1987 Lotus Excel SE

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

er...........yeah,..............about that normal service being resumed................

 

We've just had two of the greatest days that sometimes, just sometimes, Pembrokeshire delivers.  Epic, sun-drenched days...........so that meant the beach.  All day yesterday and part of the day today...........so I've literally only done one thing on the Lotus (shed was sweltering in this heat..............) and that was to try and get the left hand carb off..........and failing miserably because of this nut that feels like it's crossed threaded and rounded.

 

It's also a bugger to get off as everytime you go to loosen it, it moves the entire arm of course.  As I'm such a midget (or perhaps short-arms?) bending over the side of the lotus to reach for all of this...........combined with the heat, led to a quick decision to piss off down the beach...........

More later this week.  

Hope everyone else is keeping ok.  Onwards!

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

And the plan is to clean everything on the carbs, around the carbs and generally tidy things up as I'm able to, whilst the carb is off the car.  I'll do the other one too/side.

[grogee]

My stepdad said yesterday was a great day for being under a car. He was right of course but it was almost too nice and I was doing normal adult things to make the most of the sunshine. 

Do you have / can you get a nut splitter on that carb throttle lever? Or a dremel type mini tool with fibre cutting disc thing... Good luck, I stripped the thread on my Mini's SU carb doing that bit but in my defence I was young and stupid. 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

And so............slight update, not Lotus related.  Got offered a job today, verbally (nothing in writing yet as the MD is on holiday)...........but it's such a relief (I'm accepting it, subject to no onerous terms etc etc) that I'm totally done in tbh.  I went out to the Lotus this evening...............but I'm punch drunk so just sat in a plastic chair and stared at the ceiling for 15 mins before packing up and coming back in! 

Normal serv.........oh, I've already mentioned that and singularly failed to deliver on that promise............er, I'm getting back on it from tomorrow, need my pit now (well, not immediately - son is working til 11.30 tonight so will have to go and get him.  Think they're picking up 800 acres today.)  

Not sure I'm supposed to be putting this tidbit in the new news thread?  Hey ho, let me know.

[2flags]

Great news on the job offer. Hope this all works out for you. You'll soon be back in the saddle working on the Lotus.

[grogee]

Awesome news! Happy for you. Chair-sitting next to an immobile Lotus sounds like a perfect celebration. 

I had a little* trouble getting a written offer after a verbal offer, I hope you don't suffer the same bullshit limbo I had to go through. 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Thanks both!  I'm busy hedging my bets (by telling the other companies interested in me that I'm waiting on an offer and if they would like to speak to me again to do so pronto).  You never know.  There's one particular company that have expressed an interest and I'm interested in them that I'd really like to work for ..............but they are s l o w to respond (they've been slow all the way through the process, no difference in behaviour, if that makes sense).  

 

 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

And well.................yes..................er, about that update.  I'm still fiddling with the carb that's leaking (thought I'd fixed it by tightening up the bolts underneath, then spent ages - very fiddly - putting it back on the car..........only for it to leak...........so it's got to come off and a new gasket set ordered)..................

In the meantime I drove my Father in law to a vintage show where he was displaying an early orchard tractor (allis chalmers, the one with the american engine, rather than the french one they did).  Massive turnout - loads of tractors and some really good cars there too (plus stationary engines which i like seeing working).

 

Here's a smattering of the turnout.  There were two lotus carltons, a whole breakdown (is that the collective noun?) of moggis and some really good stuff tbh.  But the weather...............

Really interesting forestry mccormick

Frazer Nash

Love an early Land Rover (of which there were several, and an early long wheelbase one with a capstan winch on the front)

A lovely Austin with a nice detail

Cortina's galore but this one stood out for me (Lotus connection of course);

(ignore the reflection - couldn't get up once I'd knelt down so you'll just have to accept it!)

And more;

Really like this;

And this........

Ignore the thumb;

It's half term this week so that means more time in the................field..................trying to round up the sheep for shearing/worming/feet clipping and generally spending too much time on them (I really don't know how farmers make a profit on sheep).  I'm going to try and get time on the Lotus (because ironically I'd like to sit round the back of my car in a field in the rain all day - those photos were taken at opportune moments - !!)

My father in law has also given my son a load of Allen Scythes - some with quite rare attachments - which we took to a show about 8 years ago.........but the weather was so bad it put us off..................but...........you literally never see them at these shows so............we're going to take those to the next show (well not all of them but a selection anyway - the one with the pump, the one with the electric hedge cutter and dyno and the one with the evil wood cutting wheel) at the end of June - with possibly one of the ones with grass cutter and one with snow plough on too.  

I'm possibly picking up a 'Jeremy Clarkson' Range rover too (on the cheap, one of the last in 2012, a westminster, one owner).  More on that when/if it happens.

I've got to recommission the allen scythes (get them started basically) - if anyone is interested I'll post updates here too.  

 

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2024 by Oi_Oi_Savaloy
missing words/punctuation

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

...............And the savaloy is back................not that I'd gone too far away you understand, just nothing to materially update on here.  Helped shear our sheep yesterday .........which has utterly broken me tbf (they're my son's but he's busy working 17 hour days at the moment whilst we've got dry weather- silage waits for no man) so that's good.  They're now back in their respective fields looking.............bald. 

 

On the Lotus - I've fixed the carb and got it back on the car BUT the bugger wont idle well (or start particularly well).  There's lots of air in the fuel lines which means the tank connections need looking at of course (no drips from a cursory look the other night) and I'm going to check the spark plugs too (you never know - might help) to see what sort of state they're in. Half the exhaust is missing too (everything to the rear of the long middle section is on the floor because the over-the-suspension-pipes need changing.

But making progress now at least.  Mechanic is coming over saturday too which is good.

 

Half term and sheep jobs over so can now go back to the Lotus!

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Yes well, June hasn't gone according to plan.  Job contract still hasn't come through, although I'm due to start on 1st July.  Still talking about the car allowance and other minor details.

In terms of the Lotus............it needs money throwing at it now and I'm v reluctant to commit to things before that contract is signed.  

I've been prepping the front end of the car for the new radiator - I can't use the old fixing locations as it's a different radiator to the norm (see previous posts on that).  So today I've made a start in putting in the new locators for the radiator (which meant drilling new holes in the bodywork - well not the actual bodywork but a removable glassfibre venturi-like  upper tunnel piece that sits above and a separate cover that sits below forming a seal for the air to hit the radiator.) 

It's difficult to photograph and hold up the aluminium radiator so bear with me - aint exactly Bailey-esque on a couple of these shots.  You'll note that the 'chicken wire' needs changing  - not a priority for the moment so that stays like that.  But it will be done.  Got to mend the bottom lip before that too (off the car at the moment).

You can see the channel that the radiator rests against;

Offered the radiator up (trying to show you guys how it sits in the channel);

You can just make out the factory holes and my tape shows where my tabs roughly hit the top of the tunnel;

And drilled (but also with some minor, horrible, fettling to try to enlarge the hole without using the drill again - it didn't need much but it still looks not good -but saving grace is, you can't see it once the radiator is in);

There's alot of things that need to happen before I can button everything up on the engine - the first of which is a new cambelt.  Now we know the engine runs the cambelt and tensioner will be changed.  There's quite alot that needs to be removed before you do the belt and tensioner and bearing in mind everything that needs to come off is currently sat where they should be but only finger tight I'm going to remove that lot and change the belt now.  But its money so not yet.  Hence me mucking about with the radiator.

Elsewhere I've been using neats foot saddle food to re-energise the leather (particularly on the dash board that is in a v poor state of health).  I chose neats foot as you can buy it in bulk (horsey people use if for saddles) and it's cheaper than the car stuff.  Plus I'm in and out of the county store alot (chicken food, heptavac for the sheep, you name it, we constantly need it) so thought I'd see if it works (worst case, I can always buy some 'proper' car stuff if I have to).  So far, so good.

I've also been trying to fix the topper for the tractor (have put new guards on it, front and back so debris being ejected by the 3 rotors - it's an absolute beast of a topper - over 3m wide) so that's taken alot of time up.

And I've also given the Golf a full service and I've been working on our Hyundai santa fe too (horrible to work on actually but a very good motor otherwise).  

I can post pictures of the topper and tractor too if anyone is interested.

 

 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Also note the rusty bolts and washers.  Literally every nut and bolt on the car is like that.  It goes without saying I'm replacing them where I disturb them.  Some, however, can't be loosened as it's almost like they built the car around the other side of the bolt!  But hey ho - every nut and bolt fits you.  As I say - simple cars but boy oh boy does it put up a fight.

[auntiemaryscanary]

  On 22/06/2024 at 20:39, Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

 

I can post pictures of the topper and tractor too if anyone is interested.

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Aye, go on then!

[bezzabsa]

good luck with this, always liked the earlier Lotus's ..

also Tenby!!! the site of my Holidays for all the 70's and early 80's....and also took my own kids there several times

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

  On 23/06/2024 at 10:36, auntiemaryscanary said:

Aye, go on then!

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I'll take a load of pictures today! 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

  On 23/06/2024 at 11:38, bezzabsa said:

good luck with this, always liked the earlier Lotus's ..

also Tenby!!! the site of my Holidays for all the 70's and early 80's....and also took my own kids there several times

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It's still as busy as ever!  Tenby is about 20 mins from (by car) we're often there but we spend more time at Amroth and Coppitt Hall beaches as they're minutes from us.    In the case of Amroth literally 3 mins from leaving the house to getting your feet wet!

[motorpunk]

Enjoying the updates, how good/bad is the paint?

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

  On 24/06/2024 at 08:09, motorpunk said:

Enjoying the updates, how good/bad is the paint?

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She's a ten-footer I'm afraid but I think with some time, elbow polish and some minor fettling she can be made to be presentable.  But the interior is my immediate priority over the exterior, once she's got her mot.  She's never going to be concourse (sadly) but she'll have had a lot of love and energy put into her by the time she's finished.  I can't wait to drive her and use her regularly.  I still think these cars benefit from regular use tbh.  That's my plan anyway.

Lots to do but money needs to be spent so I'm moving lots of jobs on as far as I can, to the point where money actually needs to be spent before doing something else on the car.

I've learnt so much and although some of my execution (of jobs) isn't to the standard of others on here I'm a bit limited in the tools I have (and experience) to really finesse some of the fabrication stuff I've done.  I'm currently mending the lower valance of the radiator shroud (described above but it's not v easy to visualise) which will form my next post on here.  But I'll do a more complete update with pictures of the upper and lower shrouds (that effectively seals the radiator as air hits the front of the car and is channeled up into the 'box' as it were). 

The lower valance is made of glassfibre but one of the tongues used to hold it on to the car (a tab if you will) has snapped off - so I'm busy making a new tab, out of malleable plastic actually that I think will give the same strength. I've not used glassfibre before and I'm worried my glassfibre 'fix' wont be as robust as my malleable plastic fix.  

I've thought long and hard about that (such a simple job to others on here but I've spent alot of time trying to think abit laterally to come up with a solution that I think will work, with what I have in the shed and not trying something new on what is a fairly technical element imo - if I was working with glassfibre I mean).  Again - it's not visible and it's not intrinsic to holding up the valance - it's just belt and braces as the other side has a tab so, I'd like to make sure that this side has one too.  

 

 

 

[Gompo]

I'm sure we're due an update!

I hope work has continued to pick up but you're still finding time for the Lotus. I'm still surprised by how many Excels are about, a 'new' one (in black, looked awesome) turned up to our local meet last month and another I've not seen at a local show last week. Proves how usable they can be.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I can't believe almost two months has gone since I last updated (thanks for the reminder Gompo!).  Life has continued relentlessly (as it does for everyone I think) since.  Work has been a bit hit and miss...........up to 15th July when things settled down into a routine.  I'm basically working two clients at the moment - on different day rates with each.  the one that pays lower is far more financially robust than the company that's paying me more and in fact want me to go full time..........but I'd signed a contract for 2 days a week on 8th July that meant I'm committed to them til mid-jan 25.  

But I've still not been paid of course (and the bills just keep coming).  Snce June I've changed the handbrake shoes on the hyundai  (too stressed to take photos) but it's clear the handbrake cables have stretched so that's a job for tomorrow or later today.  

The fox got our hens (quite sad at that - we'd had them for over 7 years).  Replaced yesterday with 6 so got the chicken hut sorted and they're happy so far.

Fully serviced the golf (tdi) and now just waiting on an exhaust joint that's failed.  So that'll get done this pm too.

Also started working through issues on the Renault tractor (the door pulls have failed plus there's issues with broken interior, a broken radio and broken Air con.)  But the tractor itself is an absolute beast and I topped a neighbours field two weeks ago with it.  The bomford topper we've got is a beast aswell (far too big for what we need but the price was too good to turn it down).

And I've also made another little small table for the workshop out of bits of wood lying around.  When a neighbour moved 4 yrs ago he was throwing out all his stuff and one of the things he was throwing was a wooden table he'd made when doing his carpentry/woodwork o level.  Look, it's not a Chippendale but bloody hell I couldn't believe he was chucking it.  So I kept it and have looked after it and use it all the time.  I literally copied that design for mine and I also made some robust shelves too, out of an old set of drawers and the wood from a children's swing that had rotted.  As we all do - never throw anything (good) away.  

I'll take some pictures of that and the table - quite proud of the table. In fact I'm going to build a set of enclosed shelves (with an edwardian/late victorian style) for our upstairs landing with book shelves above off the back of what I've done in the shed.  I'm also designing a potting bench for my wife and creating a dedicated gardening area (at the moment it's all a muddled in with my tools in the shed etc etc) too so she doesn't have to get frustrated trying to find all her things (you know how it is - takes 30 mins just to get a 5 min job done because you're looking for everything).

 

Hope you're ok chap and happy summer holidays to you all.

 

 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I'm also about to start refurbing 4 Allen Scythes (that are technically my FiL's but he's given them to my son) because we go to alot of tractor shows (usually supporting the show by bringing tractors along) but (is it an age thing?) I've been really taken with the old steam static engines that are usually brought along and the nearest I've got are these allen scythes.  One has a pump on it (so will get that working and work out a closed system so that it pumps water and can be demonstrated), the other has a horrific looking bench saw (health and safety wasn't top of the priority list for this one - static only but it's a hell of a thing to look at and marvel at) and then there's quite a rare one with an electric generator and plug in tools (Strimmer etc) that's really cool and then I've a choice of around 10 that I can show with standard cutter bars or snow ploughs.  There's actually 15 in the collection, including 2 pre-ww1 french jobbies but there're a totally different amount of work needed.  They can sit there for the moment. 

The lotus needs money spending - which I've got coming in but there are other priorities right now.  If £20k came in (fat chance!) then it would be different but that's not happening anytime sooner (ever?)  so I've just got to quietly work on the interior (trying to bring it back to life) and do odd jobs that don't need money or I can do with what I've got in the shed at the moment.  I got stuffed on a deal that got planning in January (which should have given me a year's salary in one and it's taken me a long time to get over that tbh.  I've just tried to keep busy - have a tendency to get seriously down if brain is left to spin on it's own - think it's why I read so much - anything to switch it off or divert it.

There's nothing on the allen scythes I need to spend on (and I have an absolute bucket load of spares too for them, plus old JAP engines from other old working machines long gone) that came with it when FiL emptied his shed into mine!!  Although he handed them to my son, er, I've still got to get permission to work on them! Yep........

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

i'll take pictures of various stuff today and post them up.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

The 'new' table;

(I'm usually terrible at this sort of thing but turned out quite well imo  - heavy duty and at the right height for me to use when under the car - under the car lift of course - )

Sorry about the mess;

The shelves - I basically tried to build this using as many of the existing drilled holes as possible - I also reinforced the actual shelves too - using a length of timber below that you can't see;

I use lamb feed buckets (red things) to carry my tools and spanners in - I'm out and about and just load them on to the tractor or wheel barrow.  Saves my getting angry in the field and having to trudge back!

The allen scythes - looking a bit forlorn but they take up alot of room - needed to just get them in there out of the way. Just realised that the one i really want (bench saw) is at the back!!

There's car body work lying on top of some of them and I've all the interior carpet in lamb feed bags too..........

And the allen scythe with the pump function and the dynamo on the back too - really cool bit of kit this;

 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I've got a strimmer and chainsaw (little one - great for doing branches) too - I'll take photos of those too - but need to find them under the junk - they're in feeder bags to protect them.

[Gompo]

That machinery looks great, nice work on the table etc too. I really need to sort out my garage, there's only just enough room to work on the Excel while it's undercover.

I believe you've got a mention on Neil Donaldson's latest video by the way!

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

  On 21/07/2024 at 06:16, Gompo said:

That machinery looks great, nice work on the table etc too. I really need to sort out my garage, there's only just enough room to work on the Excel while it's undercover.

I believe you've got a mention on Neil Donaldson's latest video by the way!

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Yes I did! I got in touch with him a couple of videos ago and we've stayed in touch since.  He's a nice bloke and easy to chat to.  Plus - he properly gets on with things - takes me ages to do what he does in 5 mins (I'm always worried about never being able to put it back like it is at the moment and really have to think the more complex things through.) 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I realise it's been a couple of weeks but sadly new job(s) and kids activities and work on other cars (handbrake issues on the hyundai santa fe) have got in the way.............................but but but, normal service is due to be resumed shortly - I'm due to get paid, which will trigger the parts cannon being fired and I hope to have it finished by October 4th (my birthday).

Savaloy

[somewhatfoolish]

Nice set of Scythes! I don't know if you've given this seat much of a work out, but having tried the same repair due to the diaphragm turning into chewing gum I found it was like sitting on a partially inflated beachball and rapidly found a proper seat diaphragm to fit, which improved it no end.

[Gompo]

  On 09/08/2024 at 00:16, somewhatfoolish said:

Nice set of Scythes! I don't know if you've given this seat much of a work out, but having tried the same repair due to the diaphragm turning into chewing gum I found it was like sitting on a partially inflated beachball and rapidly found a proper seat diaphragm to fit, which improved it no end.

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That's interesting.

My seat feels quite bouncy, but it might not be helped by my relatively old (18 years I think) suspension. While very comfy perhaps my main fault is that the seats don't hold you at all well, this combined with the bounciness means undulating roads get a bit 'fun'. Mine are slippy leather rather than cloth, too.

Meanwhile some more whoring/motivational photos from last weekend's meet.

 

 

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Brief update - my wife is poorly again.  We're back and forth to the hospital.  All work on the Excel is on hold.  Life for me is changing a bit - got to press on this now (in the next 6 weeks) or so or .........it'll never get done.  

Starting work this sunday.  Got a plan.........got some money together.......it's time.  With the wife out of action its down to me to sort the kids/life/meals etc etc.  Plus I'm working two jobs at the moment (one of which involves fair amount of travel.)

 

Keep your head everyone - you never know what's around the corner.  Hopefully this episode is temporary (and the nhs have been brilliant i hasten to add).........just need the results of some tests back.

[grogee]

  On 05/09/2024 at 18:49, Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

Brief update - my wife is poorly again.  We're back and forth to the hospital.  All work on the Excel is on hold.  Life for me is changing a bit - got to press on this now (in the next 6 weeks) or so or .........it'll never get done.  

Starting work this sunday.  Got a plan.........got some money together.......it's time.  With the wife out of action its down to me to sort the kids/life/meals etc etc.  Plus I'm working two jobs at the moment (one of which involves fair amount of travel.)

 

Keep your head everyone - you never know what's around the corner.  Hopefully this episode is temporary (and the nhs have been brilliant i hasten to add).........just need the results of some tests back.

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Get well soon Mrs S. Sorry to hear that. Priorities! Flesh and blood first, mouldy old cars second. Good luck.