Lotus Elan Central

Hi fellas, I'm new here. Ex Excel owner, never any bother. Ex Elan S2 M100 owner, never any bother. Sold it about 8 years ago. I promised myself I would have another M100 when I retire. Nearly retired, found one and bought it. She has a new hood and windscreen, MOT and Tax. Drove it home 50 miles. It went like stink, although I will never drive it again like that, as I just love the shape of the Elan. Thought the brakes needed looking at but the servo works. Drove it a couple more times and then it became incontenant, big time. Having checked it out I decided to go ahead and get a new radiator and a set of samco hoses and do the job properly. The Lotus notes say remove the bottom radiator hose to drain the system. I got 6ft extensions for my ramps and got to work. My will to live drained away as fast as the coolant as I realised the other end of the hose was nowhere in sight. As you guys know, the coolant pump is situated above the A/C pump and below the PAS pump and turbo. Impossible for me to get to without removing something. Can anyone tell me the best way to go about changing the pipe? What bit should be the least trouble to remove etc. Any tips greatly appreciated. Thanks for any help, Colin

That's the huge hose isn't it?
I don't have air con so I don't know how much it gets in the way.
I found a twist ratchet made the awkward to get at clips very easy.

Undo the tensioner bolt for the pas pump (but do not completely remove it!, and entirely move the long pivoting bolt of the PAS pump.
Also remove the heart shield on top of the turbo. This should get you just enough room to reach the hose + clamp.
If the clamp is not in the position to undo it, you can tap it around with a hammer an an old screwdriver till it reaches a position you CAN reach.

Use a flexible driver to get to the bolt on the clamp, not a straight flat one, as you will ruin it before the hose is off
Also spray plenty of WD40. I had to break the seal between hose and pipe with a screwdriver as well, it was really stuck!

Good luck!

Most clamps are either 6 or 7mm and I find it much easier to use a socket than a screwdriver.

Not teaching you to suck eggs but have you removed the black panel underneath the radiator?

Ah yes, flexible socket driver, that's what i meant!

OK fellas, with the help of your advice I'm gonna have another go. At least I can leave the other pipe ends on untill I get the awkward end off. Thanks for the replies and I'll let you know how I get on. Colin