Lotus Elan Central

Hardly the most impressive project but getting this one done has been nicely satisfying, surprisingly so for something that hardly ever sees the light of day.

A while ago I cleaned up the boot in my car, scrubbing out 17 years of dirt and grime from under the carpets so it was all spick and span. However, at the time I noticed that the spare wheel and tools were looking a bit shabby. So over the past week I've refurbed them. Fairly simple operation really of stripping old paint using paint stripper, wire brush drill attachment and sandpaper before applying rust killer, priming and finally painting.

Shameful looking wheelbrace


Past its best jack


Wheel brace and jack handle mid strip


Primed up jack


Finished jack handle and wheel brace


Finished jack


All back in situ (with some judiciously placed bits of rubber for protection and the repainted clamp)

What about some wheel protection?

Good idea, my wheels need refurbing before I worry about that though

Good job there

My scissors jack used to look like that too, and it didn't move for a thing, well rusted at the core section.

Strange that I did the same thing too but didn't spray paint it. Just restored it back to good smooth working condition. I might want to paint it now.

that scissor jack is not the most stable platform and I would only use it for a roadside flat tire change -- but yeah it will get flaky and rusted after sitting in the boot doing nothing all those years

definitely lob some good sticky grease on the full threads of the jack to protect them from freezing up

Ben nice work.


































but u can buy a new jack from lotus surplus for about a Tenner lol

Monty wrote:but u can buy a new jack from lotus surplus for about a Tenner lol

I got 2 for a tenner............




but what price can you put on a job well done???


(about a fiver, apparently )

Yet another task to add to the ever-growing list. Nice work.

Monty wrote:Ben nice work.













but u can buy a new jack from lotus surplus for about a Tenner lol

LOL, yeah I know but I had paint and time, a dangerous combination! The jack wasn't rusted solid but was sticky. Whacked some grease on it and wound it in and out a few times and its much smoother now.

Benmac wrote: The jack wasn't rusted solid but was sticky.

Mine was all solid Now I have to find combination of paint and time. Very inspiring little project

Nice work. I need to do mine now.

Do the non-Federal cars have the jack handle clip into the underside of the trunk carpeting?

DeanG wrote:Do the non-Federal cars have the jack handle clip into the underside of the trunk carpeting?

Unfortunately not, there is a certain 'way' that it goes in as it is in my picture. The manual actually explains exactly where it goes so they obviously realised it was far from obvious. The fed solution sounds much better.

DeanG wrote:Do the non-Federal cars have the jack handle clip into the underside of the trunk carpeting?

Unfortunately not, there is a certain 'way' that it goes in as it is in my picture. The manual actually explains exactly where it goes so they obviously realised it was far from obvious. The fed solution sounds much better.