Lotus Elan Central

So... (don't you hate it when people start a sentence like that) I've taken custody of the mad Scotsmans beloved & abused Missy.

The plan is to get it an MOT & then have it as running restoration. She gets delivered Saturday.

Jobs list goes something like this.....

Fix sticky rear left caliper (probably do a full rebuild on both)
Sort out the occasional overboost - possibly needs wastegate porting or may be as a result of a 2.5" exhaust
Check ignition system to find out why it won't switch off with key (probably a sticky relay)
Fix the erroneous readings from the fuel gauge
Fix the intermittent speedometer
Sort the hood seals
Strip, lube & reassemble the side window mechanism as they are slow.
Refit door cards
Re-upholster seats
Source a glove box
Source some front arch liners
Fix/replace stereo
Sort orange peely paint

That's the list so far without having set eyes on the car!!!

http://wikilec.com/view/Electrical
http://wikilec.com/images/7/79/MJ25-02_ ... nition.gif
http://wikilec.com/images/9/9c/MJ2-2_Fu ... Relays.gif

I think I have a glovebox in my loft that someone kindly donated to LEC many years ago.

GeoffSmith wrote:http://wikilec.com/view/Electrical
http://wikilec.com/images/7/79/MJ25-02_ ... nition.gif
http://wikilec.com/images/9/9c/MJ2-2_Fu ... Relays.gif

I think I have a glovebox in my loft that someone kindly donated to LEC many years ago.

That's a great help, thank you.

I do indeed have a glovebox but it is the early version for 2 hinge pins rather than the bar. See the Wiki for more details.

GeoffSmith wrote:I do indeed have a glovebox but it is the early version for 2 hinge pins rather than the bar. See the Wiki for more details.

Thank you, I have no idea what I need glovebox wise at this point, it's an early 1992 reg, so probably 1991 production.

CallMeLegend wrote:

GeoffSmith wrote:I do indeed have a glovebox but it is the early version for 2 hinge pins rather than the bar. See the Wiki for more details.

Thank you, I have no idea what I need glovebox wise at this point, it's an early 1992 reg, so probably 1991 production.

Unfortunately the parts manual only lists early and late. No VIN reference. They look quite similar so I'm sure it could be adapted if necessary. There's a comparison on WikiLEC.

So...

you might also need to add....

Remove 4 x 2 from passenger door and replace door lock

Remove Irn Bru stickers

You might like to know that in its afterlife "Missy" affectionately became known as "Tango" to some and "Carrot" to others


I must say that the car looked absolutely stunning in Tango orange when Stevo had sprayed it. A bit of orange peel after all these years is quite appropriate

New seats sourced, cheaper than recovering the old ones. SLK R71 seats for £80 the pair, with the added benefit the they are height adjustable so SWMBO can possibly drive.

Headrest looks quite high. Have you measured the back to see whether they will fit under the hood if there is one

They would look even better with orange stitching/piping - sort of Mclarenish

Rambo wrote:Headrest looks quite high. Have you measured the back to see whether they will fit under the hood if there is one

They would look even better with orange stitching/piping - sort of Mclarenish

Not my car, but proved to me they will fit.

Will you be connecting up the heated seats and airscarf Mark.

GeoffSmith wrote:Will you be connecting up the heated seats and airscarf Mark.

Sadly the seats with airscarf & heating were MUCH more expensive, so I opted for the non airscarf & heating version.

Tomorrows jobs are fix the RH headlight (hopefully just a bulb) & test the ignition relay

Don't forget to quiz El Geoffos about the electronics. Or is it electrics ? It's all Spanish to me

Hopefully the issue with not being able to switch the engine off is resolved.

Took out realt H, gave it a sharp tap & replaced, was able to switch engine on & off at will, then it started misbehaving again. Take realy out, tap it, replace relay, once again able to start & stop at will (for a few times at least). Points towards a sticky relay in my eyes, so ordered a couple of new ones.

Headlight now works, thick it had become disconnected as a good firm push on the connector to the bild sorted it.

Made a start on the door cards too, they were pretty mucky.



So I set too wirg a combination of G101 all purpose cleaner to remove the grime & Tardis to remove the old adhesive, along the way a couple of the scrivet holes that live behing the carpeted section were found to be oversized, so I carried out a repair using a stainless washer & some DP460 adhesive. I cut awat the grey plastic facing to ensure a good bond surface & keep the washer recessed.



Thankfully I had some help through the day.



The plastic inserts were pretty ropey too.





The inserts were temporarily bonded together until I can get some copped strand matt to reinforce them.

Seats arrived today, not complaining for £60, mismatched adjuster knobs for the fore/aft adjustment, but they are not expensive.





Must resist the temptation to paint the light grey parts Orange!!!

Only a tiny bit of progress this week, youngest daughter is doing textiles at GCSE, and she's pretty handy at it so she's going to make new door card insert upholstery. Going with the same style as OEM, but in black & orange (where the old Red stripe is).

Knackered one unstitched for use as a template.



Need to reinforce the plastic door liners though now they are bonded back into a single piece.



The bond area is too small to be structural.



I'll be using a little woven 175g 25mm wide GRP tape wrapped around the edges to tie the sections back together wetted with Epoxy resin.

CallMeLegend wrote:New seats sourced, cheaper than recovering the old ones. SLK R71 seats for £80 the pair, with the added benefit the they are height adjustable so SWMBO can possibly drive.

my wife is 5 ft 0 and drove ours for 10 years with the standard seats so shouldn't be a problem for SWMBO. (my Elise a different story as she couldnt reach the pedals until I changed the seat runners) :mrgre

I guess the reason the original door card inserts get broken is that they have hidden fir tree fasteners, they can be tricky to get behind & pull off with damaging the plastic inner (as seen above). Door card removal is impossible with taking these inserts out.

So with one eye on serviceability I have decided that the door card inserts will be held on with M4 CSK Back screws & black, large diameter CSK fairing washers. Then to accept the M4 screws I've bonded in some M4 rivnuts, the knurl on the outside gives the DP460 adhesive something to grab hold of.





I need to find a tool to "dimple" some small stainless washers to bond into some damaged areas where CSK screws would normally fit in the door card but have pulled through.

CallMeLegend wrote:I need to find a tool to "dimple" some small stainless washers to bond into some damaged areas where CSK screws would normally fit in the door card but have pulled through.

Made one, had a brainwave & had to test if it would work without delay!!!

Had some old upholstery eyelets in the garage which have a raised head.



If only I could find a way of inverting the head form by drawing it into something soft....like the back of a large Nylok by wedging a smaller nut into the front face & pulling against the soft Nylon with a CSK bolt







Changed the head form perfectly.



6 perfectly formed repair sleeves





That when bonded into this mess



Should transform it. The insert will be pulled up tight when boneded in.