New addition to the MLOC family

[Martin R]

Jon E, we are both OK thanks. We will have to catch up. Everytime i look at the date of LITP im sprinting somewhere normally.

[richbk]

So today has been a day of progress but quite a few ups and downs .  Clam is off and all in good order . Light fittings , fixing points lightly corroded. All electrics seem ok , just need some additional wrap, so quite happy with what we have found .

then the issues , discs off , brakes off , began to undo the bolts on the arb , all fine ,

then steering rack and wishbones started and can’t get the nut off the spinning centre of the steering ball joint ? And ideas or suggestions 

bolts did come off top wish bone as managed to get plier in to hold the spindle but can’t split away from hub carrier :((

and to top it off the Allen bolts holding the back of the hub carrier appear to be made of cheese so 1 is rounded out already …….

so feeling a little deflated this evening 

[Jonathan E]

Have you got a dremel Rich. If not buy one👍

[richbk]

3 minutes ago, Jonathan E said:

Have you got a dremel Rich. If not buy one👍

I have and it has been working over time , just ordered some new ez click cutting blades and a screw removal tool too …..

[Jonathan E]

7 hours ago, richbk said:

I have and it has been working over time , just ordered some new ez click cutting blades and a screw removal tool too …..

I didn’t think you’d have got as far as you have without one😆

[Martin R]

You will be changing the drop links so get the hacksaw out. Only use six point sockets as well. They grip on the flats and not the corners like 12 points do. That allen headed bolt will be a PITA sadly. Always make sure its full located before trying to undo it. ( tap gently with hammer ) Just thought, push the rubber boot back towards the joint on the drop link. Some have a couple of flats to get a spanner on. I know the Toe links do. 😀

[jonnyfox]

Just awesome Rich 😁

Brings back memories. 

 

[richbk]

Brief update . The car is outside on axle stands to allow us good access all around as my garage is just too narrow to work safely and comfortably on both side . However since we raised the car it has pretty much blown a fail, rained , hailed or snowed every frickin day !!

so this morning brought sunshine , Martin R on speed dial ( a gentleman and all around legend ) and a couple of tools borrowed from a local super helpful garage . 
whilst the weather has off we retrieved the headlights and brackets along with all the grills , all of which were dirty but in surprisingly good order considering it’s outside life , so they are all getting a rub down , clean and a cipher of layers of black rust proof paint for longevity and  looks

[richbk]

So with the couple of hours of sunshine we have managed to remove the remaining parts of the front suspension , steering arms , hubs etc ready for cleaning up and replacing all the bushes and ball joints . After taking of the remaining under tests that that a small woodland habitat living on them !!
is it best to leave all the old items in place whist we clean up and possibly shot last  the wishbones ?

Martin has kindly offered to let me borrow his  tools , so I visit to my old stomping ground is due over the next week or so . 

I have also managed to secure a mint condition 2nd hand set of 2009 24k exige s2 Bilsteins with all bolts and new mounting plates at a reasonable price from up north so just need to order the refresh kit from seriously lotus or Elise parts . Seriously s is a fair chunk cheaper and seems to contain everything I need, or am I missing a trick ??

day off tomorrow so if the sun shines again I will get the radiator cowl cover off and have a delve inside there . It all needs a really good clean down , what products do folk use . Engine and machine cleaner seems to do a good job but worry it’s a bit severe ??

thanks

Richard  and Ethan 

[Jonathan E]

ACF 50 is a good cleaner and will also protect. I always worry about the anodised finish on the Elise, my usual approach is good old soap, water and elbow grease followed up by autoglym motorcycle cleaner(cheaper if you can buy bulk from an autoglym man) then ACF.

Muc off also do a motorcycle cleaner that others have used with good results.

[richbk]

Cheers Jon , clean up is always satisfying , but want to make sure it stays protected so will add the acf50 to the list , along side the duralac and the por 15. ……..trying really hard to keep costs down , but will keep a record and publish when done to give a true cost of the job for anyone else considering doing it . 

[Jonathan E]

Add disposable gloves if using POR 15, brilliant stuff, but sticks like sh*t to a blanket😄

[richbk]

A brief update on this weeks progress or lack there of . Work and the weather have conspired to stop me getting the suspension and wishbones off the rear so this is priority this week so they can go off to be blasted and prepped for next stage . 
couple of quick questions ….

how do you remove the parking brake cable , is it a simple task to remove and re fit ?

how do I remove the track rod (if this is correct term) from the end of the wishbone . The set up seems different from my exige where this seems to be fitted to a bracket rather than directly onto the end of the wishbone , unless I aren’t seeing it correctly ? 
 

whilst not much has happened it has probably been  the most expensive week if the resto. With Seriously lotus refresh kit with oem bushes and more sexily a very clean set of 22k miles S2 exige 2008 Bilsteins . Managed to get these via eBay from a great chap down south . 

also received a new/old radiator and fan .
I know most will say I should have gone pro alloy whilst I was going the job , but budget is tight and for £35 for both items from a chap clearing out his garage of bits not used as part of his own project a few years back , it seems like a sensible oem replacement.
pic below shows difference of condition . 
question I ask myself is now this ….

I have 2 working fans now , and mounting points on the new rad to place them both . Is there a worthwhile benefit fitting both , ? Is it simple electrics by running 2 sets of wires into 1 connector block , will I end up with 2 fans running at 1/2 speed ?? Will I blow the fuse controlling them . Forgive my ignorance please electric boffins . 

apart from that we have cleaned up , rubbed down , prepped and painted various bits like grilles, light brackets, mud flaps , brake callipers  ( any suggestions on colour , can’t bring myself to leave them oem as have always painted as a accent on the car , but deep purple and silver wheels is tricky ….)

thanks in advance of any advice , gratefully received . 

Richard and Ethan 

[i wanna ferrari]

I may be wrong but im pretty sure dampers off a Toyota engined car will not fit on an S1 so please check this before you spend too much time trying to fit them etc.

[Jonathan E]

2 hours ago, i wanna ferrari said:

I may be wrong but im pretty sure dampers off a Toyota engined car will not fit on an S1 so please check this before you spend too much time trying to fit them etc.

I think that might be correct, I missed the bit about them being from a S2 Exige, even if you could get them to fit I’m pretty sure the valving would be wrong due to the Toyotas added weight?