Lotus Elan Central

Today was my first drive in the Elan since Sept 2009...it was only supposed to be off the road for the winter

Since the cars been off the road its had a low mileage transplant engine,, new S2 steering rack,, Kuching Roll Hoops and various bits n bobs also removed all the rust repainted and waxoyl ready for another 20 yrs

Took some pics before I went for my first drive just in case

That looks really smart. Engine bay looks pukka to Very jealous of your roll hoops

kenich wrote:That looks really smart. Engine bay looks pukka to Very jealous of your roll hoops

Lets hope the hoops will only ever be for show.. they were an absolute pain to fit

I have just to sort a rad leak and wheel alignment,, and my battery light is staying on but seems to be charging OK?

Nice take on the engine bay. I love the black on black with yellow accents!

See you at Castle Combe?

Very nice!

Now tell us... how did it feel to take her for a spin again?!

HJ2 wrote:Very nice!

Now tell us... how did it feel to take her for a spin again?!

Better than the last spin since the last drive its had a full peco + piper down pipe and k+n filter and ported waste gate so way more noise and feels much quicker
A couple of things that haven't changed the gear shift is naff ( next mod Dave's short shift + AB cabels) and the seats have no support so new seats and steering wheel are a must...

GeoffSmith wrote::agree: See you at Castle Combe?

I will definitely be at Combe but only for the morning sadly.. as I'll be doing the Dot to Dot music festival in Bristol again from 13.00-4am

Absolutely brilliant!!!!! 'Nuff said.

Wow, it looks great!!

How does it handle with those wheels? Do you notice a differance with the offset?

racerstev wrote:Wow, it looks great!!

How does it handle with those wheels? Do you notice a difference with the offset?

The wheels came with the car and I've never driven another Elan so I cant compare the difference, ,, my Elan handles superbly but I'm sure with S2 alloys it will be even better, just need some one to swap a set of S2 alloys with me

Engine bay looks awesome Trig, also like yout garage, quite a rare thing in Bristol!

Fancy bringing it along to the Bristol meet next week?
viewtopic.php?f=75&t=18768

surfboardfiller wrote:Engine bay looks awesome Trig, also like yout garage, quite a rare thing in Bristol!

When me and the wife were looking for a new house a garage was the only thing on my list

JonT wrote:Fancy bringing it along to the Bristol meet next week?
viewtopic.php?f=75&t=18768

Jon I have next week off with the kids so may be away,, if not away I would love to come along for a chat

Fitted Dave's short shift yesterday and it feels really good

Also had the full wheel alignment done at F.C.M in Bristol by a guy called Lee who really knew his stuff, after talking over my car usage (weekends & occasional track) it was decided to set the front up for better handling which will means I will sacrifice greater inside tyre Wear ,.. one of the guys there had two Elans an SE and S2 so he was all over mine when it came in

One thing I noticed wile driving home is I still have fuel-cut even after porting the waste-gate

trig wrote:One thing I noticed wile driving home is I still have fuel-cut even after porting the waste-gate :?

trig I'd check the following:
1. There is a short hose from the wastegate actuator valve to a metal tube from the turbine side of the turbo. There is a much longer pipe from the metal tube to the Boost Frequency Control Valve (to the rear of the air filter trash can). Check both these hoses do not have leaks / are tightly secured.
2. Doubt it is a problem since you ported the wastegate but check the wastegate isn't either sticking or not fully opening. Even though it is a pain, I prefer to remove the 3 screws and really exercise the wastegate. The bottom of the 3 little screws is a bugger but you can get it in/out by putting your right hand down the right side and then left under all the piping/hoses back to the wastegate. It's that or find an 8 yr old with tiny paws.
3. Do an ElanScan and lets have a look and see what's happening.
4. It may just be that the freeflow exhaust is the cause (flowing too well) and there isn't much you can do except maybe crimp a pipe slightly until it stops.

It ain't all bad news though because it's the MAP (connected to the plenum) that's telling the ECU to cut fuel, so all the pipework from the turbo going to the plenum and all the myriad other pipes connected to the plenum must be good or the plenum would be losing pressure and the MAP would then be reading low and the ECU wouldn't be cutting the fuel.

saska wrote:

trig wrote:One thing I noticed wile driving home is I still have fuel-cut even after porting the waste-gate

trig I'd check the following:
1. There is a short hose from the wastegate actuator valve to a metal tube from the turbine side of the turbo. There is a much longer pipe from the metal tube to the Boost Frequency Control Valve (to the rear of the air filter trash can). Check both these hoses do not have leaks / are tightly secured.
2. Doubt it is a problem since you ported the wastegate but check the wastegate isn't either sticking or not fully opening. Even though it is a pain, I prefer to remove the 3 screws and really exercise the wastegate. The bottom of the 3 little screws is a bugger but you can get it in/out by putting your right hand down the right side and then left under all the piping/hoses back to the wastegate. It's that or find an 8 yr old with tiny paws.
3. Do an ElanScan and lets have a look and see what's happening.
4. It may just be that the freeflow exhaust is the cause (flowing too well) and there isn't much you can do except maybe crimp a pipe slightly until it stops.

It ain't all bad news though because it's the MAP (connected to the plenum) that's telling the ECU to cut fuel, so all the pipework from the turbo going to the plenum and all the myriad other pipes connected to the plenum must be good or the plenum would be losing pressure and the MAP would then be reading low and the ECU wouldn't be cutting the fuel.

Thanks saska I will do all the above, apart from the Elanscan as I dont have access to one yet

trig wrote:

saska wrote:

trig wrote:One thing I noticed wile driving home is I still have fuel-cut even after porting the waste-gate

trig I'd check the following:
1. There is a short hose from the wastegate actuator valve to a metal tube from the turbine side of the turbo. There is a much longer pipe from the metal tube to the Boost Frequency Control Valve (to the rear of the air filter trash can). Check both these hoses do not have leaks / are tightly secured.
2. Doubt it is a problem since you ported the wastegate but check the wastegate isn't either sticking or not fully opening. Even though it is a pain, I prefer to remove the 3 screws and really exercise the wastegate. The bottom of the 3 little screws is a bugger but you can get it in/out by putting your right hand down the right side and then left under all the piping/hoses back to the wastegate. It's that or find an 8 yr old with tiny paws.
3. Do an ElanScan and lets have a look and see what's happening.
4. It may just be that the freeflow exhaust is the cause (flowing too well) and there isn't much you can do except maybe crimp a pipe slightly until it stops.

It ain't all bad news though because it's the MAP (connected to the plenum) that's telling the ECU to cut fuel, so all the pipework from the turbo going to the plenum and all the myriad other pipes connected to the plenum must be good or the plenum would be losing pressure and the MAP would then be reading low and the ECU wouldn't be cutting the fuel.

Thanks saska I will do all the above, apart from the Elanscan as I dont have access to one yet

I did No 2 on mine last weekend, and I have an elanscan (+ netbook). Where abouts are you in Bristol? - PM me if you'd prefer not to answer on the forum. I'm fairly busy this weekend but probably have some spare time over Easter BH weekend if you want a hand.