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The latest acquisition

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
My apologies in advance to those that provided restoration/engine builder information that, at least for now, was for naught. I had two choices, restore/rebuild the Beam or get the car I've always wanted. The Beam isn't going anywhere, it will just have to wait longer. For the same $ I got my Lotus Esprit. The transporter picks it up in Florida in 6 days, and I get it 5 days later. This kid is happier than the proverbial 'tornada in a trailer park.' I was only in Florida the one day to do the deal, so I didn't get any real photo opportunities, hence the low quality shots and lawn shot that's not even mine. That will change in about 11 days. :)

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puff4

Platinum Level Sponsor
Nice. Let me know if you have questions when you're fixing it up - I have quite a lot of experience with Esprit's.
 

64beam

Donation Time
Hi,

Very nice car :cool: . Are you starting up your own personnel Bond collection ;) .

Regards, Robin.
 

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
Nice. Let me know if you have questions when you're fixing it up - I have quite a lot of experience with Esprit's.

Really? So you'll know more about it than I do. Steep learning curve for this old dude. I guess I waited long enough to get one, better late than never I suppose. I will undoubtedly have questions, esp when the car gets home.

The restorer that handled the deal sent me a pic of the suspension after he got done replacing just about everything. Colors aren't original but the colors I chose to do my Alpine suspension with. Originality can definitely be taken too far in my book and the color of the suspension and chassis paint is not one I hold much value in. If I went with original it would be that red (kind of a primer red) in the upper left of the pic where the 3 rods come together.

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Well, I don't have an early series Alpine but the Bond thought did cross the mind having a Beam and the Esprit. The interesting tidbit in all this that relates to your Bond comment is the guy that offered a grand more for the Esprit than I did (after they accepted my deposit). The seller was a good guy or I'd have lost it. I guess this offer was from an arrogant dude that was literally collecting Bond cars. :)
 

64beam

Donation Time
Hi,

The body work in the pictures look very good. Is it the mechanical side of the car that needs work?

Regards, Robin.
 

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
Handbrake doesn't work, there's no knob in the end of the handle and it doesn't feel like it does anything when pulled. Headlight motor will work when 12V applied (gear was just replaced in the motor) but cannot be made to work through the cars own system (with the switch). Interior is supposedly recent, general condition of the whole car is in need of serious detailing. Wheels have gone completely dull. There are low miles (reportedly less than 1,000) but many years on the cambelt. That concernes me. Also has a Cambox leak but I'm told most do. Intermittent window lifts, from what I've seen.

Runs well, had 180+ compression on all 4 cyl. Carb specialist just cleaned out the carbs (Dellortos) and the jets (verifying all were correct ones) and I'm told it's running better. Nearly everything in the front end was just replaced (just not the steering rack bushings, and no work was done on the calipers) so I just need to match up the Spax shocks in the rear to the ones I had put on the front. Just did the shift linkage bushings, did everything to do with the opening of the rear hatch, it didn't latch, spring up, or stay up before this restorer worked it over. It just got a new ignition switch and rebuilt starter (old switch stuck to start, cooked the starter).

I have several items on hand just waiting for the car to get here, 1st item on the agenda is to work the headlights.
 

puff4

Platinum Level Sponsor
There are low miles (reportedly less than 1,000) but many years on the cambelt. That concerns me. Also has a Cambox leak but I'm told most do. Intermittent window lifts, from what I've seen.

The cam belt should concern you - this engine is prone to cam belt failure, and being a high-interference engine with easy-to-bend valves, you'll be into some serious money real quick if it does. And trust me, you don't want to be doing a valve job... it's about the most tedious job in the world on that motor. Just adjusting them could take a couple of days... literally.

Cambox leaks are indeed common, and the only way to eliminate them is with a *very* careful cleaning and blue-sealant... even then it's a marginal fix.

Intermittent window lifts are also common and have been a problem with Lotus' since the Europa. Water gets into the gubbings in the door.
 

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
There's a local club here that meets monthly, I'll check with them and see who they recommend to do the cambelt/leak jobs. I'll be working the headlight issue at home and giving consideration to getting the belt issue taken care of soon.
 

Eleven

Platinum Level Sponsor
"Handbrake doesn't work, there's no knob in the end of the handle and it doesn't feel like it does anything when pulled. Headlight motor will work when 12V applied (gear was just replaced in the motor) but cannot be made to work through the cars own system (with the switch)."

In other words, it is a Lotus.

Enjoy! When they are sorted, I doubt there is anything better. I always wanted an Europa or Elan but don't fit (a problem that is getting worse...!)
 

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
One more day to delivery......giddy as a schoolboy.

It was in Plantation Florida. The trip down there to pay the man was my first time to the south. A Lotus restorer was selling it for a friend of his and I stumbled onto it while looking at a Europa forum. I never found it while searching for Esprits, it never came up in any searches. Luck can be a funny thing.
 

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
You-all are probably bored with it but here's some better (not great) pics of the new garage occupant. Many hours spent last weekend (three days) and progress was slow as some things in the lights were pretty rough, the black surround on the right light pod needed to be re-constructed. I took two dustpans full of leaves and crap out of the bottom of the light wells. Found a decent phillips screwdriver in the left one......(insert head shake here). My weekend starts on wednesday so I'm looking forward to getting back to it. I'm halfway through removing the old dead clearcoating off the wheels.

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puff4

Platinum Level Sponsor
Looks great, but I don't think that garage floor is going to look too pretty much longer! :p

Oh, and when you go to change out the fuel filter, please take movies... I always find that job amusing... particularly the look on the face when the new owner (you) figures out where the factory put it....
 

wipeout

Donation Time
Re: pix #3. How fast does your neighbor have to be going to get that van in his garage?

LMAO...


Re: pix #1. Arn't you getting carried away with protecting your car? I mean, and awning INSIDE the garage?

:D:D:D
 

64beam

Donation Time
LMAO...


Re: pix #1. Arn't you getting carried away with protecting your car? I mean, and awning INSIDE the garage?

:D:D:D

I just wish I had the height in my garage for a car lift. That is a great setup, but I wouldn't park the lotus under the lift.

Regards, Robin.
 

hillmanhuskyguy

Silver Level Sponsor
Great car! Gonna make it go under water?
Seriously though, I've always like those wedgey Lotus'
Make sure you join the LOG (lotus owners group).

So I'll bite, where is the fuel filter ?

Cris
 

Rodewaryer

Donation Time
The Alpine is a non runner at the moment and it's best up on the lift. It's a storage lift with a full floor and a mechanical lock preventing it's lowering until hydraulically lifted and the lock released. The Esprit is perfectly safe.

The neighbor responded to my challenge about the van with a nonchalant comment about it not contacting the frame until he got out of the drivers seat. He isn't a small man. :)

So I suppose I should look up the fuel filter location in the manual but a hint wouldn't hurt? I also looked very diligently for extra switches, rudder controls and retractable electric motors. I guess mine's a base model as I found nothing extra. Dam.

3 applications of paint remover and 3 thorough polishings per wheel have them looking (about 12 hours) better, not as good as they could, but a lot better now that the old dead clear coat is gone. The photo shoot was part of my birthday festivities entertaining friends and family that really dig the Esprit too. If one notices the nose sitting a little high I'm of the opinion that it's due to the spare/jack/ tool kit being removed, I hope.....

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