Black S.E. Re-Shell & Chassis Continued...

[Mike Y]

The parts I am after are the actual metal surrounds the headlamps themselves are fixed into the headlamp pods with. The plastic adjusting mounting rings are fixed to these plates. I might be able to get the existing ones replated.

Cheers Mike

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Mike: Everyone has been using rings sourced from Rimmer Brothers. See this post for more details: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=22522&p=283910&hilit=rimmer#p283917

[Mike Kimberley]

Hello MikeY,

Have been reading about the immense task that you are taking on completing Jimbob's Black Elan S.E..

The meticulous attention to detail that he would have applied is a real but very worthwhile challenge as the finished car will be exactly as if we at Lotus in Hethel had built it for a Motor Show.

Geoff has been keeping me up to date on your progress, although "steeping" himself at a Lotus LOG in Colorado.

Please do keep me posted on your progress-the M100 is a really great car and Jimbob's will be again I am sure.

Enjoy your Lotii,

Mike.

[Mike Y]

Wow!!!

Thanks Mike for your words of support for JUF's continued restoration they certainly are appreciated.

On a side note I have owned a couple of other Lotus cars you probably had involvement with:-
1) The second Lotus I ever owned back in 1991/3 was a preproduction Esprit Turbo Reg No. MPW71V which had the Bronze James Bond paint scheme in my ownership but had previously been an Essex liveried car. After its initial Essex work developing the Pace engineering dry sump etc. it was used as a test car for the unique Bronze Bond paint scheme which was then used in the film. It was then used as further development mule and fitted with the 4 litre V8 destined for he Etna. I believe its last work for Lotus was to develop the induction system for the Chevy LT1 engine. Info supplied by Patrick Peal.

2) I discovered a couple of years ago having been laid up in a heated garage unused since 1986 was the Gold S2 Esprit used at the 1978 Motor show to display the themed Championship Gold paint on all models and also featured a JPS S2 and the Winning F1 Lotus 79 a show which I was told you had quite an input organising.

Regards Mike

[Mike Y]

OK It is time to get to work on JUFs.

The doors, bonnet, clam & headlamp pods have been painted and carefully stored over the winter. I will post some photos shortly.

I still require some parts

Front wheel arch liners
Radiator duct lower panel.
Front bumper mesh grills

I will look at the under bonnet labels in more detail once I have moved the project further forward.
Can anyone help or point me in the direction of someone who might have these parts.

Cheers Mike

[Mike Y]

OK Guys its time to continue re-building JUFs. I have attached some photos of of the painted clam shell and bonnet. the doors are painted, A post panels, door mirrors, front Bumper and headlamp pods. I have to say the paint work by Micky at HTG based at Stella Gill Industrial Estate Chester le Street is absolutely mind blowing. Micky is a perfectionist and a true gent even if his taste in cars is a little suspect (1995 Renault 5 NOT A GT a basic 5!!!???).
The photos show his skill!!! SUPERB!! I am sure Jamie would approve. In fact I showed Micky the rear of the car Jamie had painted and set him a challenge to match the quality of Jamie's work. All I can say is he certainly likes a challenge.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

OK It is time to get to work on JUFs.

I still require some parts

Front wheel arch liners
Radiator duct lower panel.
Front bumper mesh grills

I will look at the under bonnet labels in more detail once I have moved the project further forward.
Can anyone help or point me in the direction of someone who might have these parts.

Cheers Mike

Mike:

The PAPER registration labels are available thru any dealer after you fill out some forms and provide proof of ownership. Around £35.00 when I bought the set for my car.

The other decals / labels / stickers are all listed in Section 19 of the parts guide. I looked at the group in the Parts Guide-S2 which is on PDF page 179.

I don't have a clue which ones you need but if you email me a list of item numbers and part numbers (Item #44: A100U6048F), I will look all of them up to see what is available from Lotus and which one I might have from earlier purchases.

The one I picked on is the Fan Warning Label and it is still available from Lotus for £9.45.

Cheers, JC

[Mike Y]

Ok started fitting the brakes tonight. This is the first time I have removed the wheels WOW!!! Jamie's amazing attention to detail the photos say it all.

[Mike Y]

OK I have a couple of style questions. I have attached below a photo of JUFs with the door hinge brackets in place. Jamie had them electro plated the question is do I leave them as a form of hinge bling or do I get them painted black? Second question Jamie prefered the Fed spec wheels over the originals and S2 Alloys. What do you think? exclude the S2 alloys from choice so should JUFs be fitted with standard 15 inch or left with Jamie's preference of Fed spec 16 inch alloys?

[Elanlover]

I vote for hinge bling and Fed wheels.

[Mike Y]

Thanks for the vote.
Anyone else like to comment.

Cheers Mike

[Rice crispy]

I agree with elanlover

[daveiow]

also

[Mike Y]

Thanks guys

[Rob P]

Prefer the Fed Wheels over the S2 any day, next choice would be standard 15". Not sure why people go overboard about the S2 wheels persoanlly but that's another story>
Hinges should be Black in my opinion, bling belongs under the engine cover

Paint work looks very nice btw

[Andy_J]

Last time I spoke to Jamie he was planning to make the car as close to factory new as he could get it (bar the wheels), so I would say black hinges. There are plenty of other parts that were electroplated that he painted and put back on the car.

But it is your car now Mike so do the hinges how you would prefer and fit the wheels you like.

I know as long as the car looks brand new when it is back together Jamie would be happy

[Mike Y]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your replies.

My thoughts are although the car is mine once again I bought it always planning to finishing the car in the way that Jamie was planning.

I did wonder whether Jamie was planning to fit all the newly plated parts without painting them. For example the head lamp pod mounting brackets were plated but to fit them in there fresh new gold coating would look rather strange as they would be clearly visible through the bonnet and headlamp pod shut lines (So I have painted them silk black). Thanks for the info Andy that Jamie had already painted some of the plated parts and fitted them.

The other thought in my mind was that I knew Jamie was trying to make the car as near factory finish as possible while adding his own subtle influence to the finished car e.g. Red carpets, Fed spec wheels, Samco hoses.

I think I will keep the wheels as Fed Spec and Paint the hinges back to black.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Cheers Mike

[Mike Y]

Progress has been slow due to other commitments and I bought another Elan so I had something to drive this summer. I quickly realised I was a bit premature selling my Silk Red Elan as the first warm couple of days I yearned to be in an Elan heading to the Northumberland coast!

Having fitted the brakes callipers and remaining flexible hoses along with the rear proportioning valves I thought I would continue Jamie's work on the rear of the car working forward.
I dug out the rear wheel arch liners and spent some considerable time cleaning and machine polishing them then finally hand polishing to get them as near to new as possible. I delved into my stock of new Elan/Esprit fixings and sourced new low profile bolts and rubnuts to fit the arch liners along with new screws etc.
I then refitted the boot carpets and washer bottle etc.
Next job I refitted the panels in the hood stowage area.

I looked at gluing the new carpets on the B post panels and decided I would do this on one of the frequent rainy days. I then switched my attention to the front intercooler and oil cooler pods. Jamie had sourced a number of different pods so I selected the best 2 stripped them of fittings and repaired them where required and repainted them fitting new heat resistant foam supports where required. See photos.

[Mike Y]

Fitted

[Mike Y]

Hi Everyone

I now have further problems. The car came with 4 "B" post carpets brand new in their packets showing LH and RH official Lotus labels however the items in the packets are ALL LEFT HAND!!!!!!

Does anyone have a right hand "B" post carpet in RED?

Also anyone who bought new carpets from the Lotus After Sales list a few years ago to keep for future use CHECK what you have you might have a load of RH "B" post carpet labelled as LH I can do you a swap.

Cheers Mike