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Nov 18, 2015 18:42:32 GMT
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It is fighting me a bit, this one... I was convinced that the slightly squishy brake pedal was down to the master cylinder However, I was not keen on paying the prices asked by the Lotus specialists. Normal motor factors don't seem to list parts for old Lotus models but a bit of research suggested that one from a Land Rover would fit (for the bargain price of £27). And it does! Kind of... My next top tip is that for some reason the port nearest the front of the car is M12 thread so you will need to change the pipe, or at least the fitting. The slightly lumpy power steering was traced to the universal joints on the steering column drying out. A bit of lubrication has worked wonders.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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Nov 25, 2015 12:30:04 GMT
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Finally, we have an MOT pass! This is definitely a new record for me between first test and pass...
It was not without it's traumas, even at the last minute. When bleeding the brakes I found a leaking brake pipe to replace and then on the final check over, the brake lights wouldn't work! I was all for setting fire to it at this point. The bulb holders were corroded so I ordered a new set of Rover SD1 bulb holders. The Excel has SD1 rear lights, so they should be OK, right? Wrong! All the rover bulbs are single filament, only Lotus used a combined stop/tail light and these bulb holders are now obsolete... An emergency bodge involving soldering the wire directly onto the bulb was called into action.
On the way home my clutch issues resurfaced. The clutch was getting stiffer and the biting point lower. I guessed what was happening and I was right. Part of the clutch pedal was bending. I had bent it back previously when I replaced the master cylinder so I think it must be a bit weakened as a result.
In summary, it is now road legal but I think there is still a long way to go before it is anywhere close to reliable.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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Nov 27, 2015 22:08:15 GMT
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With the help of the fine gentlemen on Lotusexcel.net the clutch problem was diagnosed as the pedal itself bending. I knew that Lotus aren't well known for being easy to work on but replacing the pedals is not a fun job... Here is the combination of tools needed to undo the nuts holding the pedal box in. It took me far too long to realise that these bolt heads were here and not captives... I still haven't got the whole thing off yet but it's not such a big problem as I haven't got the replacement yet, I'm just glad I started it well in advance. There are still a couple of nuts and bolts to undo that I can't see how I am going to do just yet. One is an earth point on the side and the other seems to attach the relay tray.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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I've been tinkering with old cars for over twenty years now but I think I can honestly say that this is the most unpleasant job I have ever done! It has taken me most of the weekend to do it. My shoulders and back are sore from extended periods in the Lotus position and my arms look like I have been trying to strangle a cat. It doesn't show up that well on the photo but not only was the pedal bent at the point it attaches to the pushrod but it was also twisted along the width at the top. I never did get the clevis pin out of the brake pedal so I had to wind the pushrod out in situ, leaving me with this. This little box caused me some problems as it was attached to the pedal box with tamper proof screws.I can only assume it is an immobiliser of some sort. I think my car might have been harder work than some others because all the nuts and bolts were rusted up. There were quite a few one step forward, two step back moments like when I thought I had just about finished but realised that the accelerator cable was trapped between the pedal box and the car so I had to loosen the whole lot again... Another one was that I didn't put the end back on the brake pedal pushrod before installing the pedals so that was pretty tricky as well. I didn't get chance to test drive it as I ran out of time because we had to prepare for my youngest daughter's birthday party. Also, I had dropped the thingy that goes on the car end of the accelerator pedal down under the carbs somewhere.... On the plus side, the pedal action now feels infinitely better than it did before, I can't wait to get this thing out on the road now!
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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oakesy
Part of things
Posts: 305
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Nice one! I'm still gutted you decided to keep it and not sell it to me
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'66 Scimitar Coupe Straight Six in no Paint '74 Scimitar GTE in Yellow '71 Jaguar XJ6 in Blue '76 Scimitar GTE '87 Scimitar Turbo Previous- '87 Scimitar SS1 Turbo, '75 Triumph Toledo, '86 VW Scirocco, '93 Scimitar Sabre, '85 Scimitar SS1, '76 Scimitar GTE, '71 Scimitar GTE
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I managed to finish of putting it back together last night and squeezed in a quick test drive this morning before work. It feels so much better than it did before. I still don't think it is perfect but maybe I am being paranoid and looking for problems.
Now to get some confidence miles in! (Or see what breaks next...)
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,565
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I've had 'cat strangling arms' before never thought to describe it as that though, good work with getting the MOT. Are the pedals taken from another car or a Lotus only item, the old one really hasn't faired too well.
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Ha ha! The cat strangling reference comes from an old local farmer who did try to strangle a cat after it killed his chickens! By all accounts the cat didn't take it lying down...
I honestly don't know if the pedals are from something else or are bespoke Lotus, I got my replacement set from a bloke who was breaking an identical Excel. They aren't the strongest looking design...
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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Due to absence I've missed the MOT achievement. Well done - I thought you'd be tinkering with it for years before it hit the highway! That's more a measure of my time scales I suppose?
Looking at that pedal arrangement it does look a bit like it was built in someone's shed which, I suppose, early Lotus' were.
Got any pics of it out and about?
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Due to absence I've missed the MOT achievement. Well done - I thought you'd be tinkering with it for years before it hit the highway! That's more a measure of my time scales I suppose? Looking at that pedal arrangement it does look a bit like it was built in someone's shed which, I suppose, early Lotus' were. Got any pics of it out and about? Thanks, it feels like years to me! I'm hoping to get out in it at the weekend so I will try to take some photos then.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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Dec 16, 2015 22:13:44 GMT
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I was feeling brave today so I drove the Excel to work. It is only about 5 miles but I hadn't driven it in traffic before. I am always a bit paranoid about overheating in old cars. Anyway, I made it OK! The only issues were that I nearly ran out of fuel and the fans don't kick in until the gauge shows about 97 degrees. I am told this is normal but it still makes me feel a bit nervous. I am hoping to get out for more miles at the weekend.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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Dec 17, 2015 10:10:01 GMT
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Great work, pedal box looked like a nightmare, i did the door beam on my Elite and that was a horrible job, they are superb cars on the road though which makes the hassle just about worth it, managed to get my Elite pretty reliable and driving nice just before i took it off the road to rebuild the rear suspension, looking forward to getting it on the road in the spring and using it as much as possible.
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72 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400. 95 BMW E34 525i Manual. 80 Lotus Elite, sold 86 Mk4 Escort RWD V8, sold
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Dec 18, 2015 12:00:27 GMT
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I suspect the door beams aren't in great shape on my car. The doors seem a bit droopy and can be a bit stiff to open. The window frames are rusty as well but they don't seem to be available anywhere.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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Dec 18, 2015 13:05:38 GMT
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Looks great amongst the moderns. The design and the colour really work for me now. I'm trying to recall how I felt about these cars back in the 80s when I was obsessed with the real early Lotus'. Don't think I'll ever get my hands on a Lotus though. Here in Germany the older ones -including the 80s models- are rare and pricey. I'm also enjoying -being displaced from the homeland - the moody view from the top of the carpark! Just saw this one for sale not too far from here. Looks a bit like your rig? I would if I could but I can't
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Last Edit: Dec 18, 2015 21:59:34 GMT by düdo
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It does look so awesome parked among the modern bland stuff.
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Dec 22, 2015 12:10:03 GMT
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Thanks!
I think the pictures hide the fact that the paint is completely shot, which brings me to a dilemma. I think the original blue really suits it but a proper respray is probably beyond budget. I'm considering a colour change, possibly matt or satin finish, but definitely not black or NATO green.
Any thoughts?
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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Dec 22, 2015 12:59:50 GMT
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...check out luckygti's vw on here...roller painted... really really good
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Mar 30, 2016 11:39:51 GMT
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Quick update on the Excel - It seems to be loosening up a bit with some use and now drives pretty well. I've mostly used it locally for trips out wit the kids but given it a few blasts over the moors to see what it can do. When you have been used to driving modern turbo diesels it doesn't feel that quick until you remember that it doesn't even start to sing until you go over 4000rpm.
I even made it to the Northern Retro meet on Easter Sunday. The next target is a track day of some sort.
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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Mar 30, 2016 13:17:08 GMT
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So many choices *n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Mar 30, 2016 15:03:57 GMT
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What type of paint is that?
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67 VW Split bus 69 Beetle Cab 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
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