Stripeless Stripey -- Zizi

[Ekapol]

How lucky are you that she's in your vicinity!

I agree.

I must be one of the luckiest Elan owners on the planet I guess. If I don't count the coolant tank mishap, coolant hoses, TPS, CAS, window motor, etc

Can't thank her enough for her professional level services working on my Elan ever since I met her from the rollbars project.

Such a sweetheart.

Too bad she's leaving us in the bay area.

(always I wanted to try this emoticon)

But for a better cause, better career opportunity. And I can see Algirdas being really happy now.

Did Marie fabricate the replacement for the pre-cat housing?

There is no need for the front cat eliminator pipe, being replaced by a new down pipe.



Beautiful, isn't it. LGM strikes again.

A lot went into designing this pipe, custom handmade, and fit perfectly right the 1st time.
My kudo.

[Enright]

Also I have to say that looks like a decent sized bore at the lower end (I'm talking about the pipe again now, not Marie)!
What size is it? And do you have any pics or specs of the pipe that links it to the main system?
Do you have a flexible section?

[Ekapol]

that looks like a decent sized bore at the lower end

Yes, I think so.

Do you have a flexible section?

I'm not sure if this is an appropriate question on this forum. Yes, I do have a flexible section.

Ah.. the downpipe... Nope, no flexy section. 2.25" Stainless Steel.

[Ekapol]

And do you have any pics or specs of the pipe that links it to the main system?

Another view so we can see the turbo adapter being bored out right at the mid section.

[Enright]

I'm not sure if this is an appropriate question on this forum. Yes, I do have a flexible section.

Hahaha, very good!
Hey here's another one for you - where did the splitters/lower spoiler thingies come from (on both of your cars)? They look really good.

[Ekapol]

I'm glad you like them.

They are from Esprit S4 1994. Our Elans are actually 6" wider in the front than the Esprit. So they need to be stretched out a bit.

[Doug]

kick-ass stiffy! You should ceramic coat it for temp and longevity reasons.

[Ekapol]

kick-ass stiffy!

Yes, Doug. The picture was after ceramic coated.

[Doug]

[nitroman]

I am guesing that after the pre-cat eliminator (now eliminated) you still have Bill's IsuzuPerformance exhaust (2.5" mandrel-bent). If so, the next piece after your new down-pipe has a flex-section in it.

[Ekapol]

I think you know my car better than me.

[Ekapol]

Thanks God.

Brake failure on the way driving back home on 101 freeway. Almost got myself in real big trouble.

Just about the time I enjoyed watching the temp gauge raising up real slow after a bottle of Redline Water Wetter the other day ...

Quickly managed to park at the far right of the freeway, found 1 car length spot right of the emergency lane on the far right, perfect parking spot.

I was quite lucky. I think.

Sure enough, brake fluid was all over the right front rim, I even saw a little pool on the road right by the tire.

The line was, somehow, rubbing the wheel.

Later found I lost half of the brake fluid in the reservoir tank, and apparently all hydraulic pressure. Very very scary moment.

Will need to go get a new brake lines in the morning and quickly work on the brake job. Then head out to my office.

Please pay good attention to the location of the hoses, making sure they don't rub the inside of the wheel. Also regularly inspect them, they look fine to me a week ago.


Quickly remove the line after safely arrived back home.


Hey... I found you~

[Doug]

Glad you are okay!

Please pay good attention to the location of the hoses, making sure they don't rub the inside of the wheel. Also regularly inspect them.

Agreed.


If you remove the line you should plug the pipe so the brake fluid doesn't all leak out of the reservoir and master as the air could take quite some time and effort to bleed out!!

[Ekapol]

Thanks Doug.

A while back Kjeld's line was caught up and broke in similar manner. Chatting with him on the phone exchanging story about driving back home using handbrake on an Elan was quite a unique experience.

I managed to have her back on the road already. The new brake hose doesn't have the thingy in the middle of the line to hold it in place so I got rubber cushion clamp from hardware store with many cable ties securing the hose there.

Got another pair of these brake lines stocking up, hope I don't need to use them.

This time I use Willwood Hi-temp brake fluid to flush the system. Went out for a run and bled them a little more. Dot 3 but I like it more than the Valvoline I previously used.

After a quick run and few firm stop locking wheel braking, pretty sure that now it's the best I've ever had.

[Rambo]

This seems to be a fairly common problem Ekapol.

BigErch changed to braided brake hoses and new HiSpec calipers a couple of years ago and had the same problem as you. I've also heard of about 4 others who have changed their brake hoses and have have had a similar problem, particularly at the front.

As you say, the"new brake hose doesn't have the thingy in the middle of the line to hold it in place" so people forget to tie it out the way.

Archie used simple plastic cable ties to ensure his braided hoses were well out of the way 2nd time around.

This has served as a reminder to me - I'm off to jack up my car just to double check mine.

Glad you survived what could have been serious consequences.

[Ekapol]

This seems to be a fairly common problem Ekapol.

...

Glad you survived what could have been serious consequences.

Not a good common problem. Hope I am the last one with this problem.

Thanks all for your kind words.

Now some pictures.


Car with some tools. And the neighbours go .... "Again?"


Rubber cushion clamp with cable ties.


Few more at upper A-arm, with some slack. Later, not in the picture, I added few more on the arm itself, on the inside, to prevent rubbing between the arm and the line.
Yep, gone cable-tie crazy


Done, cleaned it up a bit.


Inspected and cleaned up the other side too.


Got some replacements from a Willwood distributor/race car fabricator in Campbell. They don't have the exact Earl's line, with mid-section line holder, hence my rubber clamp. Basically they are the same as on this website but I paid a little more for them: == CLICK - XRP ==, 630020, straight -3 to straight 20", which is ~ 1 1/2" shorter than the original one.

[Ekapol]

Recent shots of the engine bay.



That's my 2nd brand new coolant reservoir tank. I didn't have enough light when I took this picture.



Did we install it up-side-down



LGM pipe, lots of clearance under the hose, no rubbing.

[Dico]

Nice pics

You're just teasing us with that turbo

[Ekapol]

Didn't mean it Dico.

[lotusgirlmarie]

Nice Samco BOV redirect hose. Ready to pass CA smog I see. Glad to hear that your still with us

The brake lines look to be at some sharp angles. Whe I get back to SF I would like to take a look at them. It also looks about time to get some rust encapsulator from Griot's Garage for those Upper A arms. they're looking abit rusty.