LGM Elan

[nitroman]

I here ya Doug. My daughter & my girlfriend both agree I should get a Saturn Sky Redline (in black). Hate to give up the Elan just yet but know that someday I'll go that route. The only real question is whether I'll have BOTH cars in the garage!

Before my daughter goes back to Florida Wednesday I told her we'd go drive a new Elise at the dealer tomorrow, so that might change her mind yet again, as she's never seen one of those in person.

[Kjeld]

Just kidding. It is just sad to see an LEC god, going without. Gods should have whatever they want!

Yeah, I get close to letting the M!00 go from time to time as well. And like Nitroman, the Elise is an obvious choice for me.

Not that this is a good reason to hang onto to the Elan per se, but the car is suddenly getting a lot more attention than it had. Between the LGM double bubble + rollbars and these MOMO wheels, folks have been all over the car when parked in the SF streets. Have owned this car for a few years now, and this is a recent phenom. It is fun. Maybe a more special than we realize?

That said. Some pretty dramatic news announced today. It seems LGM is taking a job in the airline industry! Air Crew Chief for United Express. LGM's friends are ecstatic for her! But as a novice mechanic, shivers run up the spine thinking of Elan ownership in a post LGM world!

[lotusgirlmarie]

Awwww. Thank you Kjeld. No worries though. I'm not changing my Phone Number and I'll be back to CA at least once a month for a few days. Though I really do like the Elise, after the latest battery of Mods to the Elan, she'd be pretty hard to part with. She just sounds sooooo mean!!

Doug, Let me get the turbo tuned in the next 2 weeks or so and then lets go to the Wed night drags up at Sears Point (Infineon Raceway) for the Wed night drags. It would be interesting to see how the cars perform under controled conditions.

[Ekapol]

[nitroman]

Here's the low down on the drive-off today. The Saturn Sky Redline is great in every way except for the area I thought it'd be strongest. 5.2 seconds 0-60? Bullshite. If that's true then my Elan is a 4-second car. I drove both a manual & an automatic (both 5-speeds), so I doubt I drew a poor example. Too bad really, as it handled much better than I EVER thought it would, and best of all the seat had the most wonderful lumbar support of any seat I've ever been in; just a case of the ergonomics being perfect for me, as I imagine the very form-fitting back won't fit everyone. Lastly the shifter in the Sky was butter-smooth and each gate easy to find either up or down

Now to the Elise. It was a blast to drive and more comfortable than I thought it'd be. It felt more like the under-5-second car it was advertised to be, although my Elan is certainly faster. However there is both a turbo & a supercharger kit offered in this country.

The bottom line is that if a power-adder was available for the Sky it would win. As is I'd have to choose the Elise.

My daughter liked the Sky better, even better than my Elan.

[lotusgirlmarie]

....And people wonder why I stuck with the Elan instead of an Elise.

[lotusgirlmarie]

More pics of past and very recent (Yesterday at around 4PM PST to be exact) upgrades. All I can say is..... wow!

[lotusgirlmarie]

one more of the Oil catch tank. Just a better view

[Ekapol]

Patriotic theme Looks like it mean business.

Aeroquip, professional racer hose of choice.

[F1 LOTUS]

I remember when you first did this, I thought it was a great mod' then, and I'd imagine very popular if you are able to offer this as a bolt-on kit
Another weapon to fight the Elans' cooling issues

[lotusgirlmarie]

The oil cooler is deffinitely one of my favourite mods. One of my friends has a 91 Ferrari Testerossa. Every time i heard the oil cooler fans go on it sent chills up my backside. I know it's abit stupid for the sound of a fan doing this but it just sounds so differrent compared to a normal car. I love it!!

More quick pics of the new turbo out of hte car. I will post pics of the engine bay as soon as I get my new lens for my Canon. Currently I only have my 75-300 lens as I am trading up my shorty for a better quality unit. Kinda hard to take pics of the engine bay if I only can only do it from 30ft away.

[lotusgirlmarie]

I forgot I have a point and shoot Canon too. Not quite as clear......

[lotusgirlmarie]

Newly done dash in black suede less the two blanking plates and a newer shot of the engine.

[Monty]

Looking good Marie, you know what would look really classy? The camcover in white

[Ekapol]

I am lucky enough to have a chance to see LGM Elan up close in person. The new suede work on the dash has the perfect fit and finish.

The whole dash looks much cleaner without those 2 switches next to the cigarette lighter.

[dapinky]

Centre "T" piece of the steering wheel to be covered in black suade as well?

[lotusgirlmarie]

Was thinking about it. My Dad was asking me if I was going to do it before I leave for Utah. Currently its leather wrapped. I think the suede would look pretty good

White cam cover Now that would get dirty way too fast for me. I"ll stick with the red as it is a Lotus themed colour.

[Doc Fizzix]

marie

What type of plug are you running? Stock version or a step colder?

[lotusgirlmarie]

Stock BKR6E's Just with a wider gap..... I'd like to say a .038 or a .042 if I remember properly.

[Doc Fizzix]

Stock BKR6E's Just with a wider gap..... I'd like to say a .038 or a .042 if I remember properly.

Forgive me, my physics background gets in my way any time I try to think. When you make the gap larger doesn't that make the plug hotter? Shouldn't you make the gap closer? Again, I may have this concept screwed-up in my brain so let me know if I have it back-ass-ward.