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

If you spot one, shame them into owning up!!
If you are new to the Lotus position introduce yourself here. Please try to keep your the post to your introduction and your initial question/problems to the right formum.

Moderator: Board Moderators

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 279
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 »

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.
Image

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

Image

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

Image

Image

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...

Image

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!

Image

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

Image

Image

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

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4361
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

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

Post by Hawaiis0 »

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.
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4361
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

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

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Was the aerial foil in ok condition under the front section?
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 279
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 »

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!
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

User avatar
Alan_M
Senior Poster
Posts: 1251
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
Colour: Red, red, white
Location: South Wales

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

Post by Alan_M »

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.

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 279
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, 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...
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

User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1628
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

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

Post by MetBlue »

Major milestone. And in under 2 years : Well done. Just the final push to the finish line then
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3857
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

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

Post by Pete Boole »

Yep - excellent progress! Just in time for the summer :D

Pete

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 279
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 »

Pete Boole wrote:
Mon Feb 05, 2024 14:30
Yep - excellent progress! Just in time for the summer :D

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

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4361
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

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

Post by Hawaiis0 »

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
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1628
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

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

Post by MetBlue »

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
What goes together.... Must come apart.

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 279
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 »

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)
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

User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1628
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

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

Post by MetBlue »

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.
What goes together.... Must come apart.

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4361
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

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

Post by Hawaiis0 »

MetBlue wrote:
Fri Jul 05, 2024 08:48

Where abouts are you?..
My neighbourhood

Clue in his avatar details
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1628
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

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

Post by MetBlue »

Saw the Uffington reference, but there's more than 1 in the UK.
Assume the one near Swindon then.
What goes together.... Must come apart.

Post Reply