Lotus Elan Central

by **paulwatkins** » Tue 28.11.2006, 14:42

Is the only access to the gearbox via this speedo cable hole?

I'm sure I have read on LEC somewhere that someone had modified a bolt to include a tube that extends up to a more accessible location.

Can anyone else recall this? And if so, what bolt did he modify? There must be an easier way of doing it..........

by **Paul.P** » Tue 28.11.2006, 19:13

Paul, it was Monty, have a look on his Pinky 2 thread, think it was there ?

by **Monty** » Tue 28.11.2006, 20:58

There is a refill plug, but on our cars it`s blanked off, this can be unscrewed and replaced with the same bolt as the drain plug and u will need the o ring too. Have a read of this

by **paulwatkins** » Sat 02.12.2006, 23:09

Got the starter motor off today - nice and easy. I've now got really good access to the rear of the engine.

I had painted the front of the engine with high temp 'black' paint, but on further consideration, I have deiced to re-paint it with high temp aluminium paint so that any future oil leaks can be easily identified and the source located. Will this look ok ot not? I'll soon find out! haha I'll also paint the rear the same.

by **paulwatkins** » Mon 04.12.2006, 21:12

Almost finished the cleaning job, thought i'd post some before and after shots....

by **Dave M** » Mon 04.12.2006, 21:51

Very nice! :smt023

The yellow really looks good with the clean frame...

by **Doug** » Mon 04.12.2006, 22:33

nice!

looks like you cleaned the pistons and downpipe right out of there :-D

by **paulwatkins** » Tue 19.12.2006, 16:36

Ouch! A bit of a set-back. :evil:

While moving the cylinder head from one place to another, I tripped over the effin lead light, and it fell to the floor. I sort of half saved it, but couldnt stop the exhaust pulley hitting the floor! Broke off a section of teeth and also a small plastic sensor on the plenum chamber!

Luckily (if you can say that), that is the only damage. And I didn't injure myself either!

Hence the request for spares in the 'wanted' section!

by **paulwatkins** » Wed 03.01.2007, 13:50

Got the new oversize pistons in yesterday! At last I hear some of you saying! :-D

They were a bit of a fiddle, but they went in ok in the end. Everything is turning smoothly and freely.
Got the sump back on without making a mess with the sealant! Surprised myself there! :-D

Fitted the small flywheel cover, and re-fitted the fans (need to cable-tie the leads to the frame).

What do you think of the block painted silver? Too much? I'm thinking most of it will be out of view when its all re-built. Maybe it will be easier to locate any leaks i might get in the future.

by **Enright** » Wed 03.01.2007, 14:13

Cor that looks great - I can think of a few of our friends from across the pond that would applaud your attention to detail and all around shininess!

Couldn't you have it towed to Donington? If you can't drive it in the convoy anyway then it would make a great centre-piece for the stand!!! :lol:

Seriously though, hope you get it all done in time, and if you do you'll be putting a lot of grubby engine bays to shame. Nice job. And good idea about the silver showing up any leaks - I don't think it looks too much at all.

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 03.01.2007, 14:18

by **Monty** » Wed 03.01.2007, 16:59

Nice work, looking great.

You doing any work to the head before fitting?

by **paulwatkins** » Wed 03.01.2007, 17:43

You doing any work to the head before fitting?

I wasn't planning on doing anything to the head (apart from replacing the damaged exhaust pulley!

)

The engineers that did the rebore work inspected the head and the block for me. They used a straight edge and feeler gauges. They said that both should be fine.

Monty, Is there anything you think is worth doing while i'm at this stage?

by **Enright** » Wed 03.01.2007, 17:54

Can I suggest a wire brush attachment in a drill to de-coke the combustion chambers and valve faces, and then valves out to re-grind the valve seats?

by **Monty** » Wed 03.01.2007, 20:04

paulwatkins wrote:
You doing any work to the head before fitting?

I wasn't planning on doing anything to the head (apart from replacing the damaged exhaust pulley! )

The engineers that did the rebore work inspected the head and the block for me. They used a straight edge and feeler gauges. They said that both should be fine.

Monty, Is there anything you think is worth doing while i'm at this stage?

I`m no expert and was intrigued to see what u was going to do to the head for when i do an engine rebuild in years to come. IIRC think Stevo just did a quick port & polishing on the inlet & outlets:?

by **Paul.P** » Wed 03.01.2007, 20:45

Could well be worth what Neil says, also change the stem oil seals if your having valves out.

by **Enright** » Wed 03.01.2007, 21:13

Of course. I forgot about that, :roll:

good point Paul.

If you bought a complete head-set then they should have been included in it anyway.

It's something that I would do as a matter of course any time I beheaded any of my engines. For the little extra time and effort it's worth it. You'd be pig sick if you put it back together and got more of the dreaded magic smoke thanks to a stem seal having died! It's even quite a nice therapeutic job to do.

You just need a valve spring compressor which will probably cost less than £20 (there are loads on this page), some grinding paste, and one of those wooden grinding sticks with a sucker on the end, sort of like a kid's arrow.

I found some great instructions here, and I pity the poor bugger cos he had 24 of them to do!!! :lol:

by **paulwatkins** » Wed 03.01.2007, 23:17

Thanks for your suggestions guys.
I've just been reading the service manual to see what is involved in re-seating the valves. I've got to be honest, but I think that this is way beyond my humble capabilities. I do agree that it is really worth doing though, especially as the valves are accessable at the moment.

Think I'll have to put it off for a few months....got a holiday to go on in February...and to give me a chance to save some cash to pay someone to do it for me.

Damn, will probably miss Donington now!!

Never mind. If a job is worth doing, its worth doing right. Right?

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 03.01.2007, 23:31

paulwatkins wrote:but I think that this is way beyond my humble capabilities.
Never mind. If a job is worth doing, its worth doing right. Right?

Paul,

Having done what you've done, it's well within your capabilities and well worth doing. Unless you've damaged the valve/seat by running so lean (in which case you may need assistance) it shouldn't take too long to lap them in, but as the article says, be prepared for bruises or buy something like this.

Geoff

by **Enright** » Wed 03.01.2007, 23:33

Paul, honest mate if you've got this far then you're WELL up to the task!

You've done a sterling job up to now and are well on your way to a top class rebuild.

Doing it yourself should cost you less than £30 and you'll have the tools and the experience to show for it at the end. I reckon paying someone would be easily treble that, and you end up with no tools and no experience.

Really it's dead simple, just like the article I sent the link to says. But I'm happy to talk you through it if you like.

Lotus Elan Central

Engine rebuild project following blown piston

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