LGM Elan

[lotusgirlmarie]

The new shifter cables are in during my brief time in SF. I also managed to pick up my new rear calipers for my custom rear big brake upgrade. All this and a brief bit of glassfibre work on the rear valance. Rear big brake upgrade to come after the valance are done. E-brake to be a second spot caliper on the off side of the disc.

[lotusgirlmarie]

Between flying, fibre glassing, sanding rear valance, cleaning house and shop along with countless other projects I managed to do this...

[Elanlover]

Marie, are you using fibreglass to shape the front end? If so, how are you getting it to adhere to the plastic bumper skin? Thanks!

[lotusgirlmarie]

Nope. Liquid urethane and catalyst. It's a bumper repair compound to fix tears and holes in urethane bumpers when plastic welding doesn't work. It's for thermoset urethane materials.

[Elanlover]

Ahh. Is it somethign that's formable then? I ask because I'm contemplating some changes to the rear bumper skin (reshaping, etc.) and doing it with fibreglass is problematic as you would already know.

[lotusgirlmarie]

Kinda. It's easily sandable but it needs backing to have shape.

[nitroman]

LGM, is it really as easy to R&R the front bumper as they make it sound in section BK.8? Are there any tips or gotcha's you could pass on to me? Thanks, Matt

[lotusgirlmarie]

BK8?

[GeoffSmith]

Service manual - Section BK: Body fittings - Para BK.8: Front bumper/spoiler.

[lotusgirlmarie]

Well the past 3 or so weeks have seen alot of activity in the garage and shop. When I wasn't flying or glassing I managed to screw things up royaly on the Elan. It was time for a gearbox and crank case oil change so I do what I alway do and put her up in the air. What's this? Grease everywhere? Torn CV boot on th right side inner. Odd as I just replaced it a coue months back. Turns out the accordion of the Bailcast boot is too big and catches on the longeron bolts when you hit a bump in the road. No worries, order a new boot from lotus. Arrived today. No worries.

When I went to undo the gearbox drain plug I noticed something silvery in the oil. The threads from the transmission!!! Greeeaaat. Now what. Found a drain plug from a lamborghini. 22mm. 2mm bigger than OEM lotus. So I bought a tap came back home and realized the only way to get to the bastard was to remove the left side suspension and longeron. Ok no worries as I had replaced the LH sides outer CV boot a few months back I knew everything was going to be easy. What's this? As I pull out the driveshaft I notice a bit of play on the inboard side. No worries I though.... Big mistake. I cut off the original CV boot clamp only to find that one of the bearings insiide was missing it's needlebearings and ha gaulled the inside of the CV joint. Grrrrr. Looks like a new diveshaft is in my future now. Darn it.

After taking down the "raft" I also noticed a slight oil dribble from the oil pump. Yep.... Seals done for. Ordered a new one from isuzu only to have the wrong one delivered. The correct one.... 4-6 week wait from Japan. $250. Also got an extra seal and oil pickup for down the road.

It's been a whopper of a month and the result..... Car still in the air, more parts on order and all I have to show for it is a shiny new Snap On 1/2" drive impact driver. Some days are like this.

[HJ2]

Bloody H***
When do you do the driving part of the Elan?

The bad luck must run out one day

[steve matthews]

Sometimes if it weren't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.
Steve -w- Lucky New Lady

[lotos]

Sorry to hear about the troubles - At least the car is in capable hands.

[lotusgirlmarie]

Thank you all. It's been a rough month for the lotus and for me. Only real progress was on the rear valances. Going to clean up the garage today and place an order to lotus aftersales for a driveshaft LH and some other small bits. The only list I found was older so hopefully the still have them. I'm thoroughly drained from this run of luck. I do know that in the end I'll have a very sorted Elan in near new mechanical condition. Just getting it there will suck.

Just curious but, has anyone from the states ordered from aftersales?

[esprit888]

I tried to, but never received any sort of reply (even gave them the dealers contact info and a contact phone number in the U.K)

Thank you all. It's been a rough month for the lotus and for me. Only real progress was on the rear valances. Going to clean up the garage today and place an order to lotus aftersales for a driveshaft LH and some other small bits. The only list I found was older so hopefully the still have them. I'm thoroughly drained from this run of luck. I do know that in the end I'll have a very sorted Elan in near new mechanical condition. Just getting it there will suck.

Just curious but, has anyone from the states ordered from aftersales?

[lotusgirlmarie]

That doesn't bode well for me then. I'd hate to have to spend a great deal of money on a part I know is less elsewhere.

[texas2201]

Lyrics from a song originally by Bo Didley (I think?) but sung by Cream in the late sixties/seventies

If it wasnt for bad luck I wouldnt have any luck at all..........

I have it printed on a couple of polo shirts - it sums up 2008/9 for me .............................

Sometimes if it weren't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.
Steve -w- Lucky New Lady

[Elanlover]

I think you need to order from a dealer as parts listed in the aftersales sale are still sold through th dealer network - just at reduced prices. The form you use asks you to provide the name of the nearest dealer which they will then ship to. You buy the part from the dealership at the reduced price.

[superbad]

Ordered a pair of driveshafts from Paul Clarke at Bell & Colville last year. Got here in a couple weeks. Drivehsafts were 94 quid each, but shipping was about 100.

I don't know if anyone has been successful ordering aftersales parts from US dealers. I gave up on it.

[Elanlover]

Ordered a pair of driveshafts from Paul Clarke at Bell & Colville last year. Got here in a couple weeks. Drivehsafts were 94 quid each, but shipping was about 100.

I don't know if anyone has been successful ordering aftersales parts from US dealers. I gave up on it.

I did the same with my parts. They were great to deal with and happy to honour the aftersales sale prices. Easiest thing to do is contact them and ask them to check availability of the desired parts on the aftersales sale list. They'll do the rest.