True DIY Times Mods & Jobs

[carl]

As many that read my posts can surmise I'm a hands on guy. I an fortunate to have the knowledge, skills and tools to perform most jobs and mods.One thing that I think would be helpful to people using this board is real times for DIY jobs and mods. I define a real-time for a job as the time that elapses between pulling your lotus into the garage to pulling it out with the job completed. I think some posts may state an artificially short time for a install not including the time to take off wheels , pans ect. This came to mind when I installed the force fed damper( see post). We could make this a sticky for true DIY times I'll start.

Install Nitrons includes lifting or jacking,R&R wheels and top front shock mounts 2-2 1/2hrs note does not include setting ride height corner balance or alignment add 3-4hrs(trust me i've done this many times)

Force fed damper 1 1/2hrs add 1/2hs for RTD brace.

Oil and filter 1hr

Change front brake pads 3/4hr, remember all times include jacking and R&R wheels.

Change rear pads 1 1/4 hrs.

Change springs on Nitrons or Olnins 3-4hr includes resetting corner bal and ride height check alignment but no adjustment.

Install Sector 111 RTD brace and reset rear toe and thrust angle 3-3 1/2hrs.

This is a start. carl

[RoadDad]

My addition, when I get the rest of the parts, will be: Cutting rear bulkhead trim panel, placing speaker pods, and installing a Lotus harness bar.

Removing trim panel: 15 mins.
Measuring for cuts to trim panel: 20 mins.
Cutting rear bulkhead trim panel for harness bar: 5 mins per side
Cutting rear bulkhead trim panel for speaker pods: 2 hours (includes cut, test fit, fettle, test fit, bang head on wall)
Pop riveting speaker pods: 3 mins (includes drilling holes for rivets)
Replace trim panel: 5 mins. (not including putting passenger seat back in)
Placement of OEM harness bar: 20 mins with one 30 sec cuss break
Replace speakers: 2 mins
Replace passenger seat: 10 mins

[carl]

i just put in polk 651s in the rear under the factory bar 2+ hrs includes R&R roof and pass seat, no room for grills and lots of dremell work. carl

[MotorCade]

approx 2 hours... Jack car, remove wheel, remove castle nut cotter pin, remove castle nut, remove three hub bolts (the hard part, tough to get to and probably rusted - removing undertray for wrench clearance is probably necessary). Use a gear puller to remove hub, then replace new hub, connect ABS sensor, replace three hub bolts, replace castle nut, replace cotter pin, replace wheel.

You will need a shallow 19mm 6pt socket, a 19mm offset box-end wrench, several extensions, a breaker bar, a torque wrench, an impact wrench, and a 30mm impact socket. (and an air compressor) Oh, and a propane torch may come in handy if you do have really rusty stuck bolts like I did.

[carl]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

approx 2 hours... Jack car, remove wheel, remove castle nut cotter pin, remove castle nut, remove three hub bolts (the hard part, tough to get to and probably rusted - removing undertray for wrench clearance is probably necessary). Use a gear puller to remove hub, then replace new hub, connect ABS sensor, replace three hub bolts, replace castle nut, replace cotter pin, replace wheel.

did the bearing fail?year miles? carl

[MotorCade]

I've had three wheel bearing failures so far on my car, an early 2005. (both together at about 18,000, and left rear at 38,000). Lots of track time, though. Easy part to replace, and reasonably cheap at about $120 retail.

The first replacements were covered by Lotus under warranty, but the third was mine... and a big to Qais at southbay, btw... he got me a slightly used hub for free. Thanks again, Qais!

I do tend to favor a little oversteer in my setup, and I use the curbing aggressively. So I'm not really all that surprised.

[carl]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

I've had three wheel bearing failures so far on my car, an early 2005. (both together at about 18,000, and left rear at 38,000). Lots of track time, though. Easy part to replace, and reasonably cheap at about $120 retail.

The first replacements were covered by Lotus under warranty, but the third was mine... and a big to Qais at southbay, btw... he got me a slightly used hub for free. Thanks again, Qais!

interesting haven't heard of any others, good info. thanks carl
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...wheel+bearings

[Jack]

Carl

How about the time to do:
1) the milled steering arms and resetting front toe
2) fettling of '07 air scoop
3) catch can install
4) cat removal and re-install

[carl]

Originally Posted by Jack

Carl

How about the time to do:
1) the milled steering arms and resetting front toe
2) fettling of '07 air scoop
3) catch can install
4) cat removal and re-install

1)1 1/2 hrs to R&R, need puller and reset camber
2)2hrs with R&R roof and IC bellows
3)1-1 1/2 Saikou Michi
4) 2hrs

[uclacyc]

People say that putting on an exhaust is easy... I took six hours because taking the stock one off was a bitch. That was four hours alone.

[CALtd]

Changing/cleaning stock air filter? My experience was 2 hrs by myself (1.5 just trying to line up the cover). With a knowledgeable extra set of hands, 15 minutes to close. With my wife, 30-35 minutes.

[carl]

Originally Posted by uclacyc

People say that putting on an exhaust is easy... I took six hours because taking the stock one off was a bitch. That was four hours alone.

i rest my case keep em coming. although i would say 2hrs is about average but if the muffler is frozen on it can take a lot more. carl

[carl]

Originally Posted by CALtd

Changing/cleaning stock air filter? My experience was 2 hrs by myself (1.5 just trying to line up the cover). With a knowledgeable extra set of hands, 15 minutes to close. With my wife, 30-35 minutes.

it helps to remove the intake bellows still a honest 1+. carl

[pixlpush]

Transmission oil change - 1+ hour

I filled it from the top with a funnel that had a fairly long clear hose attached to it, only way to go in my opinion. 15 minutes to clean up the oil I sloped everywhere when draining the trans

[carl]

rear grill removal 2-3hrs includes cutting heat shield and installing Von Hepp support. carl

[xxxotic]

Change light bulb. first time about 2 hours, now about 25 minutes after learning how to remove fender covers, bolts, etc

[pete k]

Exige S dipstick tube oil leak. (from Carl) Four days to get the O ring from Toyota, then 1 hour to replace, hardest part was getting your hand in there to get the old one out, and new one in. (don't forget to take out the dipstick first) Doh!

[carl]

Originally Posted by pete k

Exige S dipstick tube oil leak. (from Carl) Four days to get the O ring from Toyota, then 1 hour to replace, hardest part was getting your hand in there to get the old one out, and new one in. (don't forget to take out the dipstick first) Doh!

Pete, did it fix the leak? took me about a total 8 hrs after trying other things to figure it out. lotus( I.E. factory) thought it was the gasket on the breather plate on the block. carl

[CALtd]

Originally Posted by 4carl

it helps to remove the intake bellows still a honest 1+. carl

Thanks Carl. I got that trick before and it still takes this long. I just won't try it alone again. Easier to knock on doors just to get a 3rd hand.

[Randy Chase]

Craig, you are not that far away, give me a call for help to do stuff. I was just down at PL Seafoods.

P.S. My exhaust changes are about 60 minutes.

Diffuser off in 4 minutes.

Top on or off in 25 seconds.

All four tires swapped in 10 minutes 20 seconds

Removing rear clam 2 hours

Removing front clam 2 hours

Replacing uprights. FORVEVER.

Installing LSD into tranny 10 hours once tranny is out.

Changing air filter (with taking rear wheel off) 30 minutes.