Pinky II

[Costas]

But you won't be able to see the water level.

Form? Function?

Or are we LotusEblingCentral now?

Or am I missing something?

In my case, I have replaced 5 water tanks in 3 years because cracks appear at the hoses of the watertanks, therefore there is a serious reason to replace the plastic tank with an aluminioum one. Its not a matter of "bling" purpose but of Functionality and reliability, in my case always (higher boost pressure, higher temperatures etc).

Concerning the part of beeing able to see the water level, I am checking water and oil level almost on daily basis and seriously 90% of them I am opening the water tank and instert the "kinky finger" to be 100% sure of water level, so I dont really care if thats viewable from outside.

Bottom line is that this water tank conmbined with an undoubted superior appearance, is a very desirable addon for my engine.

Costas

[Doug]

insert the "kinky finger"

At first I figured he misspelled and meant "pinky" finger -- but then I figure, it's Costas, he means 'da kinky finger'

[Rambo]

When i was replacing my vacuum pipes i noticed a spout which was open with nothing conected to it and just looked at Dico's engine and his has a rubber blank on it. Does any one know what this is for and would it effect the runing of the car?

Here's a pic

Monty,

Just dismantled the plenum chamber hose to check for you. Mine has a rubber blank on it like Dico's. Dunno what it is but it maybe explains why Pinky 2 couldn't keep up with The Beast and Rambo at Callander ? LOL

Mark

[Monty]

When i was replacing my vacuum pipes i noticed a spout which was open with nothing conected to it and just looked at Dico's engine and his has a rubber blank on it. Does any one know what this is for and would it effect the runing of the car?

Here's a pic

Monty,

Just dismantled the plenum chamber hose to check for you. Mine has a rubber blank on it like Dico's. Dunno what it is but it maybe explains why Pinky 2 couldn't keep up with The Beast and Rambo at Callander ? LOL

Mark

LOL keep dreaming , at least i didn`t see my life flash before me PMSL Thanks for checking for me, just checked pinky 1`s engine and it has a blank so i`ve used that one.

Cheers
Jay

[Paul.P]

Dunno what it is but it maybe explains why Pinky 2 couldn't keep up with The Beast and Rambo at Callander ? LOL
Mark

Really , please tell us more Mark ?

[Rambo]

Dunno what it is but it maybe explains why Pinky 2 couldn't keep up with The Beast and Rambo at Callander ? LOL
Mark

Really :o , please tell us more Mark ?

Paul,

I did an overtaking manoevre at the Callander camping trip, backed off half way through then changed my mind and went for it - just !! The back end started to twitch as I came alongside the car on full boost, the road got narrower and my life flashed before me. Monty had more sense and stayed behind until he found a safer place to pass by which time we had got ahead off him. Hence the piss take.

I couldn't keep up with The Beast and Pinky 2 in a month of Sundays !! Well, I probably could now - they're both off the road for the forseeable future !!

Monty - so what do you reckon that pipe is with the blank end on it ? Can't make any difference can it if the rubber is off ? Perhaps Lotus intended to use it for something, had the plenum chamber cast then changed their minds. Bit like all the other plugs and things that hang in fresh air and don't do anything. Yet another Lotus mystery ??

Mark

[Monty]

Mark haven`t a clue what thats for and i can`t tell any difference to the car now it`s blanked off Maybe it was there for the impulse guys?

[Costas]

When i was replacing my vacuum pipes i noticed a spout which was open with nothing conected to it and just looked at Dico's engine and his has a rubber blank on it. Does any one know what this is for and would it effect the runing of the car?

There is a small rubber pipe connected to that edge. This pipe goes to a solinoid valve that controls the evaporating emission control system. The solinoids are located next to the Freon Expansion bottle. Removing them has no negative effect to the engine but you have to cap the edge of it and you better remove the pipe which drives the fuel tank breathing from the carbon cannister.

You can see the connections at the Elan Part list book on page 43.03A

For your information I have removed all those pipes for better perfomance and ease to maintain, and I have absolutely not a problem at all.

Costas

[Monty]

Costas,

Think on our UK cars this is already blanked off, think u`r on about the 2 other red vacuum hose u can see in the picture. I`ll have a read on the section when i get chance

[Monty]

Ok,

Dico and I have recieved back our gearboxes from quaife, now we know that one of the plungers had to me remade but on my gearbox there`s a tag saying broken turret, does any one know what this mean?

Anyways it cost us £125 + vat to have the quaife ATB fitted, this included the diff bearings:-D we also supplyed them with the following all from SJ`s:-

1 speedo drive gear A100F6264S £7.90
2 Drive shaft oil seals A100F6067S £7.70 each
1 Input shaft oil seal A100F6068S £2.79
all + vat

and just for imfo, the diff bearings are A100F6265S or manufactures number NSK 32008XJ. SJ`s sell these at £17.88 + vat but like i said quaife supply these in there fitting price.

[Monty]

Just done my cam cover and heat sheilds this morning just in time for Donny (setting off about 2pm today).

[Fubar1764]

Very nice, Monty!

[Monty]

Well Pinky II has been up on bricks since friday for her gearbox swap (quaife ATB installed).

Did a couple of hours on friday evening Drain gearbox, stripped down the some of the suspension and removed driveshafts.

Today (saturday) spent all day on her and then Dico turned up (thanks for your help Nobby!) and we removed and installed the Pinky 1`s gearbox, what a struggle that was. Then i was left to do the rest myself. Got the prong da ding dong back on, drive shafts back in, MTL gear oil. Also installed the AB gearcables with the AB stiffer bushes for the gear linkage and boy the gears feel stiff

Just got to get the engine bay back to gether, do some of the suspension etc which i will do tomorrow and then give her a good test run.

[Paul.P]

I can see you two racing round the rounabouts, seeing who's quaife will give 1st

[Rambo]

Hope you haven't f----d the fibreglass around the front near side jacking point with those garden slabs ?? If you need some more I'll leave them in my front garden and Dico can pick 'em up in his lorry !!

Mark

[Dico]

The only slabs Monty's ever handled are some big northern bream

Pinky update - Its all gone pear shaped!
As Mohammed Ali once said "Theres a rumble in the jungle"
(did he actually say that?)

[Monty]

Well Pinky is back together and i`m still getting the loud whining noise which i thought was the gearbox and i`m at a lost at what it can be.

The front wheel bearings seam fine with no play.
The previous owner had fitted new drive shafts, top ball joints, trackrod ends and new rear disc with bearings.

Last week i check all wheel bearings and there is alittle play on the rears so if the weather is fine i will re adjust them tomorrow.

so i`m thinking of replacing the front bearings, then if it`s not them i`m thinking of swaping the half shaft with pinky 1.

Anyone with anything to add would be appricated.

ps last year i had the car in at a garage who works on Lotus (mainly elises) and we had it running on the ramp and even he thought it was the gearbox

[Paul.P]

Monty, from what ive been told the wheel bearings should have a bit of slack in them when there cold, as they expand when hot & take all the play up. Don't quote me here, but i think you take the play up, then back off 1/4 turn. Been told if you take the play up & don't back it off, you will knock bearings out very rapidly.
Are you sure Quaife changed the bearings in the gearbox ?

[Monty]

Paul,

I`ll have a read up on the rear bearings

Are you sure Quaife changed the bearings in the gearbox ?

Yep

[nitroman]

So Monty, you taken up prize-fighting on the side to pay for things?

Mechanics gloves my man, then when doing hi-torque jobs (ie, this will give way if I can just get enough leverage) slip on cotton micro-dot gloves. Hey, it's what the real mechanics do! They know they'll need their hands every day, so they takes care of 'em.

Latex is OK if you have a short job or have a short-attention-span. Otherwise blue-nitrile gloves hold up well to chemicals, abrasion, use; and can last an irritatingly long time before tearing... but are well worth the money. That's what the pros wear. They'll wash their hands with their gloves still on, eat lunch with blue hands, then return to work!