uklee70
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 02:28 PM |
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Lotus Excel
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
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02GF74
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 02:36 PM |
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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.
They are metal, most likely being steel.
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uklee70
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 02:43 PM |
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I thought with a chassis like this the body was fibreglass
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Mike S
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 02:48 PM |
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They had a steel backbone chassis but the bodies are GRP!!
There are more horses' asses in this world than there are horses
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uklee70
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 02:54 PM |
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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
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 03:01 PM |
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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]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 03:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike S
They had a steel backbone chassis but the bodies are GRP!!
On the Excel the chasiss was Zinc coated -- not sure what process was used but I think hot dipped
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Humbug
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 03:09 PM |
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LOL - from the title I thought this thread was going to be about spreadsheets 
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jacko
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 03:49 PM |
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Lee forget that lotus and get on with the Hillman Imp
Have you had a go at it yet ? Any photos
Graham
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uklee70
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 03:54 PM |
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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
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uklee70
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 03:57 PM |
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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
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jacko
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 04:37 PM |
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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
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steve m
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 05:39 PM |
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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
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Volvorsport
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 05:59 PM |
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rover v8 can be persuaded into them , theyre not teh best everyday transport - the later ones used toyota running gear .
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
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StevieB
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 06:04 PM |
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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.
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steve m
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 06:41 PM |
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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
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StevieB
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 06:49 PM |
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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.
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snapper
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| posted on 24/11/09 at 07:38 PM |
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Lot's
Of
Trouble
Usually
Serious
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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britishtrident
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| posted on 26/11/09 at 09:11 AM |
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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.
Elise has nothing in common with the Excel except the brand.
The Excel was a slightly better built Eclat --- the Eclat was a sister car to the 70s Elite. The Elite, Eclat & Excel all used a stretched
development of the 1960s Elan chassis.
Later series Excels were better built and used much better components than the earlier cars ---- but are still a collection of electrical faults,
bodges and a rather over sensitive engine.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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