Enjoying my Lotus at last

[pauljones]

Rather than start a new post i thought id keep things here,

Im looking for a go-too place to take my head too. Heres the deal, i know from my dyno print out that my power drops off about 6k. I can see from the ecu that my max rpm reached is just over 6100rpm.
I have the 4 speed box and 3.54 diff and while 4th gear cruising is great for fuel economy i have to change down to get any major form of pick up to overtake. I have the SE tubular exhaust so cant see exhaust as being restrictive. Air filters arent to deep as Alan rightly points out previously. No trumpets in there.

So im looking for a bit more performance across the board. Im looking at the archives including answers to my previous questions,being retired means i can now do things,
Im looking at 280? duration as max, which brings in a few choices of cams. Im looking at the ph5 443 lift option from Newman cams which is very much the same as QEDs offering in 440. And more lift than the 420 which says its 419.
At just over ?400 its cheaper too.

Im not sure i want to get the off the shelf QED 420. I want something different,and as the springs appear to be the weak link id want to fit stronger (so i may as well change cams too)

Anyone got any ideas or good experience with a package they can point me towards.

End result is for more torque and more usable revs.

Paul

[JonB]

Paul, did you fix the knocking coming from the rear?

I had that and found an outer driveshaft with a trough all round it where the outer bearing located. Couldn't tell it was like that with the normal pull/push/rocking test on the wheel with the car on the ground. In fact I only spotted it after putting it on stands (I was looking for play in the bushes at the time).

[pauljones]

Yes i got that sorted. A loose center lock. I took both wheels off to check it all and try to find loose items, in the process i found it was a few turns loose. All sorted. Sorted the coolant too, had a length of spare hose so i by passed the heater matrix. Need propper hoses which ill do when engine comes out in warmer weather.
( read as when garage is tidy to put engine in)
As it happens ill fit poly bushes all round and new suspension when i can afford too.

[pauljones]

Good news..

A parcel containing 4 hoses turned up today courtesy of Sue.

Looks like a bit of a pain to swap these over so i may end up removing the induction too. I will also fit my new stat and gasket at same time, just need an overflow expansion bottle and pipe to finish the job.

Come on summer

(Next pay day is new rubber)

[pauljones]

Wow that was quick.

Ordered yesterday, delivered this morning.
Only need the rain to stop.

[pauljones]

Suns out.

So today i was thinking, i was looking over spare chassis to see the heater hose arrangements. Went back to Sophie, could i get my fingers in that small space? Not enougth to push on the new hoses and certainly not able to put hose clips on properly.

So ive decided as much as i didnt want it, to remove the engine. All this just to get hoses back on to heater.
Well if im going that far, i may aswell put in the Silvertop. So finally after a few years of colecting bits n peices ill be taking the plunge. Thankfully i also have a rebuilt heater box so that will go in too.

Been chatting to Rob Walker and even tho i cant weld very well i can tack the mounts untill i can get someone to finish it off.

As mentioned in the heater hose thread im not very far from an engine out strip at all.

So time frame, ill take out the engine and leave the box in situ, supported by some blocks of wood. Off yacht racing for a while so when i return mid may ill crack on.

Mounts seem to be the first stubling block but i have good guidance from Rob and should get there. Ill deal with that as a priority.

Ill also be able to give the engine bay a much needed tidy. Fill in some of the unused holes, reposition cables and pipes that sort of thing. The chassis will get a spruce up too on the bits i can get to.

Honestly wasnt expecting it to get this far just to replace a set of hoses.

[JonB]

Honestly wasnt expecting it to get this far just to replace a set of hoses.

It's a rabbit hole, and you tend to fall in each time you pick up a spanner.

[Bud English]

Welcome to the club. We're calling ourselves "The Heretics". Lifetime membership - no dues!
It's a great project if you don't weaken.

[mbell]

Have you thought about unbolting the engine and gearbox mounts with the engine supported with jack or hoist. This would allow you to move it forward slightly (probably more if you removed the already drained radiator and lifted a bit) which might just give you enough room to get to the hoses.

Seems a shame to start a big job just as the weather should be getting more suitable for driving it in the UK.

[pauljones]

Thanks all.

Yes Bud id love to join you. Ill consider myself a paid up member and contributer to the party.
I did consider just moving engine forward a little bit but all that hassle, its just as easy to take it out.
And actually its about time i used the zetec and this is a great opportunity. Now or never.

[JonB]

Best of luck, Paul. Let me know if you need a hand.

As you are most likely the nearest Zetec Plus 2 to me I will look forward to seeing the fruits of your labour...

What would be really handy is if you could document the work on here so that we could all see what a "home brew" Zetec conversion entails.

[pauljones]

Jon.

Theres a good topic on this very subject, in fact i was its last poster on it, almost 2 years ago to date. Thats how long ive been waiting to do this. Time flys hey?
I will post here tho just to keep in tidy. Pics too.

[Bud English]

Erm, yes, it has been ages since that thread has been updated. Where does the time go. At lease one of the cars in the thread is on the road and I'm getting close (at least that's what I tell my very tolerant wife). If I'd just quit modding things. Mine's back from the paint shop and going together. There seems to be some renewed interest in the topic of the DIY aspect.

[pauljones]

Been lovely weather today so i spent it keeping busy, in a beer garden over looking the Solent.
Tomorrow ill finish (i hope) taking the engine out.
I was looking at alot of pictures of engine bays, theres some very clean ones out there, clean, clear and unclutered. Thats the look im aiming for so to help me out ive decided to remove such things as the Servo. I had a good read and it seems a swap of MC and green stuff soft pads are more than able to lock the wheels up.
Dont worry, ill keep it for the other one.
It will also mean i wont need a vacum take off either. Winner Winner, kebab for Dinner..!!

[JonB]

Winner Winner, kebab for Dinner..!!

Hey Paul, have you been following the EEVBlog YouTube channel by any chance?