeky I asked if I could offer it up under the excels front bumper. Surprisingly it wasnt that far off, certainly within fettling range. So, how about esprit wrap around bumpers, front spoiler, cover plates for the joining strips, and bulbus sill covers for a total transformation. The rear bumper assembly would probably give the effect of a rear venturi. I dont know how much it would cost and Im not that good with photoshop, but its worth a thought. Lotus didnt get flack for updating the esprit, so how about an excel on the same lines.

bash

[Pete Boole]

Funny you should mention that Bash - My new bumper for the one-piece bonnet is made along those lines. It's not painted yet, but I'll try and get a photo next time I fit it.

Pete

[Ozzy_UK]

i had that same thought when i saw Si's front bumper on his Black JPS esprit (see the stripes thread)...

I think i want more of a "splitter" than a wedge though... i am looking for some actual downforce, and im going to flat bottom the car with some sheets of alli if i can make it fit, and the exaust gets enough ventillation... will go all the way to the back like the under tray of the elises...

Oz.

[Pete Boole]

Here's a couple of shots of the mkI version of my bumper. It will probably get modified again to alter the radius of curvature of the corners (I think I made these a little tight), and to make it lighter, depending on how it behaves with a good head-wind!





As you can see the car is a mix of Calypso red and Calypso orange! It's likely to remain cosmetically challenged for a while.

The headlights aren't quite finished yet.

This is how you get to the engine etc:




You can also remove the front entirely - makes getting the engine out somewhat easier.

Pete

[Ozzy_UK]

Pete that looks excellent...

have you a rover V8 in there?

looks like i will be going down the Jag XKR route with the superchaged 4.0/4.2 engine and a TVR T5 gearbox...
I have a friend who works for racing green who thinks we can easilly get 550bhp out of it!!

love the hinged front "clam", any more pics of how you did that, the Aero catches look awesome...

Also how much was the roll cage? (as i will be putting one in too) and where from?

Oz.

[Pete Boole]

Thanks Ozzy. The engine is a 5.7l Chevy engine - LS1 - all aluminium V8. Much less tall than the Rover engine. About 320hp and the same torque. It's mated to a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed and a BTR hydratrac limited-slip diff. I've had an ordinary steel prop-shaft made but I shall look into replacing it with an aluminium one later - depending on cost!

Pete

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Can't wait for you to finish and get some performance figures ...should be f'in ffffaaaaaast ! And NO bonnet bulge as a bonus!