New member Watford

[431andy]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to take the opportunity to say hi and introduce myself! I’ve had my Elan for 7 years and was lucky enough to purchase it from a careful owner who only used it in the dry as a second car. It came with a couple of considerate upgrades including front brakes and hood. I use her as a daily and never get bored. Over the years I’ve attempted simple repairs such as headlight motor bushes, repairs to original seats (foam bolsters and split fabric seams) and replacing the alternator (horrible job!) With some extra time on my hands I’ve decided to delve a bit deeper. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve removed the seats, carpet and absorbent foam floor insulation, in the hope to find clean outriggers. Luckily they’re not too bad, nothing a dremmel and can of jenolite cant fix. Im going to take the opportunity to spray dinitrol right into the front and back outriggers to aid protection. My jacking points and beyond look in good shape. I’m going to drill some small drainage holes in the sills too as per the addendum, although 8mm seems big to me? Next jobs will be to check the heater intake foam seal behind the wheel arch and hopefuly purchase some of Jamie’s seals. Next up, cam belt etc change, plugs and leads. Then door to window seal and brushes (whilst taking out windows and checking gliders and runner alignment etc.) My right hand window is very slow to rise. After that, stainless steel exhaust hopefully BCNs short shift if he has any left! Oh and renovate my flaking wishbones (cant afford to replace with stainless steel ones yet!)
Anyway, lots to be getting on with – just glad I’ve finally got some time to complete these improvements/repairs. I love my Elan and great to know that there’s lots of others who love theirs too! And have such knowledge! Hoping I’ll be able to attend a regional meet up at some point in the future – I’m based in Watford, Herts and dont know anyone else personally with an Elan. I've attached a pic of mine which was taken a few years back.
Cheers
Andy

[Steve A]

Hi Andy, and welcome to the forum,
It looks like you have a fine example
As you will probably already know, there's plenty of good advice and support on here,
it will help you through all those jobs you've listed (and that's quite a list).

[Fredjohn]

Hi and welcome. Great intro with what sounds like a good car.

All the right jobs listed too!

Add your location into your profile rather than just the post so people will know where you are based.

If you can do the alternator, the cam belt etc won't seem so bad!

Enjoy!

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Hi Andy, Welcome

Way down on your list you mention stainless wishbones.

If you have a set hiding in your garage, great, BUT if you are looking an an eBay listing from SVS, then I/we must warn you that he rarely actually supplies the parts after receiving payments.

The S2 used galvanized instead of normal steel and they are a great solution if you can find any used ones around. They have been obsolete from Lotus for a while now but might be available new from SJs or Fibreglass / Miles Wilkins.

I hope you continue to enjoy your car.

JC

[dapinky]

Hi Andy,

Basically, what they said!

Welcome to the forum (but it sounds like you've been reading for a while!) - most of what you need to know is already written - but if you need any information or tips which you can't find, don't hesitate to ask..... we all seem to have a bit of extra time on our hands (except those of us who are retired, so it's business as usual, but without easy access to the materials needed for the jobs on the list), so you will usually get an answer quite quickly.

If you can do the altenator, you can do the cambelt - just a different set of swear-words.....

The windows are not at all hard to do - but can be time consuming to get correct (mine need doing again - and I've now found the new sliders which I knew I had 'somewhere'.... I re-used my old ones last time, and it isn't as good as it could be.)

I don't know who is near you from the forum....... but there are a fair few in the 'outer London' area.... Spud?

[431andy]

:D Hi Andy, and welcome to the forum,
It looks like you have a fine example
As you will probably already know, there's plenty of good advice and support on here,
it will help you through all those jobs you've listed (and that's quite a list).

Thanks Steve

[431andy]

Hi and welcome. Great intro with what sounds like a good car.

All the right jobs listed too!

Add your location into your profile rather than just the post so people will know where you are based.

If you can do the alternator, the cam belt etc won't seem so bad!

Enjoy!

Thanks Fredjohn, that's reassuring!

[431andy]

Hi Andy, Welcome

Way down on your list you mention stainless wishbones.

If you have a set hiding in your garage, great, BUT if you are looking an an eBay listing from SVS, then I/we must warn you that he rarely actually supplies the parts after receiving payments.

The S2 used galvanized instead of normal steel and they are a great solution if you can find any used ones around. They have been obsolete from Lotus for a while now but might be available new from SJs or Fibreglass / Miles Wilkins.

I hope you continue to enjoy your car.

JC

Thanks for the heads up Brit-Car-Nut

[431andy]

Hi Andy,

Basically, what they said!

Welcome to the forum (but it sounds like you've been reading for a while!) - most of what you need to know is already written - but if you need any information or tips which you can't find, don't hesitate to ask..... we all seem to have a bit of extra time on our hands (except those of us who are retired, so it's business as usual, but without easy access to the materials needed for the jobs on the list), so you will usually get an answer quite quickly.

If you can do the altenator, you can do the cambelt - just a different set of swear-words.....

The windows are not at all hard to do - but can be time consuming to get correct (mine need doing again - and I've now found the new sliders which I knew I had 'somewhere'.... I re-used my old ones last time, and it isn't as good as it could be.)

I don't know who is near you from the forum....... but there are a fair few in the 'outer London' area.... Spud?

Thanks for the reassurance dapinky

[Dave Eds]

I don't know who is near you from the forum....... but there are a fair few in the 'outer London' area.... Spud?

Yep I'm here in Hertfordshire, at least 2 metres away from Watford