Lotus Elan Central

Acquired last week from a salvage auction i named her lucky as she was Bloody lucky some Fool (ME LOL) deemed her worth saving and got their hand in their pocket giving her a new home , love and hope! , Stood outside with the window down for what looks like many, many years as shes not even on the MOT database, she's a little worse for wear and her knickers smell quite bad, mould,rust and decay eminate from every orifice (bit like the wife ) ,drivers door wont open, rusty engine, seized brakes, some pilfering TW*T has nicked the rear lights, and Nothing works, but i have a dream and Lucky has the leading role. Sooooo we dragged her off the truck and heaved her down to the garage to commence the long road ahead, after seeing Lucky my wallet disappeared somewhere in the house but it cant hide from its master a few hours of tinkering ,a Battery and fresh fuel she roared to life in a beautiful (loud) harmonious melody of pops and farts ( Exhaust blowing obs ) Turbos good, sounds sweet, winner, winner, chicken dinner! Got her up in the air this afternoon so tomorrow ill be going for a sniff under her frock to see what delights she has in store for me..... Stay tuned! p.s any parts anyone has going spare (for free or cheap as i still haven't found my wallet) would be greatly appreciated by both me and my sexy lady (no not the wife! FFS!) p.p.s still not got that door open, she just doesn't want to give it up, i told her its only a seat for my weary legs, not marriage!

I hope you have deep pockets. You'll be shelling out at least £750 for the rear plastic

Turbo heatshield missing, outriggers and seals shagged. New cambelt, waterpump, tensioner, new belts, wrong wheels, buggered brakes, no radio, ashtray, fag lighter etc, etc....etc...

Good luck with your Euromillions lottery ticket this w/e

If it were me; my next step.would be to remove the seats and carpets and check the inner sill membranes for rot. Another way is to plunge your hand down behind the B post and see if you can grab a handful of rust

These can be repaired ~ at little cost if you can handle a welder .

Good luck

Beautiful colour, I wish mine was yellow.

You will have a blast, they are very simple to work on compared to other cars. Rock Auto will be your friend for the engine (search 1992 Isuzu Impulse Turbo), SJ Sportscars for the hard to find parts and eBay has two ashtrays just waiting to find you!

Good luck, looking forward to watching your progress.

Right, what you really need is a bit of a project list, and this is the order I'd worry about things......

1) Check what you really have - rear suspension wishbones, front suspension wishbones and where they attach to the chassis...... then whip out the seats, carpet and underfelt (soggy underfelt straight into the bin!) so you can inspect the outriggers. - there are threads on here, and videos on YouTube on methods to repair them, and as Jim says, anyone who can use a welder can fix it (time/labour is the cost, not materials, which is all just 1.6mm steel sheet). I've done a few, and the last one (for a member on here) took a day to do each side, interspersed with drinking tea, having a fag break and eating!

2) Decide if you have a viable project or not...... I would presume that the previous owner decided it wasn't for him/her, but that doesn't mean it is beyond all help - I've rescued all sorts in the past. Be realistic at this point, otherwise you can set yourself up for a lot of grief. Some parts you need are cheap, some are dear, some are not available and will need to be fettled and fashioned in an ingenious way. It does appear that the PO has "asset-stripped" it a bit by removing the rear lights and the correct wheels - but this isn't a complete loss.

3) If it is beyond your wishes/ability/pocket then now is a good time to get shot.... before you fall in love and then all is lost to long days in a garage with Radio 2 a set of tools and a mug of tea for company (We've all been there!!!)

4) Whilst the obvious desire is to get out on the road with it, approaching in a logical way is always good....

5) Fix the outriggers first - they can't be seen and will be a real confidence boost and impetus to continue once done...... no special parts are needed.

6) If the suspension wishbones are okay, they need to be cleaned, de-rusted and painted....... if not, they need to be cleaned, de-rusted, repaired and painted (or replaced), At this point, replacement of bushes and balljoints is a good idea, but if time/money is against you, just do what you need for now.

7) Brake system is easy to overhaul, or you can just go straight for an 'upgrade' in callipers/disks from PNM (Using Hi-Spec callipers).... others will tell you to do that anyway, I say do what you are happy with, have the confidence to do correctly, and wish to pay for.... loads of info on the forum about both options, and various "offshoot" projects around the brake system.

Alll the time keep looking for those hard-to-find items like light units and seals, or decide how you are going to do something different......

9) ALWAYS ask questions about things you wish to do, or parts you need..... someone on here will have already had to do it, and if they can't help, they can commiserate with you! Don't just pay out for parts without researching (or asking!) as many are quite cheap generic or 'parts-bin' items. Obviously, many are bespoke, but there may be an alternative, so ask.


Oh, and with the door, is it the lock that won't undo, the actual mechanism that won't unlatch, or the hinges rusted shut??? - either way, removal of the door card may be necessary to access the mechanism, or the hinges can be accessed from the drivers' side A post (down by the bonnet release) and unbolted from there if it is that end which is the problem.....

Rambo wrote:I hope you have deep pockets. You'll be shelling out at least £750 for the rear plastic

Turbo heatshield missing, outriggers and seals shagged. New cambelt, waterpump, tensioner, new belts, wrong wheels, buggered brakes, no radio, ashtray, fag lighter etc, etc....etc...

Good luck with your Euromillions lottery ticket this w/e

Rambo , why all doom and gloom? she's yellow and if i squint hard she's real pretty, nothing else matters, time money and love sorts everything (apart from ex wives, you need a gun for that ) 1 day at a time and ill enjoy turning a dirty little tramp in to a beautiful lady.

muley wrote:If it were me; my next step.would be to remove the seats and carpets and check the inner sill membranes for rot. Another way is to plunge your hand down behind the B post and see if you can grab a handful of rust

These can be repaired ~ at little cost if you can handle a welder .

Good luck

Muley.... You want me to put my hand round the back and grab a piece of ASS? I barely know her! how rude! Seats are coming out today as soon a i get that bloody door open lol, then we shall see how hard my welder has to work!

378S2 wrote:Beautiful colour, I wish mine was yellow.

You will have a blast, they are very simple to work on compared to other cars. Rock Auto will be your friend for the engine (search 1992 Isuzu Impulse Turbo), SJ Sportscars for the hard to find parts and eBay has two ashtrays just waiting to find you!

Good luck, looking forward to watching your progress.

378s2 ... Ah i like you, Lifes s**t so you gotta look on the bright side , find the positives in everything and everyone and believe me i've had to look real hard and squint to find lucky's positives Lucky will like you, she loves compliments, i bet she blushes when i tell her you said shes real pretty!

Well that was a mare! ended up having to pull the glass and regulator out and getting the plasma torch in there so i need a new lock assembly, first battle to me i thinks Oh and Rambo,, she drew "First Blood!"

Jayeme69 wrote:

dapinky wrote:Right, what you really need is a bit of a project list, and this is the order I'd worry about things......

1) Check what you really have - rear suspension wishbones, front suspension wishbones and where they attach to the chassis...... then whip out the seats, carpet and underfelt (soggy underfelt straight into the bin!) so you can inspect the outriggers. - there are threads on here, and videos on YouTube on methods to repair them, and as Jim says, anyone who can use a welder can fix it (time/labour is the cost, not materials, which is all just 1.6mm steel sheet). I've done a few, and the last one (for a member on here) took a day to do each side, interspersed with drinking tea, having a fag break and eating!

2) Decide if you have a viable project or not...... I would presume that the previous owner decided it wasn't for him/her, but that doesn't mean it is beyond all help - I've rescued all sorts in the past. Be realistic at this point, otherwise you can set yourself up for a lot of grief. Some parts you need are cheap, some are dear, some are not available and will need to be fettled and fashioned in an ingenious way. It does appear that the PO has "asset-stripped" it a bit by removing the rear lights and the correct wheels - but this isn't a complete loss.

3) If it is beyond your wishes/ability/pocket then now is a good time to get shot.... before you fall in love and then all is lost to long days in a garage with Radio 2 a set of tools and a mug of tea for company (We've all been there!!!)

4) Whilst the obvious desire is to get out on the road with it, approaching in a logical way is always good....

5) Fix the outriggers first - they can't be seen and will be a real confidence boost and impetus to continue once done...... no special parts are needed.

6) If the suspension wishbones are okay, they need to be cleaned, de-rusted and painted....... if not, they need to be cleaned, de-rusted, repaired and painted (or replaced), At this point, replacement of bushes and balljoints is a good idea, but if time/money is against you, just do what you need for now.

7) Brake system is easy to overhaul, or you can just go straight for an 'upgrade' in callipers/disks from PNM (Using Hi-Spec callipers).... others will tell you to do that anyway, I say do what you are happy with, have the confidence to do correctly, and wish to pay for.... loads of info on the forum about both options, and various "offshoot" projects around the brake system.

Alll the time keep looking for those hard-to-find items like light units and seals, or decide how you are going to do something different......

9) ALWAYS ask questions about things you wish to do, or parts you need..... someone on here will have already had to do it, and if they can't help, they can commiserate with you! Don't just pay out for parts without researching (or asking!) as many are quite cheap generic or 'parts-bin' items. Obviously, many are bespoke, but there may be an alternative, so ask.


Oh, and with the door, is it the lock that won't undo, the actual mechanism that won't unlatch, or the hinges rusted shut??? - either way, removal of the door card may be necessary to access the mechanism, or the hinges can be accessed from the drivers' side A post (down by the bonnet release) and unbolted from there if it is that end which is the problem.....

Dapinky.. wow straight to the point, a man after my own heart, methodical , absolute and precise, I don't scare easily, mechanical is my thing but electrics not so much, i'm off to the garage now to try sort that door , its the lock thats seized, door card is off, drivers seat is out but i'm still struggling to get it open but where there's a will there's a way lol. I do want to replace all the seals , ball joints, suspension bushes, t r ends, cambelt kit etc but haven't yet started looking into where to buy from so any advice welcome.Im going to make some LED rear lights with perspex and rebated Ferrari style round lights, not too worried about that just want to get the important stuff out the way first..... meanwhile ive got to pull the engine on the Porsche and strip/investigate as its smoking from one bank.....Oh the joy of classic cars lol ....Oh and ive got a 1970 stripped Mustang outside with a part built 750 bhp engine that is waiting for my time

Shame on all ya'll trying to scare a poor little white boy with tales of rust n rot! Seats out carpet up and Nothing! been underneath and had a good old delve and shes really quite clean , outriggers all intact, very little rust, all suspension arms still got paint on, i think if i do the brake pipes,brakes, drivers door lock, headlights, rear lights, exhaust and tyres it should MOT ok, fit new carpets, retrim seats and door cards, a few seals, a radio and the boy can use this till his Mustang is done then ill get her in and do a full resto! Bobs ur uncle! Sweet

Does anyone want these wheels before i scrap them?

underside pics....ooooh green stuff pads!

Looking at the pics, someone has spent a bit of time on the brakes in the past (even if it's just pads and paint!)..... as such, I wouldn't expect them to need much more than a strip and regrease of the sliders (and caliper seals if you want to).... all 'service' parts for them are Vauxhall and easilly availlable.

Personally, I'd ditch the green stuff as they are a bit "unknown" seeing as EBC changed the compound at least 4 times, some are good, some aint! Personally, I use Ferodo DS2500 at the front, and anything at the back (the rears don't do much!). Others report good results with EBC Red Stuff or Mintex 1144 at the front.

Inside, ditch the old underfelt (it holds too much water) and use 10mm closed-cell foam cut to shape. If the old carpets are okay, clean and re-fit - otherwise, it isn't hard to make your own (I used BMW car carpet in black) and fit them with spray adhesive,

Good progress, keep going.

I'm loving how this is unfolding ...that yellow interior really 'clicks' with the paint job.

She's really special imo - not such an ugly duckling - and I just know she'll be a beautiful swan. 'Good on yer' for spotting her potential...

(ps how do you get your pics to stay. My attachments are pink lined, and have to be logged on to...)

dapinky wrote:Looking at the pics, someone has spent a bit of time on the brakes in the past (even if it's just pads and paint!)..... as such, I wouldn't expect them to need much more than a strip and regrease of the sliders (and caliper seals if you want to).... all 'service' parts for them are Vauxhall and easilly availlable.

Personally, I'd ditch the green stuff as they are a bit "unknown" seeing as EBC changed the compound at least 4 times, some are good, some aint! Personally, I use Ferodo DS2500 at the front, and anything at the back (the rears don't do much!). Others report good results with EBC Red Stuff or Mintex 1144 at the front.

Inside, ditch the old underfelt (it holds too much water) and use 10mm closed-cell foam cut to shape. If the old carpets are okay, clean and re-fit - otherwise, it isn't hard to make your own (I used BMW car carpet in black) and fit them with spray adhesive,

Good progress, keep going.

Thank you!
Was really looking at changing all 4 discs and pads and overhauling all calipers, carpet is buggered so im going to have to make one lol, exhaust is shot so i'm just going to remove it in one piece and get one made in stainless using the old one as a pattern. Going to send the seats and door cards to be recovered in the same colour. quite relieved that shes not rotten though After crawling about underneath i spotted the fuel filter, am i right in thinking you have to drop the fuel tank to change the filter? cheers .. Jay

chrism wrote:I'm loving how this is unfolding ...that yellow interior really 'clicks' with the paint job.

She's really special imo - not such an ugly duckling - and I just know she'll be a beautiful swan. 'Good on yer' for spotting her potential...

(ps how do you get your pics to stay. My attachments are pink lined, and have to be logged on to...)

Thank you!
I think your pics are probably too big, if you right click on a picture then click edit it will open the image in paint and there is the option to reduce the size of the image by pixel.

Front Brakes are Vauxhall and cheap as chips.

Service manuals here: https://d4pinky.wixsite.com/m100-documents

dapinky wrote:Inside, ditch the old underfelt (it holds too much water) and use 10mm closed-cell foam cut to shape.

Just like the stuff stuck to the inner cill

Simon_P wrote:Front Brakes are Vauxhall and cheap as chips.

Yes but Vauxhall what?