Red Pea is my antique Lotus sports car. Since the Lotus car company does not do yearly models but builds distinct “Types” I can tell you that she is a Type 54 that left the factory in England sometime in September of 1969.

She landed in my garage a few years ago with an unsure history. Now, after my three years reclaiming her, I can surmise that neglect and misunderstandings have been her lot.

She’s red. She’s also something of an irritant, like the pea in the old Hans Christian Andersen tale.

We shall see if I react to prove myself true royalty.

Taking on the stewardship an old rare vehicle is risky like unto adopting an older child or marrying a fifth time veteran of matrimony. The difference is that almost certainly the car can be returned to an enjoyable state so long as you have the time, patience, money, and expertise and stay with the project to it’s conclusion.

For a long time I’ve said that if she can last 14 days without a break down then I will have the car I thought I was buying.

After a long winter, I went to work and cured a vexing problem. The two week test began.

We drove often. The problem stayed cured.

Upon arrival home from an interstate trip I discovered that my nose badge had fallen off.

Within a week I had glued new studs on it and replaced it in it’s spot.

Immediately, a sound started. It intensified with time and increased with speed.

I replaced the front wheel bearings, but it remained. Then I decided to test a hunch. I removed the speedometer cable from the instrument and sure enough the problem went away. So I lubricated the cable with graphite. Problem solved.

Immediately the horn became highly sensitive, going off randomly in parking lots and stop and go traffic. It was an old problem I’d never solved.

I pulled the steering wheel and found a perfectly sized non conductive washer and fit it on the widened shaft of the steering wheel. That fixed it.

My confidence in her happy state blossomed and I took a 60 mile jaunt in the country.

No problems to report.

So I drove 140 miles. That was almost perfect too, except the car barely made it  home. About 120 miles into the country drive and freeway travel the motor started to miss. It was like a vacuum leak.

Next day, the problem was solved in scant minutes. All the screws that held the top on the carburetor were backed out.

Then the car started sounding like a squeak toy. It got louder and louder until it could not be ignored. The car ran and handled well, but I had to have a look. I traced it to the left rear.

I put it on jack stands and investigated.

The retaining compound had failed where the splines of the hub meet with the splines of the outer drive line.

I thought I had all the stuff I needed to correct this, but I no longer trust the retaining compound I’d bought at a Lotus parts place in Pennsylvania. I also found that I didn’t have brand new bearings.

When I took the axle apart I didn’t need heat, just a hub puller.

And a brake shoe fell off it’s metal base.

So Locktite 638 anaerobic retaining compound and two 6006-2rs bearings are headed my way via internet. New brake shoes have already arrived for the party.

She made it two weeks before the jack stands and despite the horn, speedometer cable, nose badge, bad brake shoe and loose carburetor screws I considered it a success. Compared to the last three years, those issues were minor.

The major work didn’t begin until the day after, just like a modern warranty.

Next goal: 15000 trouble free miles.