Exige S1 Restoration (images changed).

[jody391]

How much was the part ex bud?

[jonnyfox]

£250 +VAT + 4 PX's though Jody. I was refurbing the S2 ones in the pictures, the S1 brakes were proper Manky, had them as well. Lotus and DeRoure quoted £288+VAT each. SJ Sports Cars (Steve) was a pleasure to deal with. Wheel arch liners are excellent.

 

I have also sold my refurbed drive shafts and bought new OE from Dave @ Seriously Lotus. Oh and I've sold the PF pads and bought Pagids off him too, the TMRs can do without the skag.

[jody391]

Cheers Jonny, just weighting my options up on a re build myself or some kind of exchange.

[jonnyfox]

So after a few months off time to get back on the job. Ideally I'd like the car back on its wheels, sills and interior painted and back together by Easter.

Armed with some off cuts of 1.5mm PVC and 3M Surface cleaner I got to work. I saw that the sill covers were bonded to the chassis with 3m VHB tape while helping Ben. I use this at work. So I sharpened one end of the PVC of cuts and pushed the desired piece under the sill cover (all my weight) about an inch at a time along the length of the top then along the side. And off they came, not a single mark either, spotless! The surface cleaner does a good job of removing firstly the foam on top of the tape then the adhesive. It's messy, there's soggy adhesive everywhere but it works.

No idea what the stuff was under the seats, mega bonded to the base the PVC just wouldn't lift it. Actually it was quite brittle so I gentle used a clean scraper and mallet to lift and snap a piece off bit at a time. Next out came the vac, more 3M surface cleaner followed by toothpaste, a brush and a magic cloth (type thing via Halfords). Haven't done the footwells yet, will do them and the bottom dash panel when it comes back from paint.

Next out with the interior.  The coin trays I had to get an electrical screwdriver in from the side pushing through the bond front to back. Using those handy PVC panels I slide one under and hammered away with a mallet. The PVC proved brilliant once more not marking the chassis. Off it popped! The top vents came out really easy as well using a cable tie to hook around one of the three clips inside the vent, the Dobbo technique. That's as much will come out, the outer part is riveted in although I am considering removing the windscreen.

[DeanB]

Can't wait to see it at LitP Jonny. Car Of The Day?

[jonnyfox]

Half car of the day :-) Will just need an engine and body panels. But hopefully it'll be look neat and tidy if not in the buff.

[AlanS1]

Looking great. 

[Matt C]

My word, that is a thing of beauty.

Cracking work.

[Dr H]

Inspiring stuff!

[jonnyfox]

Cheers. Just had confirmation the sills and interior are being painted w/c 25th. Same week as the retrim. Once that's done I'll buy a FEV extinguisher and plumb that in desreetly.

[chris_h]

Looking really good, Could you fit in a new exige 350 gear selector mechanism !!

[jonnyfox]

Now there's a nice thought, isn't it stunning!

[Steve J]

Hmm fantastic.  Next time I'm in Sutton (and you're around) I love to pop in and see this.  I'll be totally depressed when I get back to mine mind

[jonnyfox]

By all means Steve.

[jonnyfox]

After a proper good clean BONZA! We got the wheels back on baby, 13 months and its back on the floor, get in

Off to paint the sills and interior then.... Oh but not before I grab an air hose and blow out the NooKs and Grannies!