Pauline's finally buying...need your help guys :)

[tut]

If I was buying, even though higher mileage, I would go for the 135R, probably the best S2 that was built.

Small point, but it has the short roof which I would go for. I would give him a call, get more info, and knock him down for an immediate sale if you were going ahead. No point in traveling unless you are confident of buying it, especially as you will have to take cash or a bank draft.

tut

[robin]

Tappety racket from the K series is quite common, but usually is a bit sporadic rather than reliably present on start up until warm. Could have the wrong oil in it of course - too thick will mean the tappets won't pump up properly until the oil is warmer and thinner.

The other possibility is that the noise isn't tappets but is perhaps a bit of piston slap. Not so likely on a genuine 52K with good service history, but still a possibility, especially if one or more of the previous owners lacked mechanical sympathy.

If it is just tappet noise, oil & filter change and a hydraulic tappet flush will most likely sort it.

The Tuz car on SELOC is not a 135R, it's a 135 sport conversion which means a standard 02 K series car with the 135 head put on it.

With any Lotus 135 upgrade, especially the true 135R, you need to be aware of the fact that there is an increased possibility of HGF and if it's not been handled well in the past this could result in needing a new head (more likely you would use a second hand head if you can find one with reasonable provenance).

Cheers,
Robin

[Pauline]

Guys, I'd be lost without you all youve no idea how much I appreciate your support!

Robin thats fab, god still to this day Im sure youve read more of the lotus engines than all our workshop lads put together. Is there any way of me telling the defference between the two, tell tale signs or something i can get them to test?

Im gonna call the Guy re the 135 in the morning, not spoke to him yet....waiting to see if I should sprint down to Preston on the calipso red one at 53k miles, its not had the rack replaced either so guessing i need to check for play in the steering....is that the squeek or the over movement when im parked up? The Sales guy Lee recons the car was tracked yeh but not too heavy he believes, funnily enough...I think it was a girl that had it before hand!

P xx

[j2 lot]

Steering rack on the way out gives slight click/ tap when you turn. If you turn the wheel when parked there should be virtually no movement in the wheel until there is weight in the steering if it's worn there will be a click as it weights up.

[Pauline]

Guys i can see alot of beer buying at the next meet Dimonds, absolute dimonds...god I missed you lot! youd think I should remember some of this stuff giving Ive obviously spent far too long spending weekend buying shoes, Perfect...will keep an eye out for the click in rack

P x

[g1zmo26]

Harsh!
Good luck with the search Pauline!

Come on rob it was a girls colour

Good luck Pauline hope you find a good one!

Stuart

Says the man with the purple car

Hey what's up with purple nizzy!!!!

[robin]

Pauline, depending on how much effort you want to go to anything is possible ....

You can tell the difference if the engine is stone cold. Start it up and listen to the racket it makes, then switch off quickly. Remove spark plugs and pour a very small amount of clean engine oil into each bore - like a shot glass or less. Put the spark plugs back in and fire it up again. If the clatter has gone, it was piston slap. The noise will come back soon enough as the oil leaks down the bores.

Alternately you can use a long handled screwdriver and use it like a stethoscope - put the blunt end to your ear and the sharp end to the rocker cover (on S2 that means removing the three bolts that hold the plastic rain cover on top). With the engine running listen to each of the 8 valve positions (these are in line with the spark plugs; the inlet valves are nearer the boot, the exhaust valves nearer the driver). You'll hear a very pronounced clack clack from some but probably not all the positions and the clacking is slower than the engine is turning; at cold idle the engine spins at 1,000 RPM; the clack will be at 500RPM which is 8 clacks/second.

Orrrr, if you can get to the car with the engine stone cold, don't let it warm up on the idle - instead get it on the road straight away, put it too high a gear for the road speed (say 4th or 5th at 20mph) and go full throttle for a second or two. The car won't accelerate much, if at all, but if it's piston slap the noise will become more pronounced, whereas the clack clack from the tappets won't change much if at all when you do this.

BTW, the engine will happily run with piston slap or noisy tappets for a long time; apart from the noise you won't really notice anything wrong. Fergus fitted a new short block after his engine developed piston slap (he has the PTP165 kit fitted, so the wear on the engine is accelerated); but he ran it for a long long time after noticing the piston slap with no problem apart from the noise.

Cheers,
Robin

[campbell]

S1 Ks are a little rattly, but it's the injectors rather than tappets I believe.

S2 Ks shouldn't be rattly, IMHO, and if it's noisy until warm I assume either the old is old or tappets are worn.

But you need someone with waaaay more mech know-how than me to comment on this, I'm afraid. Robin...are you awake?!

[Andy G]

let us know how the hunt goes

[Pauline]

Genius work guys!!

i know im in for some very strange looks when a girl like me strolls in high heels and all, with a screw driver in one hand and a shott glass in the other! Excellent....will see what I can suss out, least I got a rough idea what to look for. They are supposed to be test driving it with someone at 11.... so I'll say guess 2/3 ish I'll hang around to see if I can let it cool down, gives me time to float around and make sure all else is ok with it! Sales guy Lee seemed really nice, he actually said on the phone tonight hed rather it went to me and recons the ones coming to drive it are mearly goooing over it

Im armed....female.....and now equipped with a little technical know how.... oh jesus, this will be fun

will keep you posted x

[tut]

Told you I was not too clued up on S2's Pauline. Different situation if it is not a genuine 135R.

tut

[campbell]

But you need someone with waaaay more mech know-how than me to comment on this, I'm afraid. Robin...are you awake?!

Sorry Robin, it's me who was clearly sleeping...you have already helped the wee damsel in distress

[campbell]

i know im in for some very strange looks when a girl like me strolls in high heels and all, with a screw driver in one hand and a shott glass in the other!

...

Im armed....female.....and now equipped with a little technical know how.... oh jesus, this will be fun

Pauline I've gone a bit weak at the knees there, images flash before my eyes, steady on...

After all the hard work you put in to looking after all of us back in early Murray days, the least we can do is try to help you source a cracker of an Elise for your retirement

[Pauline]

Retirement, Campbell....i know bout dam time I was retiring

Lol after all years of Lotus and the grey hair Ive gained by 29 year old through them....its time i learn how to relax and enjoy them with you lot

Tut...you are and have always been my hero, you know my luv for you is unconditional, gonna keep fingers crossed for this one tomrrow x

[campbell]

Don't build him up Pauline, he'll need a tranquiliser shot if you keep going like this!!

29...please tell me you are not just 29 at the mo...sheesh, I am OLD.