Lotus Esprit - Unique fuel tank removal. Ugh! And some other body parts removed.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ย. 2024
- The ongoing body components continues on with this Lotus Esprit Turbo! More body parts removed along with those pesky split fuel tanks
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Disclaimer
This video is purely for entertainment for your viewing pleasure.
The content is not intended as educational and use at your own risk.
Simply have fun watching and enjoy the show!
Thank you, great to see a solid how to on taking the tanks out.
LOL @ the lighter find, right under the fuel cell! Just done this job here ~ 2 weeks back and knew you'd have fun, mine were like a 'ship in a bottle'. I think when putting em back in take off the seat belt beam, mine caught on that and seemed to be 90% of the problem - plus them darn rigid hoses! 100% hats off to people who have done this with the engine in situ, O7.
You could go alloy tanks, Esprit Engineering in the UK make them. Leaky tanks of Esprit's are quite common as you can see the foam gets wet (open cell foam....doh) and they rust like crazy, however mine are in fantastic condition so proof they can be fine if looked after, so refurb/std replacement is also viable.
You described my experience and thoughts as I did the removal perfectly. We lived the same adventure. The issue with taking the seatbelt beam off is that the side supports need to come off first which sit with tank. Either way I think it is a challenge. Quite the puzzle piece. Glad to hear your tanks are good.
You're going to be Rosie the Riveter putting the puzzle pieces back together. Enjoying watching the story unfold. You'll definitely feel like your wearing the car when you finally get to drive it because you've been intimate with all of its hidden naughty bits.
Hopefully the long road of getting it right means many spirited roads after.
Another amazing video thanks for sharing it 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
You are so welcome Frank. Thanks again for the cheers and support.
Hi there! I just found your channel as I've started the tank removal process on my 83 Turbo Esprit investor edition, (#32 of 50), and was looking for tips. I have engine out - its been rebuilt from the bottom up by a friend/Lotus expert. I had taken out the door striker screws to adjust door alignment and the threaded bit behind the fiberglass body dropped to the bottom of fuel tank compartment! Ugh! I wish it was fixed an not floating!!! Oh well, I suppose it's a good time to look at and address or replace the tanks anyway, before engine install. I didn't do the engine removal, and my guy doesn't want to install it, so I'm in the dark for sure, but I'll be watching for tip and ideas, and to see your end result. I don't know that I'll go as deep as you (I need body/paint, and full interior), but maybe I should consider it since I'm doing all that! Glad I found you! Cheers!
Welcome Edward. It appears you have a bit of work ahead of you as well. My plan is to get back to the assembly this winter and will video everything for you folks out there. All the best in your project!
Removing the tanks with the engine is isn't that difficult with care; I've just completed this on my Esprit in the past month. You need to drop the engine off its mounts and remove the chargecooler, inlet plenum cover and exhaust cam cover to gain the necessary clearance. Its certainly easier to replace them with the engine out, but I wouldn't take the engine out just to change the tanks if that's all you needed to do.
Bin that horrible sponge foam on the top/bottom of the tanks and replace it with some modern closed cell self adhesive foam when you put the tanks back in so that it doesn't hold water against the tanks in future.
Has the car has some bad accident damager repairs done on the right hand side? It looks like chicken wire on the inside of the body when you removed the RH tank at 10:40 in the video.
You are my hero for removing the tanks with the engine in, but if all I was doing is changing the tanks out and not a restore I would definitely give it a go.
Good eye on spotting that mesh wire. There are no accidents logged for the car and I did study that wire looking parch a bit. There is no evidence that these tanks have ever been removed and to do patch work like they would have had to be. My thoughts are something caught QA at the factory and was addressed. Perhaps a weaker spot needing reinforcement? Maybe s disgruntled worker put its fist through it. 😆
I am curious how you are organizing and tracking everything to go back together? Also keeping a list of needed parts. Just a simple spread sheet or something more advanced. Perhaps you can share in a future video - I would be interested having never completely stripped a car down before.
Great question Erick. I can mention that in a future video. Essentially writing down each item as a remove it and numbers plus putting hardware and small pieces with matching names and numbers on zip lock bags. And most importantly have lots of pictures and video to reference for alter. If all else fail after all that I have the service manual for reference. Mind you the Esprit service manual is not done well as far as typical factory ones go. Now some stuff was already disassembled on the car so that will be more challenging going by experience, research, and asking others.
I would try to get the safest type of gas tanks I could afford. They are very close to the drivers head. You are a pro at removing rivets! Loved how they stayed on the drill bit as you moved on. Having fun yet?!!
The process is fun, but I will tell you how much when it all done. 😉
Good video. I strongly suspect the tanks in my '84 need replacing but I will need to do it with the engine in. Not looking forward to it. 😞
All the best with pulling the tanks. It has been done with the engine in and I tip my hat to anyone who has done it.
@@SlippingTime Thanks, I'm dreading it. Apparently they tend to corrode the most around the filler neck so I've been advised to only fill the car to 3/4 full each time I get fuel to prevent leakage. I'll keep doing that until I can be bothered to replace the tanks.
@@jackthehatphoto I don’t blame you for holding off as long as you can.
Thanks for the video! Looks like your Esprit body color is black refer to VIN in the lower left hand corner of the vehicle identification plate (A02) It's amazing that you too had the original foams under the fuel tanks :) Do you want to buy new fuel tanks of refurbished the old ones?
Not sure on the tanks replacement yet. Likely purchase new ones as I think the left one is pretty thin in the bottom now from all the moisture sitting in the foam.
Lots of rivets! Hope you have an air riveter tool.
I do! I am certain it will be worn out after this car.
@@SlippingTime LOL. Better than wearing out your hands.
Rewire your car, just my opinion. I’m getting ready to rewire my 81 delorean. Cheers.
The wiring will get some work on it as I go through it.