How did this happen?

 I have been asked a few times how I ended up with the wrong motor. Well its a cautionary tale so even though this is nothing to do with fixing an Excel I will explain. I also welcome the opportunity to get this off my chest!

I'm sure you've guessed it was an Ebay sale. Advertised by Paignton-based Ebay user Mark041261 as Lotus Excel Esprit Austin Healey Engine #331297413737 . The description (now cleared from Ebay) went on to describe that the motor was in good condition and my emails to the seller confirmed that this was the case: The head had been removed to check and he confirmed that it had never had a cambelt failure and was derived from a rear-ended Excel, the owner of which was known to him through the owners' forum.  It had red cam covers but these were badly worn and looked like a DIY repaint job, he confirmed that this was a LC motor as I had expected. The important point here is that although it wasn't given in the ad, I  asked for the motor number and received a genuine Lotus engine number (D91282730335) identifying the motor as no 30335; a manual 912 from 1982, the first year of the Excel build.  The motor was near Paignton, Devon (a couple of hundred miles away), and there was an option on a leather interior from a later Excel too. Price was OK so I journeyed to collect the lot.... and I took the motor, interior and a load of mechanical/electrical parts too. It was a big collection and filled the trailer and the van. The motor looked like the one in the ad... certainly the faded red cam covers were the same- but of course these weren't attached to the motor at the time. However - and this is the real point... I didn't have the motor number with me as that was in an email not the ad!!! (Idiot!). I did check from the number that this was indeed a 1982 motor, and a 912 but I am afraid the significance of the second character ("T") escaped me. Well  Mark041261 seemed like a genuine guy with a real (although past) interest in Lotuses. We got on well and  frankly it didn't occur to me to doubt its authenticity.  Well that's history and caveat emptor clearly applies. The motor I received was actually no DT912820720365.... a much less valuable Eclat automatic motor.

Although this took place some 2 years ago I did contact Mark 041261. I wasn't looking for compensation at this remove, but I wanted him to know that I wasn't happy. After a brief exchange this ended with:

Ok, you've have had your say, so where do you think I got the numbers from, the Lottery? This is my last response, it's obvious you are looking for someone to blame for your problem.

Well frankly yes I am ... and I've found him; I blame Mark041261! Had this motor been correctly described I wouldn't have bought it, had it been correctly supplied as described I would not have had these problems. Of course I have some responsibility here but this is primarily the same responsibility as a victim... and that's always tricky- who is responsible for a theft from an unlocked car for instance? The question the seller himself raises about the engine numbers is really key.  I am unable to think of any simple explanation as to why I would have been sent a valid Lotus number, that matched the description given in the ad but not the motor that was actually for sale. Even more mysterious as the seller stated clearly that he had only one motor for sale at the time and the number couldn't therefore have been accidentally switched. Of course there could have been some monumental confusion and Mark041261 did say he would check his records for an explanation... but I haven't heard from him since and he hasn't replied to any further emails. Moral- check the number not the photograph when you collect.

Lessons learned;
1. Bring a printout of everything you know about the motor this includes the ad but also any correspondence concerning the item when you collect.
2. Check those details (especially the engine number) in full.
3. Don't get carried away negotiating about other stuff.
4. Don't be in a hurry to leave even if you do have a long journey and a deadline ahead of you. Take your time and take care.
5. Don't store the motor for  2 years before you start to work on it!

However, even after I had found out that this was the wrong motor, my enquires suggested that it would still be usable; especially as it shows signs of having been modified and fitted in an Excel not an Eclat (as the mountings are block based Excel style not sump-based Eclat type). Sadly this didn't mean in the end that no mods would be needed, or that the crank would fit with my gearbox, and I should and could have checked that earlier so that any machining could be done before the rebuild. As they say "One learns from one's mistakes" and the learning experience of all of this has been priceless! In conclusion- and at this stage I am assuming that the machining will be successful, then even with those costs, this motor will still work out at a reasonable price- just nowhere near the bargain I thought it was. Overall this is unfortunate but not disastrous... I hope!