The OZ Futura wheels have also been completely refurbished - new rim bolts and new tyres fitted

Not a functional thing but something that needed doing, as there's a space on the intercooler just waiting for it... a bit of artwork on a name plate - It will look nice through the tailgate louvres one day :)

Nov 2013:

AT LAST! Project M71Revival is revived!

The chassis, suspension, wheels and engine are all in a new garage, where I can build the rolling shell and ft the engine, with a view to getting the exhaust manifolds fabricated in situ...

Aug 2011:

There's not been a great deal I can do with everything in storage - but I have got the V-band exhaust adapters for the turbo outlets and some 3 inch stainless tubing, which will be sufficient for dyno testing

Here's a turbo in something like what will be it's new position, when manifolds have been fabricated...

Side Note June 2009:

I could've mentioned this about 18 months ago - but I was keeping quiet on it as some might think it goes against the goals of PM71... As I've now gone public on PistonHeads though (my PH garage is here) I'll spill the beans on the other car - a 480 bhp Noble M12, bought ready tuned & running... a nice change for me and meaning there's no detraction from this project! http://www.noble.ukgo.com/

Nov 2008:

Yes Project M71 still lives! OK only in storage for the moment (as the photos show when the "donor" chassis & car were spirited away to a new home and the new V8 engine & chassis were put into storage this Summer) but the cash-flow situation from work is good - so it will soon be time to get the exhaust manifolds fabricated for the big turbos.... and then it's off to the dyno!

For shots with those doing the lifting, pushing & driving, click here for the Commitee button in the People Section

May 2006:

No real progress now for nearly 18 months I'm afraid! Nothing to report other than regular trips to the garage to turn the engine over. It's "cash flow" restricting things now really... I have bought a new digital camera - but the only photo here is of the V8 still with the plenum and chargecooler removed for the aborted 5th Gear collaboration... think they'll come & help me put them back on?!

Nov 2005:

Well after nearly a year the final installment of the 5th Gear TV 200 Mph Esprit project has just aired and it looks like they won't be helping Project M71 much after all. .... Guess it's all down to me again! Details in 5th Gear section

Dec 2004:

Here's an unplanned update - I'm now working with the makers of 5th Gear program on their 200 Mph Esprit feature... I'm hoping we can co-develop our engines, starting with getting specialist turbo manifolds fabricated - Click the icon for the whole story!

Oct 2004:

Oh Dear, what did we say Lotus stood for (click here) it's a case of "Hethel, we have a problem" with the new turbos - Click the icon for all the gory details!

Aug 2004:

The new turbos are purchased and look very sexy! After many hours of deliberation over matching graphs, A/R ratios, spool up times etc. I decided to use two GT28RS turbos (called the "Disco Potato" in Fast & Furious circles!), but with non standard .64 A/R ratio turbines. These should spool up as quick as the old T25s but have enough flow for more than 300 Bhp each. Just one concern  - will they fit!

June 2004:

Good progress on the engine - the chargecooler is now fitted and I'm very pleased with the results - the way it mates up with the GT1 plenum throttle bodies is spot on and the pipework from the turbo compressors is really neat.

Quite an impressive sight now and looking much more like the full GT1 Esprit engine than a standard V8

The next job will be to decide on the exact turbo upgrade specification and replace the existing T25s (which do look like the weak link in the induction now)

April 2004:

The chargecooler fabrication has all been done and, as the photos show, it's an excellent job - should really mate up with the GT1 plenum beautifully  

February 2004:

The engine building is complete -  and doesn't she look wonderful!

After some issues with getting the correct new main and big end bearing shells, the V8 has now all come together with the new pistons, ported heads and GT1 plenum. The next job is to have the Lotus Carlton double chargecooler and inlet pipework fabricated - this should end up neat and tidy, with as short a distance from the turbos to the plenum/throttle bodies as is possible  

Here's me with the V8 during the final stages of the build - it's hard not to grin!

Once the chargecooler installation is done, it'll be time to source the ECU and then it's off to the dyno - where the real fun of engine mapping starts and measuring the BHP output, of course :) It may be that the standard T25 turbos will not be quite up to job - so an upgrade to T28s is planned. 

March 2003:

The engine building is just about to start in earnest and it looks like I'll be using a plenum from the Le Mans GT1 racer - the throttle bodies are much larger than the standard and the inlet pipework will be very neat and tidy now, if we use a Lotus Carlton twin chargecooler, so I'll swap my 2 SE units for 1 of these!

November 2002:

The rear suspension has finally been sourced and is in my garage! - photos to come. It's a while since I updated "Progress" - quite a bit of planning and real work has been going on with the engine. I decided that although I intend to use more boost than standard, it's well worth having the cylinder heads ported and gas-flowed. Happily I've been able to use a craftsman who's already done the research on re-shaping etc on the flow bench. I've also decided to replace the standard pistons (perhaps the only weak link in the engine) with forged Mahle items. Also, to give extra thermal protection for increased boost (although intercooling will also help), I'm having the pistons treated with a high temperature ceramic coating called Keronite. 

The cylinder head porting and polishing is now done and looks wonderful! I'm a great admirer of these skills, having spent many hours years ago labouring over a BL A series head with nothing more than rapidly wearing grind stones on an old drill and flexible drive! The quality of finish here looks lovely - and it's so pleasing to see 2 heads for a V8!

The Mahle pistons have now also had their Keronite coating done. The ceramic layer on the piston crowns seems incredibly tough - the company says it's as hard as steel and it certainly seems to be.... even if to try to scratch it with the point of a compass, you can't!

October 2001:

The new type 918 V8 engine is purchased! It might need a rebuild (the planning for which is under way) but it's the heart of the whole project, of course! I've part exchanged the old 4 cylinder type 910 - so there's no turning back now!

Other progress on the Esprit is really good, with major parts arriving in my garage...... New V8 Chassis (notice the differing rear tubes curvature to earlier variants, for the exhausts from each bank!). Front suspension/hubs/Brembo brakes - Probably won't be using these disc/calipers eventually (see Design section) but they are more than adequate to get the chassis rolling!

I suppose it might seem early days to be acquiring finishing touches like wheels and tyres - but you have to grab things when they become available! They are certainly a requirement to fit over the much larger brakes and, anyway, they will add to the final look of the car and already sit well in the garage: OZ Futura Wheels/Tyres - 235/40 ZR 17 fronts and 285/35 ZR 18 rears





So the new fronts are as wider section as the old rears! The new rears will look pretty much how Giugiaro originally designed the Esprit (with extremely wide rear tyres). Now we'll have the power to warrant their use!

  Early Progress was not easy! (click here)