not used for 10 year, what to do
Discussion
After reading the thread on the elite for sale i remembered a conversation i had with one of my mates last friday whilst blotto.
Anyway my friend is looking to put his E plate mint 50000 mile Lotus Excel SE back on the road that has not been used for almost 10 years.
He did mention changing all the brake pads discs and sticking on a new SS exhaust as the one on is probably rotten now but what else do you think he should look at/replace etc.
Thanks Dixon
Anyway my friend is looking to put his E plate mint 50000 mile Lotus Excel SE back on the road that has not been used for almost 10 years.
He did mention changing all the brake pads discs and sticking on a new SS exhaust as the one on is probably rotten now but what else do you think he should look at/replace etc.
Thanks Dixon
Has it been started reguarly? i would be turning it over by hand first if it hasnt and get the engine/gearbox oil changed. Bushes on suspension may of perished and check all electrics..all obvious things really.tyres etc. Sometimes clutches weld themselves to the flywheels if they have been sitting for ages so be careful.
take the plugs out and turn over by hand with LOTS of WD-40 down the bores.
then change the oil ( to a diesel grade )and turn over with some oil in the bores.
fit new ignition timing components (if it's got them) and attempt to start.
change oil after about an hour's worth of running to the proper grade.
.... and then do the stuff that everyone else has suggested.
then change the oil ( to a diesel grade )and turn over with some oil in the bores.
fit new ignition timing components (if it's got them) and attempt to start.
change oil after about an hour's worth of running to the proper grade.
.... and then do the stuff that everyone else has suggested.
Send him over to www.lotusexcel.net and we'll run him through the procedures, niggles and best places to get parts.
I'd change the cambelt before you do anything else at all. The later HTD round-tooth type are lifed at five years irrespective of use, so if the car's been off the road for ten, change the belt!
If it's got the earlier square tooth type (unlikely on an SE though), I wouldn't even spin it on the starter, no more than two years for those.
When I changed the belt on a Sunbeam Lotus I'd just bought last year, it had had so little use the old belt fell into the shape of the pulley layout when I threw it on the floor!
If it's got the earlier square tooth type (unlikely on an SE though), I wouldn't even spin it on the starter, no more than two years for those.
When I changed the belt on a Sunbeam Lotus I'd just bought last year, it had had so little use the old belt fell into the shape of the pulley layout when I threw it on the floor!
16VJay said:
I'd change the cambelt before you do anything else at all. The later HTD round-tooth type are lifed at five years irrespective of use, so if the car's been off the road for ten, change the belt!
Last time I spoke to Lotus about it, they still advised 2 years/24k miles for changing the round tooth belt on 912s.Gassing Station | North East | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff