Lola's trip home.

[Ekapol]

Spent the back end of yesterday over at Ekapol's place. First of all, the guy has 2 Elans and they are both looking nice!

Thanks Doug ^^


Jack, seriously you should get your story published
Too funny, very well written...

Yep, Marie can wrench pretty much anywhere, a child garage or not. She even once replaced timing belt at the side of a freeway.

I found myself slept like an infant 14 hours straight after dropping her off. Lola is in good hands at a mechanic shop in Marin. The same person that replaced my head gasket 3 times (TPS faulty) and should be an expert by now when it comes to Elan head-gasket job.

It was very nice meeting you in Fremont Jack.

Doug, glad to see you again. Having LEC founder there already helped raising our confidence level by a lot. He's both Luke and Obiwan if you know what I mean...

My new butterfly clips showed up at the door steps today... Obviously there are more than 6 episodes ...

ps: It's LGM original turbo that we brought from her place. See, we came prepared. My turbo was sitting in the bottom box next to your car and it would be impossible to get to that without stopping wrenching and moving your car out from the garage that night.

[Ekapol]

My usual thing to do when Marie grabs a wrench... I have a camera in my hand.

I took few pictures with Jack's awesome D200.

Below are from my iPhone:

[Doug]

hey, you can see Jack's new subwoffer for his car in that top pic!

[Specky]

hey, you can see Jack's new subwoffer for his car in that top pic!

Sounds like a fair swap...

TTFN

[Fubar1764]

So, it looks like we found the problem for the oil leak: bad piston. See picture below. I've put needlenose pliers to point to where the piston is missing a chunk. Oops.

This, in fact, probably explains the oil leak. The turbocharger would have been soaked in oil. Maybe the seals on the original turbo weren't bad after all. **sigh**

[Doc Fizzix]

OUCH! Crap! What now? Rebuild away from home?

[nitroman]

So, it looks like we found the problem for the oil leak: bad piston. See picture below. I've put needlenose pliers to point to where the piston is missing a chunk. Oops.

This, in fact, probably explains the oil leak. The turbocharger would have been soaked in oil. Maybe the seals on the original turbo weren't bad after all. **sigh**

Man, that's plain bad luck! There's no way the seller could have hidden (the symptoms of) that even if he knew the problem existed.

A similar story is the one I told you about my TR8, where I had the buyer coming to get it that weekend, but changed my mind & kept the car. A week later an internal engine bolt backed-out and dropped into the crankshaft bearings. That was a $5000 mistake in 1998 dollars.

[nitroman]

That's the most convincing argument I've yet seen to do the light-mod. It just makes it look like a Lotus should. No Lotus should have a mass-produced (looking) plastic panel.

[Fubar1764]

So, I'm now hunting for a block + pistons. Not sure if the pistons on the 4XE1 Isuzu/Geo is the same as the Lotus. I'm sure the block's the same, but are the pistons the same? More specifically, are the piston rings the same? Takers anyone?

I'm flying out of SFO tomorrow morning at 1035am. Nige, I'll have your package mailed out at the airport. No worries there.

As a final thought, though I'm generally optimistic about how things will likely turn out, this combo really has been the worst of all possibilities. Before I get a chance to be down and blue, There are always the giant shadows cast by LGM, Ekapol, Nitroman, and Doug. They all help me see the big picture, and things don't look so bad after all. To quote Sir Issac Newton, "If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." Thanks guys. I'll probably see you back in SF sometime in the next few weeks!

[dapinky]

I know the pistons are different in the Turbo than the NA engines, but I don't know the availibility of either in the USA.

However, if you go to Robbie The Robot's website here, you can get forged pistons for the Turbo engine.

I know when i was looking into a rebuild i read up about them all, and liked the fact that they can make the pistons whatever size you need - not just in standard, + 0.5mm & +1mm - so get the bores measured up first, then order pistons to suit whatever they are machined to (if needed).

[Fubar1764]

We discussed that issue and agreed the N/A and turbo pistons must be different to handle the different compressions. I'm just wondering if Lotus did something special with their pistons as compared to the Isuzu and Geo motors. My guess is not. Does anyone know definitively?

[Doc Fizzix]

So, I'm now hunting for a block + pistons. Not sure if the pistons on the 4XE1 Isuzu/Geo is the same as the Lotus. I'm sure the block's the same, but are the pistons the same? More specifically, are the piston rings the same? Takers anyone?

We discussed that issue and agreed the N/A and turbo pistons must be different to handle the different compressions. I'm just wondering if Lotus did something special with their pistons as compared to the Isuzu and Geo motors. My guess is not. Does anyone know definitively?

The pistons and rings in the Isuzu Impulse RS turbo are the same, I have rebuilt both the Lotus and Isuzu versions of the motor, read my thread "Motor rebuild - Hot to trot". I took two motors apart at the same time (the Lotus and Isuzu versions) and compared and measured all parts. The block is the same other than a couple minor differences in the drilling of some of the bracket holes but this will not be a problem at all, the pistons are the same in both the Lotus and Isuzu but finding any is almost impossible. The heads are the same but the Isuzu version has uses solid lifters and has a plug in the head to prevent the lifters from pumping up with oil; this is and easy fix, just replace the plug and put in the hydo lifters.

I have two motors in storage right now, if you are interested send me an email. Also, I know that Dave (the owner of http://www.lotusm100parts.com) has a complete short-block with new pistons and all.

[rotus]

Howdy Jack, Doc, All...

Someone just reminded me of my old Elan, so I ended up here.

I see you are still trying to replace the last car. Wow, what a saga.

Doc, I see you still have my old car. Hope all's well with it.

This is what I'm driving these days:



Just a *bit* of a handful.

[Doc Fizzix]

Howdy Jack, Doc, All...

Someone just reminded me of my old Elan, so I ended up here.

I see you are still trying to replace the last car. Wow, what a saga.

Doc, I see you still have my old car. Hope all's well with it.

This is what I'm driving these days:



Just a *bit* of a handful.

GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Don't be a stranger. Let me know the next time you come to Austin and I will have you out to our new place (still under construction) We can catch-up on your car (my baby) I am not sure you know but I have owned her twice. I had a very nice fellow from FL email me every week and call me every other day for about two months wanting to buy her from me and in a weak moment I sold her but regretted every second there after so I begged the fellow to sell her back to me. Last September I flew out to New Orleans and drover her home, I came through East Texas and Houston right after the hurricane came through; there were no cops to be seen (they had other obligations) and I made the tip home from New orleans to Round Rock in less than 6 hours, the ride of my life! Once I get to the new house I am going to repaint her

[rotus]

I guess you forgot that you gave me first right of refusal...

You would think you would have learned your lesson the first time you sold your original Elan. Didn't you tell me you regretted that?

What part of Austin? My sister lives in off Slaughter and Manchaca. I guess you're still up north of town?

[Doc Fizzix]

You would think you would have learned your lesson the first time you sold your original Elan. Didn't you tell me you regretted that?

What part of Austin? My sister lives in off Slaughter and Manchaca. I guess you're still up north of town?

I am a slow learner! Yes I regretted the first one also but not as much as your old ride, I have done a ton of work to the her and told myself that I would never sell her but money talked at a time I needed the funds. At the time I was getting ready to buy a new home and the money that was offered would have really helped us get into the new home, but then my wife fell very ill soon after and all our plans were put on hold. She is doing great now but it was a very tough time for us and in the end selling the car when I did was a good thing but the bigger blessing was 8- months later with the return of my wife's good heath and then her telling me to go get my car back.

I am in Round Rock right now but will be moving to Lakeway, Slaughter and Manchaca is very far south but send me an email next time you come up and we can meet for lunch or something.

As for first right of refusal, check your email or at least the old address that I had, I sent you a couple emails but never heard back from you, I am not selling again (unless you give me a good price )

Send me an email so we can catch-up outside this thread

[rotus]

not sure if that email is still valid. You can reach me at dheaton bpxpl c0m.

[CRAMBURY RS]

so LGM called me to inform me of this call to help a 4XE1WT owner (i have an RS, not M100, best i can relate). after some chit chat about the similarities, options for a block and options of upgrading i got on the phone. turns out that Robie, www.robietherobot.com , may be able to help. his number should be available on his site, if it's not, PM me.

i would personally encourage you to consider upgrading as the increase in HP is just amazing. for what you will save by using ISUZU parts over LOTUS replacements (though we understand they are nearly identical) you might be able to affort the upgrade.

the blocks:
RS block is nearly identical, minus some bolt holes. both have the oil drain and oil feed on the front of the block, plus the oil squirters in the crankcase. crank, rods and pistons are completely interchangable.

N/A block casting is also similar. no oil feed or drain, but dran can be drilled, tapped and fitting installed. oil can be fed from oil journal on the rear. weaker rods and pistons, neither are forged and the pistons are higher compression.

i've seen folks use the NA block in an RS without issue. they used RS rods and pistons, fed oil from the rear, drained into the pan or drilled the block.

heads:
all the heads have the same casting, but the cams and lifters vary. only the M100 and 1.8L isuzu engine came with hydraulic lifters. i would compare cam profiles, you may benefit from the 4XF1 cams (1.8L). i think Robie has the profile info.

IHI Turbo:
the isuzu and elan IHI is the same and uses metric threads. if you need a new CHRA you can also use the ford IHI with SAE threads and make you own lines as i did with my 1988 ford thunderbird turbo. it is a good upgrade and requires little modification.

if there is anything i can do, please don't hesitate to PM me.

Rafael

[Fubar1764]

Hi Rafael,
Thanks for your input! LGM and I discussed the issue. From what I understand, the 1.8L has been tried. It would lift the motor height about an inch (per Robie). With approximately 3/4" worth of clearance with the 1.6L, that would leave a 1.8L in the hood! Not one to want to disturb the M100's beautiful lines, I can't think of how this could work. Suggestions?
Yes, I know, I could just forsake the hood and have the world's only Abarth-like M100.

[lotos]

Go for the 1.8 - if the only issue is the hood clearance, then do some fiberglass work on it - you'd have the only 1.8 liter Lotus Elan M100.... enticing...