Jobs done:
1) Wilwood front brake upgrade
2) Electric remote boot release
3) Electric remote fuel flap release.
4) Put silencer on blow-off valve
5) Fit combined radio/stereo/sat nav/Bluetooth Xtrons D-714SG
6) Amp for above Auna 2800 95w rms
7) New speakers all round Auna 5.5" at rear Juice 4.5" at front
8 ) Repaired broken slider on window
9) Group buy separate hub/disc on rear brakes
10) New cam belt/idler/tensioner/water pump
11) VW Golf relay for variable intermittent wipe
12) Fitted BCN gear change cables and short shift linkage.
More jobs done:1) Fit new dial faces to funboy 3
2) Replace elastic tensioners on hood
3) Fit gas struts to boot lid
4) Fit Samco water hose
5) Refurbish seats and fit heated seat panels
6) Check functioning of rear calipersNow the jobs still to do:
1) Fit stainless steel fitting kit to wheel arch liners.
2) Fit stainless steel fitting kit to headlights.
3) Clean out proportioning valves
4) Fit gas struts to bonnet
Have had a busy week this week. The heated panels arrived (ebay
this one), so I dived in and fitted them. Removed both seats, dismantled the squabs and discovered 2 splits on the driver's outside bolster (no surprise really its gets loads of abuse). The foam was in reasonable condition so spray glued the splits together rather than rebuilding with new foam, and swapped over the passenger/driver foam squabs. (Sorry passenger!!) Inserted the heater panel then rebuilt the squabs. I had removed the small metal ring clips with wire cutters, so I used cable ties to re-attach the leather covers to the foam.
When doing this, do the 2 that go across the seat first, then the ones down the side. (Removal is the opposite: sides first then central last). The squabs are also clipped to the diaphragm on either side by the backrest hinge. I changed this by pulling the 2 flaps underneath and tying together: this gives the cover tension and also means the squab can be easily removed in the future without disturbing the rest of the seat.
Both diaphragms were stretched a little (inevitable after 23 years), but were not torn or damaged. Got some new clips to replace broken ones and once all attached it tightened up nicely, but it was very easy to get the clips on, so I suspect the diaphragm will need replacing in due course. As they are no longer available, I intend to use Pirelli webbing side to side and front to rear, attached to a stiff wire at the sides as current arrangement, and to the frame at the front and rear.
Fitting the backrest heated panel was easy: just slide it up the gap between the leather and the foam: nothing in the way at all. I removed the backrests from the frames and this made doing the whole job a lot easier.
Re-assembled the seats and put them back in the car: all in all it took 1 1/2 days to complete.
The wiring was pretty straightforward: the kit came with all the looms made up: all you have to do is connect to a live feed and earth, and connect to a switched feed and a panel light feed. I positioned the controls in the A/C blank hole: fitted almost perfectly: the original multi-pin plug for the A/C was pushed back behind the dash and used for the switched feed and panel light feed. Fuse and relays were all part of the supplied loom. Wiring took another half day.
I have also done a quick adjustment of the rear calipers, so the handbrake is much better. However, the sliders were very stiff so spent an hour or so freeing them. As a result of the stiff sliders, one brake pad was pretty badly worn: the other 3 still had loads of wear left. Did a quick road test and brakes were good and pulled up dead straight, however I will fit new pads and while I'm at it a new caliper hardware kit and seal kit. SJ's do all 3, providing they actually have them in stock. I am proposing to use EBC
Greenstuff to give a bit of extra performance to "balance" the Wilwood conversion upfront.
Sorry no photos: was rather busy doing the work!! Dapinky's WikiLEC entry, with photos, on fitting heating panels to the S2000 seat was very useful. Although a different seat, the principles and basic construction are the same.
Although the brakes are OK, I will be replacing the pads shortly, so the rest will be done at the same time.
La vie passe vite: vivez la avec elan(s).
Elan S4 DHC 1969
Elan SE turbo 1992
Emira 2023
MB E250 CDi coupe 2013
Boardman Endurance SLR 9.4 disc 2018
Rapido 746 2010
Lotus Evija Danish edition