I thought with a chassis like this the body was fibreglass
Good Afternoon All
I'm going to be looking for some new day to day transport something a little different.
I noticed the Lotus Excel is looking a bargain at the moment.
Is it a dog or a decent bit of kit honest opinions please.
And the second question is would it be possible to get a 4pot BMW TD engine & 6 Speed gearbox in there.
I like the Fibre glass body no rust whats the chassis and running gear like.
Lee
quote:
Originally posted by uklee70
I'm going to be looking for the Lotus Excel is looking a bargain at the moment.
I like the Fibre glass body no rust whats the chassis and running gear like.
I thought with a chassis like this the body was fibreglass
They had a steel backbone chassis but the bodies are GRP!!
Well I thought so but hey
Back to the orignal questions then are they any good and can I fit a bmw td engine in there
Lee
Not often you hear the words Lotus and everyday transport in the same sentance -- at least not without a negative as in not suitable for
.........
The Excel chassis was basically a further stretched version of the Elan Plus2.
With Loti of this era the body is also partly structural as it stiffens the chassis.
Engine bay would be awful tight for a BMW unit, a Toyota engine would be a lot easier as Lotus used a lot of Toyota parts on the Excel including the
gearbox.
[Edited on 24/11/09 by britishtrident]
quote:
Originally posted by Mike S
They had a steel backbone chassis but the bodies are GRP!!
LOL - from the title I thought this thread was going to be about spreadsheets 
Lee forget that lotus and get on with the Hillman Imp
Have you had a go at it yet ? Any photos
Graham
Thanks for the answers everbody
The supra gearbox used in the excel would that mate to a toyota diesel engine as all the current diesels are FWD.
Is the Toyota Diesel a decent engine?
Is the chassis known for rot?
Lee
Graham
I'm stuck at work until January floating around the Red sea on a ship.
I don't have any pitures of the imp shell sorry.
Pop round in Jan when I'm back in the country
Lee
Lucky you and im frezzzzzing in Hull
I will like to have a look at the Imp
If i dont hear from you before then have a good XMASS / NEW YEAR
Graham
British trident is soooooooo right
A Lotus for every day use
hahahahahahahahahahahaha
I take it you work for your self ? as you will always be late for work, assuming you get there !
Lots of trouble and usually serieus (spelling ?)
My old 2+2 elan was the most unreliable vehicle i have ever owned, and that is fact
regards
Steve
rover v8 can be persuaded into them , theyre not teh best everyday transport - the later ones used toyota running gear .
I would disagree - I've had two elises and they've both been daily drivers (S1 and S2), as has a friend of mine who's been running an
S1 as his daily commuter for near on 10 years now.
The only problems I ever had was an alternator needed replacing on the S2, and both models leaked in very heavy rain (but then so did my MX5 and 306
roadster).
It should all be OK aslong as the chassis and body is sound and you fit a modern engine and wire it properly. But that could be said of any older car
really.
StevieB
You have been fortunate to own a pretty late Lotus, but anything from th 1960-80 were not built with any form or care that would mean it will work,
Elises and Excel as different as katie Price and Cheryl cole
quote:
Originally posted by steve m
StevieB
You have been fortunate to own a pretty late Lotus, but anything from th 1960-80 were not built with any form or care that would mean it will work,
Elises and Excel as different as katie Price and Cheryl cole
Lot's
Of
Trouble
Usually
Serious
quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
quote:
Originally posted by steve m
StevieB
You have been fortunate to own a pretty late Lotus, but anything from th 1960-80 were not built with any form or care that would mean it will work,
Elises and Excel as different as katie Price and Cheryl cole
You're right, but you did say lotus.
I would stick by my point that any car with a modern engine and sorted electrics should be just as reliable - beyond these two items there's not a lot of difference between an elise and an excel. Unless there's a sructural issue with the chassis/body on an excel.