new to the board!!

[Autotech]

Hi folks..New to the board.

I did a search but came up empty on this topic.

I currently have a 99 V8tt Esprit in the shop. It is now 7 years old, and its time to do the timing belt. The car only has 20k miles on the clock, but as with the italian exotics the belts should be replaced.

I have a couple of questions regarding this service and hope some of you may be kind enough to ansewer for me.

Inorder to change the timing belts, does this engine need to be removed? The Ferrari,355, 348, require the engines to be removed, and the position of the Lotus engine is the same as the V8 Ferrari's with the belts facing the passenger compartment.

I does look like it can be done in the car, but it looks mighty tight.

I have done a few S4 timing belts with the engine in the car..not fun. Hopefully this one will be a bit easier on the knuckles.

Thank you for you help!!!

[Robert Puertas]

I was looking at a beaustiful 350 at Newport today.
I don't see how it could possibly be done in the car, but I don't know for sure.

There are people on this board who do this for a living, so hopefully you'll get a useful answer quickly.

[ducatiexigeowner]

I've worked on such repairs in my time,i'll get ma thinkin cap on
and see what i can post,if it will help.
All in all, just get the bull by the horns and go for it......
Like any...put that thinkin cap on...
if ya come up against a problem your not sure about e-mail me
or post it on eer.

[APOGEE]

Originally Posted by Autotech

Hi folks..New to the board.

I did a search but came up empty on this topic.

I currently have a 99 V8tt Esprit in the shop. It is now 7 years old, and its time to do the timing belt. The car only has 20k miles on the clock, but as with the italian exotics the belts should be replaced.

I have a couple of questions regarding this service and hope some of you may be kind enough to ansewer for me.

Inorder to change the timing belts, does this engine need to be removed? The Ferrari,355, 348, require the engines to be removed, and the position of the Lotus engine is the same as the V8 Ferrari's with the belts facing the passenger compartment.

I does look like it can be done in the car, but it looks mighty tight.

I have done a few S4 timing belts with the engine in the car..not fun. Hopefully this one will be a bit easier on the knuckles.

Thank you for you help!!!

The engine can stay in, but you will need some Lotus service tools and a very
good tech. I would leave this one for a trained Lotus tech if you think the S4
is no fun.
All the Best. Don.