Lotus Elan Central

by **lotusgirlmarie** » Wed 21.02.2007, 02:24

Bravo!!! A testiment to the courage of LECers. We don't just drive the M100, we build 'em in the back lot!!! :-D

Makes other exotic car owners look a bit like pansies huh.

by **jimbob** » Fri 23.02.2007, 11:30

Chassis and longerons rubbed down and painted to remove any blemishes scratches etc (nearest colour match code:RAL 7004)
Primed with Standox 2k red brown etch primer and finished with Standox 2k direct gloss.
In case anyones interested, I had pursued going down the route of getting the chassis hot dip galvanised, but was advised by Miles Wilkins of Fiberglass services against it because of heat distorsion etc (the geometry of this chassis is very precise).Miles is well renowned for having a great knowledge of all things lotus.

by **jimbob** » Fri 23.02.2007, 11:36

Front cross-member (not pictured), radiator support panel and brackets all getting shot blasted and galvanised, in fact come to think of it maybe I should throw in my rear lower wishbones aswell!

by **Monty** » Fri 23.02.2007, 19:30

Nice work Jimbob :smt023

Would be good to get the front wishbone galvinised but u`ve got the Ball joint to remove and may have trouble getting back in

by **jimbob** » Sat 24.02.2007, 00:07

Monty wrote:Nice work Jimbob

Would be good to get the front wishbone galvinised but u've got the Ball joint to remove and may have trouble getting back in

You have me thinking about the top front wishbones though :roll:

by **dapinky** » Sat 24.02.2007, 10:18

jimbob wrote:You have me thinking about the top front wishbones though

I dont know what yours are like, but if they're at all crusty (like most seem to be), they are available from Lotus aftersales sale. (I bought a set for mine in January). They come without bushes, so would be easy for a galvanised dipping process.

by **Paul.P** » Sat 24.02.2007, 11:03

dapinky wrote: They come without bushes, so would be easy for a galvanised dipping process.

Dave, am i right to presume that you would/can press these bushes out prior to galvanizing, then just press them back in ?

by **dapinky** » Sat 24.02.2007, 14:07

Dunno, mate. I just bought the new ones 'cos mine are a bit crusty.....I'm intending on fitting new bushes when i get round to the replacement job. I'm deciding whether it's worth galvanising first or not, depends on the cost i suppose.

I should think that if you've got access to a press, it will be fairly easy to remove the bushes.......but what they'll be like after 15 years use, I wouldn't like to say!

by **jimbob** » Sat 24.02.2007, 15:58

Hot dip galvanising up here is around £45 for the first hundred weight, thats a lot of wishbones!

by **Doc Fizzix** » Sat 24.02.2007, 16:00

I am loving this thread! More pics,

A real labor of love. Very nice job!

by **jimbob** » Mon 26.02.2007, 01:42

Started stripping the cars back end this weekend. No wonder lotus lost money on each one, over engineered or what ? The scale of this project seems to be increasing by the second, no so much in parts and money (needs enough of that already) but in the time that will have to be invested in the rebuild and refit/alignment of parts and panels.
I wonder if lotus hold the patent for the "shim" :roll:

Anyway the garage is now a bit clearer and the loft in the house will soon be holding the weight of half an elan (just out of harms way)

by **Monty** » Mon 26.02.2007, 18:34

Now u know why Dico stripped that one, need thousands spending on her as there were certain parts were missing and a hell of lot of work to get it back on the road.

Keep those pic`s coming

by **jimbob** » Wed 28.02.2007, 01:00

Don't want to strip the shell too far because there is too much to remember in as far as the wiring is concerned, so from now on I think I,ll concentrate on preparing the shell so I can paint it in the next few weeks and then start swapping bits straight over from the old shell to the new one. :roll:

by **Rambo** » Wed 28.02.2007, 09:16

jimbob wrote: paint it in the next few weeks and then start swapping bits straight over from the old shell to the new one.

Next few weeks ?? Aren't you making the annual pilgramage to Donington ??

by **Enright** » Wed 28.02.2007, 10:30

Rambo wrote:
jimbob wrote: paint it in the next few weeks and then start swapping bits straight over from the old shell to the new one.

Next few weeks ?? Aren't you making the annual pilgramage to Donington ??

With the progress so far it's probably too late to turn back now.
Could be the "newest" one at next year's show though.
These black ones are fast putting the rest of us to shame!

by **Scott J** » Wed 28.02.2007, 12:17

I admire your courage and craftmanship.

no doubt you will hit some snags but may they be middling and not major.

by **jimbob** » Wed 07.03.2007, 01:24

Carpets stripped out today and also sound deadning beneath them, starting to see extent of the old accident damage - definetly feel now im going down the right route of new shell and chassis although I think I wont see the extent of the chassis damage until the shell is off. Passenger door is also stripped and removed from car, a fair old weight in those doors! :oops:

Dashboard surprised me how easy a job it was to remove however having to remove the gearschange assembly just to get at 2 screws isn't very clever of lotus. It took me a little while to figure out that I had to disconnect hanbrake cables from lever to remove centre console so the lever could get enough height to lift console off

More tomorrow.

by **jimbob** » Wed 07.03.2007, 17:29

Last nights stripping

by **Dico** » Wed 07.03.2007, 17:43

Theres still time to change your mind Jamie :lol:

Whats the score with the red bonnet?

by **Enright** » Wed 07.03.2007, 17:49

Wow that is one majorly intimidating project! :shock:

I'd be scared of losing motivation, and then bits, and then the whole lot losing focus and finally just becoming a big pile of junk.

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