Scottish Elises

So i need a new flexi pipe. But my mechanic (he's not really mine) says why don't I just get him to weld on a replacement bit of flexible pipe.

Because the new one is 150UKP! Plus VAT. It must be better than some non-Lotus stainless steel YOU get. I reply.

But it would be 32 quid for my bit, plus about the same in welding.

Ah but my car would be slower.. (I silently think).

and do I just replace the failed heatshield (I don't know which heatshield - until I started looking I didn't know there was more than one) or do I upgrade it. Perhaps to something less cardboardy*?

pete


*And damn you spell checker. Cardboardy is a word, "Made of, resembling, or suggestive of cardboard"

Both have failed?

My flexi is a welded in section, £20 and a packet of wine gums for the welder.

The heatshield is already a high tech piece of kit and not *that* expensive from Lotus so I would probably just get a replacement, assuming it's the one that bolts to the manifold.

Nothing wrong with getting it welded provided the welder is OK. If you get a load of pigeon sh*t you might as well give up as the chances are the weld will fail.

The easiest thing is just to buy the proper parts though ...

Cheers,
Robin

I'll follow this with interest; my flexi pipe was failing early last year, so I bought a shiney new one from EP. While working under the car a week or so ago, I noticed the steel on the flexi section at both ends (of the flexi bit) has about 95% rotted / disintegrated, so looks like it won't last much longer Not sure if I'm in a hurry to spend the coin on another flexi for it to fall apart in 6K miles time.

I thought the EP part was stainless? Surely worth a chat to Geary?