Lotus Elan Central

by **Nige** » Thu 25.05.2006, 09:20

Nice to see the pioneering spirit, Thanks Monty, may have been a pain but the result looks good.

by **Monty** » Thu 25.05.2006, 11:14

The only thing i`m not happy about is the illumination of the volt & oil gauge. I`ve fitted blue bulbs but they hardly light up :shock:

so fitted the normal bulb and it`s not much better. The bulbs are only 1.2v and they don`t seem to do a LED version. My boost gauge is fine and thats 5w but it`s a different bulb and holder

I`m also still waiting for my LED bulbs for the main cluster :evil:

by **stevieshag** » Fri 26.05.2006, 11:16

Recieved my FBT today, to go with my already installed cluster.

stevie

by **ailwyn** » Fri 26.05.2006, 15:33

Paul,

Package received, thanks for your efforts..... another thing to add to the list of jobs to do :shock:

Ailwyn

by **Paul.P** » Sat 27.05.2006, 13:08

I would agree with Monty, having fitted mine, it is definitely a job for when you have loads of time & patience !.
1st thing is its much easier to remove the main dial cluster with the steering wheel & column cover removed, in fact that bit was a doddle !.
2nd, when you go to remove the FBT, be very careful not to snap the bulb holders off ( I DID, 2 of them ! ), they turn 90 degrees & pull out. These are not readily available, unless someone knows different ?. Ive managed to get hold of some similar ones that fit, but it would of been a lot easier if they hadn't broken !
3rd, take your time, it is a fiddly job........but well worth it !

by **Darren** » Sat 27.05.2006, 18:51

Paul,

Mine arrived safe and sound yesterday, so thanks again for organising this one.

Now for the fitting, not sure about removing the wheel, can it be done with the wheel in place ?

Thanks again.
Darren.

by **Paul.P** » Sat 27.05.2006, 22:06

I don't know Darren ?, Monty said take it off, so i did & the main cluster fell out. You can be the 1st one to try, & after all, if it won't come out, you can still remove wheel afterwards. It will probably help by putting the adjustable steering right down ?

by **Sy V** » Sun 28.05.2006, 06:34

Darren

When I did mine a while ago, I couldn't get the cluster out without steering wheel removal.

V of D

by **Paul.P** » Sun 28.05.2006, 21:36

Further tips :- Read the instructions 1st, they are spot on, & if you follow them it will save taking dials out more than once !
There are 4 sticky back washers at the bottom of the instruction sheet. As it says in the instructions, these go around the needle bases to stop the light coming through. I didn't read instructions fully, didn't fit them, & the light was coming through !. Had to take main cluster out again, & fit them.
By the way Darren, i had to take steering wheel & column shroud off to get cluster out. Its not much of a job, once you know how, just take your time, don't want to break any of the trim !

by **frog** » Mon 29.05.2006, 16:27

Just installed the main cluster - looks a bit orange, so I'll have to change the bulbs - easy fit - apart from getting the cluster out as I didn't remove the steering wheel or shroud. Now on to the FBT...

by **Darren** » Mon 29.05.2006, 22:10

Sy, Paul.

Thanks for the confirmation, I think I'll go for the 'Monty' i.e leave the nut on the last part of the thread and wiggle for all my worth :-D

.

Frog, so how did you manage to get the cluster out, without removing the wheel ?

Thanks again.
Darren.

by **frog** » Mon 29.05.2006, 23:14

The cluster came out the front (the electrical maual bizarrely says it comes out of the top - couldn't see that myself). Twisting it and having it come out with the back of the cluster upward and down through the RHS of the front hole at an angle between the dash and the steering wheel worked for me, but it did take a bit of encouragement.

Just done the FBT - they were significantly easier. The casing of the units are plastic, so they flexed a bit so you can get the covers off without too much trouble.

With the white dials in, the top of the speedo looks rather dim - did I lose a bulb there? They all seemed to be at the bottom RHS of the cluster (looking from the front)

by **chrisP** » Wed 31.05.2006, 15:37

Paul
The dials arrived over the weekend thanks very much, well organized. Fitted them yesterday and they look really good.
Might have to take the main cluster out again though to shorten the needles for the temp and fuel as they overhang the dial (anyone else noticed that?)

Cheers
Chris

by **Paul.P** » Wed 31.05.2006, 19:43

chrisP wrote:Might have to take the main cluster out again though to shorten the needles for the temp and fuel as they overhang the dial (anyone else noticed that?Chris

Can't say i have Chris, will have a look tomorow, but they must of originally, as the dials are the same ?

by **holty** » Wed 31.05.2006, 19:51

Paul

Dial's arrived today thank's for sorting this one out. Cheers Holty.

by **Paul.P** » Wed 31.05.2006, 20:51

My pleasure Holty, hope you get them fitted ok !
By the way, Lockwood have said, now there on there system, anybody else that wants a set, has only to ask, but don't think it will be at our price, but you never know ?

by **Dico** » Wed 31.05.2006, 20:59

I've got a cheap set comming ;-)

Website · by **theelanman** » Mon 05.06.2006, 12:16

Paul
collected mine from the sorting office this morning....looking good and thanks for all the work........

has anyone replaced their dash bulbs for brighter ones????
how long do most people seem to have spent doing this???...
I tend to think of a number then treble it and add 50% of the number you first thought of.........

cheers
G

by **Paul.P** » Mon 05.06.2006, 12:30

G, knowing what i know now, could probably do it in about 2/3 hrs, but i would say it took me twice that long 1st time around !

by **PAUL30** » Mon 05.06.2006, 20:20

got the dials.thanks very much paul

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