[lolo]

found this car Monday about 20 miles from me. jumped on it asap.
has 8705 original miles, window sticker, original pink slip, original NTC tires, everything as it was when it left rothrock Allentown in 1988. was stored inside in a climate controls garage till this spring. then was outside with a cover for a month. cover made fine scratches on it, but very easy to detail out. going to get it detailed this week, inside and out.
from sitting the alternator kicks on and off. thermo switch for the cooling fans is bad and pass/side window motor was locks up, cleaned it and its free, for now.
I just ordered parts from RD enterprises in Quakertown and will be here tomorrow.
can't wait to enjoy this car and keep it show worthy!

 

[delomike1049]

Replace cam belt and drive belts ASAP...

 

[EspritNOOB]

Congrats on a great find with extremely low miles.

 

[greentengu]

Well, that makes two Esprits in the Coopersburg/Quakertown/Route 309 area . But only one that's road worthy (yours --mine's in need of a fifty gallon drum's worth of TLC) lol.

Is that the speed shop on northbound 309 she's parked in? The one right across from Bob's transmissions, that always seems to host some amazing VW's.

x1 billion on changing the timing belt and other belts.

Congrats on a really nice car; the two-tone '88 as you have was my other "dream car", but the G-Esprit body style finally won my vote (and my checkbook).

Cheers,

Scott

 

[lolo]

the shop your talking about is my OLD location. we moved in march about 1.5 miles north on rt309 behind smith's car care.(NLS) mainly deal with german autos but work on everything.

I've had the lotus bug for years now and this one just had to be mine!
I'm new to the esprit, so any helpful info would be great!
stop by the shop sometime if your free!

-josh

oh, timing belt(sorry I'm new and didn't look it up yet)
in car possible or drop motor to do it best?

 

[91MR2]

You can do the belt with the motor in. Also, you can not "drop" the motor, so much as you "lift" it out the top.

After that, enjoy the car, it looks great!

 

[greentengu]

Roger that on the new location, and the invitation.

I'm not sure if your car has the GM EFI or Bosch CIS--I forget exactly when Lotus did "the switch". In any event, those Far More Experienced Than I Am will note that changing the timing belt is possible to do with the engine in. The belt you generally want is the "Blue Belt" by JAE in California, if that belt is appropriate for your particular engine's build date. Otherwise, Ray at RD can set you up nicely.

Some will note doing the job is far easier with the engine out of the car, as other "problem areas" such as swapping out the often-problematic cam followers for more robust ones can be tackled while it's out, but the added time and effort of removing the engine and sometimes the transmission with an extra-long crane (or, if your shop has one, a nice hoist sliding on a beam overhead) sort of cancels out any "time and trouble" saved.

In other words, it's a matter of preference. As you have access to excellent lifts, I imagine doing the belt with the engine in the car would be substantially more a treat than doing it in ones garage while on your back (or stomach, arms and legs splayed across the engine).

Cheers,

Scott

 

[lolo]

awesome! thanks for the info. I'm learning a lot about them.
ray at RD is a big help and close. so i'll check with in on a timing belt setup. doing the alternator this weekend, fixed the window already, so maybe a T-blt at the same time is in order.

 

[carbuff]

Josh, GREAT FIND!

Ray (@ RD) is a Good Guy.

Many have replaced the OE Valeo alternator with a Bosch. The Bosch provides more amperage at idle.

The '88s had Bosch K-Jetronic injection. It works well if you use the car on a regular basis.



PS, don't EVER think about putting a rear wing on that thing! It's BEAUTIFUL the way it sits... Train that dog to GROWL at the Wing Salesmen. LOL.



PPS, my '88 was initially sold at Rothrock as well. Small World. What's the last 3 numbers of the VIN? Mine's 305, assembled March 1988.

 

[MidLifeZ]

Nice! CONGRATS! And get new tires!

 

[Turbo R]

She is GORGEOUS!!!!
Congrats...Josh!

Love the feel of the '88s...they are awesome!!! I have one too...have owned two '88s over the years and this one I bought twice so this is my third time around with an '88.

Roy

P.S. Needs a wing! Oops...Hi Atwell!!!

 

[Turbo R]

Definitely look into the Bosch upgrade for the alternator and if the car will be driven rather than put into a museum, replacing those aging tires is a must, as is the timing belt if it hasn't been done recently.

Roy

 

[89.5 Esprit SE]

That is the Bosch injected version. Nice find!

Timing belt can be changed with motor in, just a bit of effort and small hands help.
I believe you have to be careful to leave all 3 pulleys in their correct orientation on the Bosch version.

While you are in there carefully check the hoses coming off the water pump for rot, as some have to be removed anyway to get the belt off.

Randy

 

[amanda11270]

I used to do refrigeration service work all over the Allentown area, the only time I have ever seen one in the Lehigh Valley is when I drove mine there last, and Rothrock used to sell them? WOW.

I have been to Ray's once and ordered stuff from him too, he's a great local source for parts I've found.

Im in Harrisburg area and even up here I have only seen one other Esprit other than mine.

Looks like a nice find. Congrats

 

[carbuff]

I believe you have to be careful to leave all 3 pulleys in their correct orientation on the Bosch version.

Actually, that is true for any Esprit with a distributor. The Aux pulley drives the dizzy, and if you get it wrong the distributor could hit the oil filter or engine when you try to move it to adjust timing. :facepalm

You may THINK you have the pulley oriented correctly, but when the timing belt is tensioned, it moves... :huh:





And Josh, don't listen to my friend Roy, he is the Original Wing Man! <---all in fun

 

[lolo]

no wing on this car haha. I wanted one but got this car and love the look.
if I do ANY modifications at all...IF, big IF.
they will be reversible and minimal.
suspension, bolt on cat back(I'm a fab shop) and wheels.
I deal with a company and we are in the talks of making a custom wheel that would be 16-17'' "copy" of the stock wheel. just bigger, retro mod type thing,

if this wheel idea goes thru, we will market them as well. lotus esprit fitment. but also can do any lug pattern people wish.

but I will NEVER modify the car too much or that can't be changed back, and i'll save all parts.

timing belt is a must soon, low miles BUT many years.
heading to rays today to pick up the thermo switch for the fans, I also got a reman alt. from him.


does anyone know a coilover setup parts number or link for bilsteins?

build date is 2/1988 btw
sold for full sticker price of $63,435(I have the pink slip of sales )

 

[lolo]

also,
I'm looking for a mint black ribbed panel for the rear lic plate surround. mine is clean but has bubbles in it... weird, like it heated up. that normal on these?
anyone have a clean one for sale?

 

[89.5 Esprit SE]

I have an extra one, will look how "mint" it is

Randy

 

[carbuff]

Ha. :tadts:



My OE ribbed plinth had the bubbles as well. I bought a straight one from someone who upgraded to a carbon fiber plinth.


I applaud the wheel idea, but bear in mind that only the North American market Esprits with the Citroen transmission (inboard rear brakes) had the dished offset.

JAE Parts in CA already offers a spacer that allows wheels from the later cars to be fitted on the rear of '88 and earlier cars. Or, some have fitted custom wheels (like the beautiful Fiske alloys on DeloMike's car) on their Esprits.


Larger, heavier wheels require better brakes (the '88s Toyota-sourced brakes are marginal) and suspension mods to aid alignment as Vulcan Grey has done.


Call JAE and check on the availability of the Lotus/Bilstein suspension (a genuine factory upgrade, as fitted on the Final Edition Esprits). It's a great update to the car.

 

[lolo]

well, I stayed late last night, made custom exhaust for it. without hurting ANYTHING factory and can be converted back to stock in about 15 mins.... I had to! hope you guys are "ok" with this

VIDEO
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204480811286292&set=vb.1412526397&type=2&theater&notif_t=like

stock muffler removed. straight 3'' SS brushed with stock style slant tip, looks oem from the back. but sounds exotic as it should!

new alt, slave cyl, thermo switch for fans and timing belt asap