Just a brief note that I am not continuing this blog. I never did finish the E9, gave some bits away and junked the rest. I sold the Lotus to a terrific guy who I hope will finish it up.

Engine almost together

Painting the block took longer than I thought it would, but it is done. The head is on. Last week I stayed home nursing a cold. Today I installed the new camshaft sprockets.

There is a trick to installing the timing chain not mentioned in the workshop manual.

• Start by removing the  tensioner completely from the front cover. Be sure to remove the spring so it doesn't fall on the ground when you have your back turned. 
• Install the sprockets just enough to turn the cams. 
• Ensure the crank is nowhere near TDC and rotate cams until timing marks are slightly below front cover. 
• Remove sprockets.
• While ensuring the chain does not foul on anything, rotate crank (same direction it goes in) to roughly 30 deg before TDC. 
• Ensure chain is not engaged on crankshaft sprocket.
• Install exhaust sprocket. Snug bolt but do not tighten.
• Rotate crankshaft to TDC and engage chain at crankshaft, check alignment of exhaust sprocket.
• Install intake sprocket.
• Install tensioner, adjust for 0.5 in. drop of chain between sprockets.
• Rotate crankshaft a couple of turns and come up slowly to TCD. Ensure sprocket marks line up with top edge of front cover.
• Torque sprocket bolts to 26 ft. lbs.

Finding Time to Paint

The holidays have been frantic but I have managed to spend some time at the shop. As of today I have everything I took off painted with POR-15 except the block.

While eating lunch I spotted the clutch cable bracket laying on the floor. That will need the treatment even though it is not coming off. Really should do the shift linkage, too.

Another must do with engine out -- replace the coolant pipes. Where did I put them?

Paint, oil pan, cam cover, motor mounts

Another good day with the Lotus.

Striped the motor mounts and cam cover. Shot the oil pan with POR-15 etching primer. Shot the cam cover with wrinkle paint. Brushed POR-15 gray on oil pan, black on motor mounts.

Sunday update with rain

This is the time of year when my job allows me to take a day or two off every week. Sometimes even three. These good times end in January but till then I should have more than enough time to finish the Lotus.

Work today was impacted by rain. Lots of it. I picked up a 3/8 in. brass pipe thread plug needed to plug an extra heater hose connection on the new front cover. Decided not to put in all the plugs until after I paint the front cover. Should look more "factory" that way. Stripped the cam cover, had to work at the door opening and dodge the raindrops.

Next opportunity to work is Wednesday and by then then weather should be back to normal.

Lotus gets a fancy water pump

I know it has been a few months since I posted anything. I have been working on cars, it is just that at the same time I have been working out more with the goal of doing my first triathlon. By the time I even think about writing I am too tired to start. As it turns out, swimming correctly as is required for triathlon is a lot harder to master than I thought, so I never did make one this year. After the Honolulu Century Ride in September I turned all my attention to preparing for the Honolulu Marathon on December 8th. Did the whole marathon prep race series, including to HMSA 30K, but after that I discovered I had a hernia. Just got it fixed on the 18th, and after a month not working on cars I was back at the shop today and felt great.

On August 1st I decided the time had come to push out the E9 and bring in the Lotus Europa for it's new water pump. I bought the cartridge type from Dave Ban Engineering. So, yeah, this time the head and oil pan have to come off, but not next time.

So far I have pulled the engine and transaxle, stripped the paint off the block, pulled the head, dropped the pan, replaced the front cover with the new modified version, and just today got the head back on.





Now that it is set up, time to take stuff apart.







 
Guess I didn't take any pics of the paint stripping, good thing because hard to get hands clean and dry. Took multiple coats and a lot of scrubbing to get the old enamle off. I painted this motor back in the late 70's when I had the valves redone.

These are from today. Finished with head on but rushing to get out the door. I'll try t start tomorrow with a shot of the head back on.

RH door skin repaint

I knew the process of attaching the door skin would bang up the paint, and that I would have to repaint the outside just to keep it from rusting while the rest of the restoration work is done. Last Sunday being Fathers Day I opted to hang out at home, so this week was my first opportunity to do the job.

Simple, really, just time consuming. Sand off the thin protective coat applied at the factory, then shoot with etching primer followed by rattle can enamel. The primer is quality stuff, but the enamel will have to come off before the real paint is laid down.

As it turned out it was a lousy, rainy day, so I only shot two coats of primer. Next week I'll finish it up.

While sanding I used some Vice-Grips to tighten up a few places were I had run out of strength last time.