Warning - bit of along one but lots of pics.
Now I've got the LC back I thought I'd better post up whats been going on.
I'd decided late 2009/early 2010 that the LC rear arches were going so I'd bite the bullet & catch it early & get it completely restored. I eased myself into it with the front & rear suspension. New top mounts & droplinks were fitted along with ABS replacement washers after both were found in this condition:-
Front struts were looked at & ground the major spots of rust on the struts right back before 5 or 6 coats of Hammerite. Springs & top mount bowls were powder coated along with the ARB & clamps & new S/S bolts were used as Vx items are NLS.
& whilst I was in the powder coating mood I had the rear suspension bush cover plates done for both the LC & Senator.
Whilst under the car I noticed the engine mounts were looking past their best & seeing as I had new ones ready to go on it seemed like a good idea. Seemed is a good word - what a feeker of a job to do on an LC. :shock: Again, they needed doing though.
Now for the bodywork.
Having got a quote for the job I then set out looking for two good rear doors. First one was no problem (cheers Chris) second one took nigh on 6 months & came off the scabbiest looking wreck you could imagine (posted on here mid last year) but the door was perfect (thanks Graham). I could now take the car round to have the work done. The understanding was I was in no hurry & do it when he could which is exactly what he did. Sept 18th I dropped the car off & I collected the weekend after Billing - but it was worth the wait in my eyes.
Heres how I left it with them in September.
& then as the work progressed. I left them a cheap digital camera so that & Keiths unsteady hand doesn't help for great pics.
N/S/R arch
O/S/R arch
Bottom of O/S/R arch/boot floor
Both sills have had some patching done as neither were bad enough to require full replacements, the bottom of the O/S/R wing/boot floor has been cut out & replaced, both rear arches & door shuts cut out & replaced & a small bit of patching to the radiuses of the front wings. Both bumpers have required some fibre glass repairs & the drivers door required a small adjustment to correct a bit of a drop.
Good Friday I took a drive up & this is how she stood.
Rear spoiler.
Rear bumper.
Front bumper, sills & wheel arch extensions.
Side pods (a bit dusty).
Everything else.
Next visit was mid June & we have paint:-
This is my reflection in the O/S/R quarter panel
You may notice the engine parts aren't the original colour (well spotted). I had them painted the same colour as the car then clear powder coated & then professionally sign-written in proper Lotus Yellow by an ABS member who's commissioned to Lotus to do the sign-writing on their historic race cars. & as he states:-
Just for interest - you can tell people that it's been done with the same paint I used on Jim Clark's Lotus Type 25, Indy 500 winning Type 38, Type 32 (Tasman championship), & Type 49 (R2) - the car that won "1st time out" at Zandvoort 1967 (1st race for the car & the Ford Cosworth DFV), after their restorations at Classic Team Lotus.
A month later I picked her up (after an issue with 3, yes 3 sticky injectors I'd had cleaned) & was I a happy man? No, not really 'cause after I took these pics it pissed it down all the way home (Norfolk to Berkshire). Am I happy with the finish? You bet.
I also had the tailpipes painted in the body colour & the wheels were refurbished too.
Still had the interior, badges etc to put back on plus a service but I took my time before the TV Castle Combe event
& I spent last weekend at Donington at the Lotus Club show where she now looks like this.
Still need to get some proper 'after' pics taken but I'm happy with her & to be driving her again.
