S3 Restoration

[Sploder90]

Looking good Glenn
The grey block looks way better than the yuck yellow it came with that's for sure.

[glennmoule]

For sure, I think the previous owner had a beer too many when deciding the colour to paint it.
I found the original paint underneath when I stripped it.

[Sploder90]

Looks a bit like he had access to a council yard paint supply....

Mine is also grey.. with a slight additional Millers oily sheen as the cam cover is weeping slightly.
Hopefully I can cure that without reliance on too much silicone goop & check the cover is square.

It doesn't stop it driving though .

PS: Does anyone have a cure for a sore jaw caused by a manic grin

[glennmoule]

I always use three bond 1215 modestly when I need to seal up a weep. The best thing about it is it cleans off easily when you need to fit another gasket In the future.

[The Veg]

I want to experience it as it was originally designed, then understand why the upgrades were made.

Mostly they are made because Chunky was too cheap/weight-obsessed to allow the engineers to design and build things well enough in the first place!

[alan.barker]

I am still running Generator and Doughnuts.
But i think to fit a Diff Brace and TTR Diff Frustacones is wise.
Alan

[Sploder90]

I always use three bond 1215 modestly when I need to seal up a weep. The best thing about it is it cleans off easily when you need to fit another gasket In the future.

Thanks for the tip Glenn will give that a go when the cover comes off for checking the valve clearances & drop out the Millers running in oil. It's only slight so hopefully won't get any worse

[rgh0]

Hi Glen

I wish I could make progress on my builds as fast as you do !

Have you replaced the diff output shafts or used the original ones. The original ones will break sooner or later if the car is to be driven, so best to replace them now. You can normally see a slight twist in the splines where the come out of the diff centre starting to happen before they break.

cheers
Rohan

[glennmoule]

Hi Rohan, yes I did replace the output shafts. The splines were distorted so I located a pair of originals that were in perfect condition.

[alan.barker]

Sorry but the original shafts will go the same way. TTR are much stronger.
Alan

[Sploder90]

But would the TTR shafts lose points in a concourse assessment etc?
Think Glenn is looking for originality where ever possible.

Guess it comes down to are the 3 eared TTR ones close enough visually that they look original but also give the benefit of strength / durability?

[alan.barker]

O.K.
you can fit the Lotus Drive Shafts on the Sprint or 130S which are a bit stronger.
Alan

[glennmoule]

Thanks for the responses.
I am going to use these original ones for the original aspect. I figure that the originals were 80k miles old and were still useable. This diff will be getting rebuilt again before these fail, and that will not be in my lifetime.

I really am enjoying the chat here with you guys. The lotus community is a good one!

[Sploder90]

Your car your rules Glenn & I am really enjoying your restoration & can respect your quest for originality. Be great to see it when completed.

I started mine with good intentions of originality & then bit by bit started to change things. Extra earths, extra fuses, uprated starter, alternator, electric fuel pump, digital radio unit, and even a vacuum pump for the headlamps.... Think the slide started when I somehow lost the gear knob black badge which had been on for 52 years.

Day time running lights getting stuck on soon to aid my own longevity, non original granted but as I get older I favour self preservation over originality, that way I may be around long enough to change my own shafts

Next job or me is to try and sort the very wobbly handbrake tree...with the body still on and the diff in looks like a fun weekend ahead unless the sun shines in which case I will be out getting it dirty again.

Keep going. The world needs another original spec one to balance out the injustice I am inflicting on my old nail

[glennmoule]

I have my car planned for some councilors events next year (social rules permitting) so it will be exactly original until after that. I do know that I will be upgrading a few things after that as I’ll be doing a few miles in it and enjoying the hell out of it.