Step by Silky Step

[RonR]

The Prongeron came off today to install a new Alternator. I replaced the new regulator with one of Simon's to be sure the O2 sensor would get enough current.

How many warnings are enough?

[Tuga2112]

as you dont hand over your car to someone else to work on it.

zero is enough.

[RonR]

Small update time again....

Traced yet another coolant leak to that f******g bypass pipe which runs under the exhaust manifold. The flare and grommet flange at the end of the steel pipe had corroded where it inserts into the alloy housing so I thought I'd need to find a new one. After several "You'll be lucky" responses a donor pipe was spotted - the NA pipe is a fraction of the price and has the same flare at the end. Ordered one, cut off the last 1 1/2 inches of old and new pipes, found a sleeve (20mm ID), then brazed them together. All fitted and... no leaks!

Until..... Yesterday, at Brands Britannia - a small wet patch appeared under my car just underneath the radiator top hose, everything around the area and the bleed plug were bone dry so we suspected the radiator itself. Many hours later it occurred to me that I have a Coolex radiator fitted and they have a drain plug at the bottom, now tightened. Senior moments are getting more frequent nowadays....

[RonR]

Another not-so-small update:

April/May 2025:
Decided to refurbish the rear suspension, I've had the Poly bushes for several years waiting for me to get around to it.

Put car up in the air only to discover both outer CV Boots have perished, so project creep happened before even starting the job!
Cleaned the CV grease off Wheels and front suspension.
Fitted new boots (SKF ones), but the supplied metal rings were too large, so used long Cable ties as a 'Quick Fix'.

While the Prongeron was off removed the sump to fix a small oil leak (My fault for using the sump gasket from a Rock Auto set instead of the Lotus-correct sealant), and as access to the Oil filter was easy, changed Oil and Filter.
Replaced knackered Crank pulley with a good S/H one.

On to the Rear Suspension!

Rear of chassis and wishbones had lots of surface rust, so decided to de-rust and paint with Epoxy.
Top Links had worse rust, getting thin in places so ordered some S2 top links.
Dismantled brakes & pipes, pipes were rusty so decided to replace all the hard lines behind the chassis connection points to go with my shiny new flexible pipes.
Removing old bushes - tried pressing the outers out - Bent the wishbone! - Took wishbone to engineering shop to see if it can be straightened.
Cleaned up, Phosphoric acid treated and painted remaining wishbone, link stays, ARB, drop links and rear of Chassis.

Chassis After

Chassis Before

IMG-20250518-WA0019.jpg (61.84 KiB) Viewed 5428 times

Other Bits

That's where I am now - Ready to re-assemble once the Chassis paint goes off and the bent wishbone is either straightened or replaced.

So - with less than a week to go to Castle Combe - Will I make it in time???

[Tuga2112]

yes.. bending the wishbone.. sounds familar. let me know if they can fix it...
I Just used oxi acetilene and a long pole to bend it back. havent put things back together so no idea if i was successfull or if i need to follow suite

[Rambo]

Trigger's broom?

PS if you want any further practice Ron, I can provide a couple of M100's for you to work on

[RonR]

Trigger's broom?

It certainly feels a bit like it!

Having to dismantle and rebuild the front suspension to replace the outer CV boots less than a year after doing it previously just goes to show the quality of rubber nowadays, the inner boots are the original 1992 ones and are (crosses fingers) in great condition. Let's hope the SKFs last a little longer than a year!

[RonR]

Almost there,

Thanks to Trevor (not THAT one), formerly of this parish who came to the rescue with a S/H Wishbone.