Sorry Dad.
Anyone who is planning a holiday in Dubai and has some spare luggage space will be rewarded for lugging over parts with dinner and a guided tour of this great construction site. Will probably be in my Yaris hire car, the Elan is going to be a while!
I’ve slagged off the previous owner before and won’t do the same again. If you’re really bored, then here’s a list of what’s done and what left to do.
“It’s a clean car – you have my word” lying b@5t@rd. This is what it takes to sort out an Elan with low mileage and one careless owner:
OK, no more slagging from now on.
Jobs done:
Battery, radiator (knackered), a/c condenser (big holes), replaced all the flexible coolant pipes (all blown on the path to replacing head gasket), cleaned rust out coolant system, new fuel pump, replaced oxygen sensor (engine was cutting out), replaced tyres (the brand new ones on the car when i bought it were Korean junk – worked out they were 10% too heavy and shook the car to bits – literally. had to replace the stabiliser ball joints), rear discs skimmed, ebc pads, new front discs and ebc pads, plugs and oil, polished rear window so can now see out of it, gear knob (was broken and really ugly – the size of a ham and blingtastic), cleaned, polished and sealed rear light clusters (full of sand!), fitted low temp heat switch & proper temp thermostat (was overheating but now perfect), new electric pump (but doesn’t seem to have power at the moment), new heater control valve (was blowing hot air all the time so a/c not very efficient!), aligned wheels (cocked), painted rims (one careless owner. Stop it).
Engine’s currently in bits. The good news is the head’s not warped or cracked, just needs a new gasket.
Currently in progress:
Cylinder head gasket, replace radiator bypass pipe (corroded - will hopefully find someone to fabricate stainless replacement), port wastegate, fit new valves and seals (valves are knackered – it’s official!), fit new water pump (on the advice of many LEC members), fit new idler, timing belt & tensioner, clean and protect coolant system properly, fit proper stereo - custom rear and sub enclosures.
Long term – probably over the summer
Fit ss brake lines, fit new 4pot front brakes, strip and repaint hood mechanism, new carpets (when it rains here, it rains hard. and it’s very easy to forget to close the hood
), realign front panels (don’t think it’s been twatted but something ain’t right), adjust suspension properly (get hold of some shims), fit elise seats (got em here already), retrim leather (it’s already been done once before. by an idiot), fit new steering wheel (got a lovely momo from Lotus and hopefully the right adapter off ebay). fix drivers side window.Parts I have…somewhere
Here:
Orange tabs (very important), window regulators, headlight rebuild parts (for when they go), elise seats, alpine headunit, amp, sub (all ripped out of my jeep which got flogged to buy Lotus bits).
UK:
Rear view mirror (the aluminium is flaking away), glove box (current one doesn’t close), stainless steel wishbones (although i think they’re not too bad, will take them off, inspect and refurb – let me know if anyone’s in great need), a/c compressor (not needed just yet but thought it was worth having a back up – impossible to use a car during the day in summer without a/c here), braided brake lines, door sills.
Awaiting in UK:
Under carpet insulation (it’s still wet
), hood seals intermediate & falling, headlight switch, blower assembly, hood release lever, RH mirror body & glass, set of Bob’s Hispec front upgrades, Geoff’s Elanscan.Awaiting from the states:
Engine parts mentioned earlier – valves, gasket set, water pump etc.
Anyway, there's no way I could do any of this without the support of LEC. My mates with Japanese street cars are in awe of the support I get as a newbie - they get all manner of resentment on their car forums before they are well established.
So, in summary THANK YOU ALL!!!
I will be pestering you all again shortly.
