S3 Restoration

[Certified Lotus]

That is a lovely looking S1. Exactly what was paint code that you used for the BRG?
And a two poster, you have treated yourself!

Glenn, I finally found the paint can I had for my Elan S1. Don?t know any more about the code as the previous owner had the car painted before I bought it.

[glennmoule]

Thanks, I will get to the bottom of that

[Certified Lotus]

Here is a better shot of the color of the car.

[glennmoule]

Cylinder head coming off right now.

[el-saturn]

...................i^m the opposite of a purist, but why dont you give yr engine some "enthusiast's grey" - me also use it`. Sandy, alps

[glennmoule]

Engine is completely dismantled and checked.
It is an LB block but has had a .015? over bore. Understanding that this is not entirely acceptable due to its designated thin walls but there are no signs of issues at all.
I will be measuring the wall thickness on Monday just to be sure.
The valves have been uprated in the past to the big valve spec as well. Although I was not expecting this I am happy to go with it.
Cam bearings are like new, big end and main bearings with slight wear and jack shaft bearings unmarked.
After the piston to bore checked out within tolerance I gave the bores a very light hone (old hatchlings still evident). They are ready to go again which is great news.
So all I need is a full gasket and seal kit, rings, mains and big end bearings, core plugs, valve lap, paint removal, thorough clean and re-paint, new dip stick tube, new front pulley and water pump kit.
The cleaning is always my biggest and most important job with engine rebuilding.
Fingers crossed I get time to complete over the next two weeks.
Hopefully a parts supplier has it all in stock.

[glennmoule]

Urgent info needed:
What colours are the different sections of the gearbox assembly supposed to be?

[types26/36]

It is an LB block but has had a .015? over bore. Understanding that this is not entirely acceptable due to its designated thin walls but there are no signs of issues at all.

15thou overbore will be fine, Lotus only ever supplied +15 thou pistons and rings which is quite an unusual size in re-boring as the usual is increments of 10thou.
Aftermarket rings/pistons are available in various sizes at least up to +40 and probably more.
The good news is the +15 rings are cheap as not many people want them, my Sprint has been running around for years on +15 rings.
PS. chart is from S&J Lotus.

[types26/36]

Urgent info needed:
What colours are the different sections of the gearbox assembly supposed to be?

This picture shows what I believe was original green paint on the gearbox of my S3 when I overhauled it several years ago.
Other pic shows how I finished it.

[glennmoule]

Thanks type 26/36, much appreciated.
My research has since confirmed also that the bottle green is correct.
One to add from my end is that the bell housing should be black.
Any other confirmation out there on this?

[types26/36]

I believe you are correct with black but I just thought it looked good in silver.

[glennmoule]

And should the top cover a plated finish, as your pic?

[types26/36]

Don't think so, I think that should be green as well.

[glennmoule]

One hour away from being completely dismantled

[512BB]

'The cleaning is always my biggest and most important job with engine rebuilding'

A wise man. Make sure you remove all gallery plugs before cleaning as a proper job cannot be achieved without.

Leslie