Updated 10/18/2024
Getting harder for me to get out of 3291R; messed up left leg a couple years ago in a motorcycle accident (was t-boned by a blue hair coming out of a strip mall in Somerset MA which laid me out on the tarmac with the bike resting on my ankle..) and just can't easily or comfortably hold the clutch down at lights, so thinking of letting 3291R go to the next owner.
Readers will know, based on past experience, that a lot of work has gone into her so far (not unlike, but not as extensively, as my 693R S2) and have accumulated many parts to continue...but so far, have:
1. Upgraded and rebuilt OEM distributor with Pertronix kit and set timing; new cap, wires, rotor, and 1-grade warmer spark plugs to get her running. Hot 40KV Pertronix ignition coil installed. Tach rebuilt with Spyida RVI kit and calibrated to electronic ignition. Original tach will be included if you want to go back to point ignition.
2. Rebuilt Strombergs, removed secondary throttles, and set mixture, balance, and idle.
3. Reupholstered seats and installed new floor carpets. Rest of carpets useable; have complete set to update rest of interior.
4. Overhauled and powder coated OEM steel rims, and 4 newish tires (alloys and good rubber stored and would go with car.) and OEM hubcaps and stainless nuts for alloys.
5. Overhauled front suspension, lowered front end with used Spax shocks and 125lb replacement springs (have new shocks, see below).
6. Overhauled trunnions, new upper ball joints, torqued to spec. Repaired bent sway bar uprights.
7. Resealed oil pan, installed new RD header and muffler can. Have a spare uncracked cast OEM header, downpipe, and stainless link pipe in usable condition if you want to go back to original.
8. Overhauled gear shift with lower bronze bushings and fresh ball joint, shortened shift lever, new bushing and top hats in tranny pivot.
9. Wet sanded, buffed, and compounded original paint. Leaving as is. It's only original once, right?
10. Replaced US tail lights with European-spec (separate directional/running/brake) tail lights, eliminating the DB10 relay from the circuit.
11. Upgraded headlights to high-quality Koito headlights, instead of sealed beam units with freshly re-chromed bezels.
12. New clutch cable installed with on-block mount to eliminate bucking tendency from frame-mountd cable sheath end.
13. Overhauled front calipers with stainless pistons, seals (including quad seal between halves), EBC Greenstuff pads, new flex lines, bearings, etc.
14. Removed power brake vacuum units and replumbed bundy pipes.
15. Installed bluetooth capable FM radio and FM modulator to plug in i-whatever.
16. Purchased, but not installed, new aluminum chassis cooling tubes.
17. Have new rear Spax shocks and lower rear arm poly bushings. INSTALLED SEPT 2024, see #21.
18. Replaced leaking OEM master cylinder with .7 diameter Triumph spitfire cylinder; have a .75 cylinder to go with car if brake response is not to your liking and a couple original .875 that can be rebuilt.
19. Installed dual cylinder rear deck lid prop assembly. No more broom handle!
20. Upgraded to high-torque starter.
21. Refreshed rear lower links with new polyurethane bushings and fresh set of Spax shocks with new springs. Set for 4 clicks from bottom, spring perches at lowest setting.
Now, what's still on the shelf, and would go with car is a shimmed and overhauled cylinder head, top end gaskets (you have your choice of the 3 different ones I've collected), new throttle cable, all the bits to renovate the clutch (pressure plate, driven plate, throwout), right side engine-to-mount assembly, rear arm front donut mounts, 2 engine mounts, 2 rear tranny mounts, 1 potential useful master cylinder, 2 used and ready for overhaul .875 master cylinders, flex brake lines for the frame to rear trailing arm, a new dashboard in 95 point condition, new upholstered 'eyebrow', and the "Special 142" badge for the dash, 2 freshly painted fuel tanks (insides need to be derusted, but they're solid AFAIK) and a new sender/gasket/retaining ring, and a sorted parts bin with lots of useable parts accumulated over the decades. I'll throw in a brand new, never mounted Pilkington windshield just in case. Fresh set of Spax front shocks and new #115 springs.
Oh, yeah, complete service records back to the original dealer invoice from Lotus East, Wilkins' TC book, Service Manual with TC addendum, and parts manual printout from the archive, and all my invoices from parts suppliers...Oh, yeah, an original tool kit and jack.
I'm willing to entertain best offers (please don't insult me...I've been in the Lotus world for over 40 years...it's driveable, passed safety inspection, in decent shape, but needs paint...hey, it's a survivor and personally I'd leave it as it is) as she sits in my garage in Massachusetts...It's not perfect; could probably stand to be aligned, tires road force balanced, donuts at front of trailing arms replaced, and probably a list a mile long of other things (it IS a Lotus, after all). First thing I would do, though, is the head gasket...it's not making mayonaise, but, it does weep a bit down onto the starter.
I'm just throwing this out there...but...who knows? If you're looking for a good base to start from...here it is. Want more photos? Let me know, and I'll post them for you. Every photo I've taken of work so far is on my website
www.lotuseuropa.us in the photo album under 3291R in the main menu to whet your appetite. Would rather it goes to someone who loves the car...but not unwilling to test the waters on the auction sites at some point. Happy to trade for a late running Elite...but leaving this here for what it's worth. It's a survivor (which means something), it's as original as 51 years on can be through multiple owners, and there are fewer and fewer turning a wheel as time goes by. Let me know...if you're just tire (tyre?) kicking...well, save us both the time, OK?
