Black s.e. re-shell and chassis

[jimbob]

(before fitting bushes and b.j.).

that is one understanding wife you've got, Jamie!

b.j. was ball joint !!!!!!!!

[Paul.P]

Jamie, why couldn't you galvanise the tca's ?

[jimbob]

You would have to ream out holes for bushes and ball joint and you wouldn't wan't to mess about with the ball joint hole, precision made, don't fancy my ball joint falling out! Although I should have checked to see if the hole was tapered or not before I pressed in ball joints

[jimbob]

A lot of messing around this week, running around looking for parts.

Got the ex. manifold and pre-cat back from the blasters and then coated them, fitted new studs in the manifold and the bottom of the pre-cat.

I spent the other night breaking a sweat removing the bits of stud which were left in the turbo and re-tapping the threads, new studs fitted now - I'm glad thats done now! (see new thread r.e. turbo nuts in X-ref thread)

One point you may want to note, the 3 studs on the bottom of the pre-cat are M10 metric on one side and M10 metric fine on the other, this gives nothing but grief when trying to locate nuts for your exhaust downpipe. I changed them for plain old M10 metric studs so the nuts are commonly available.

Also ported out my turbo wastegate to 20mm - Roll on peco!

Another point maybe worth mentioning, the turbo coolant pipes and oil feed pipe all have coppper washers, they seem to be real odd-ball sizes, may be worth getting well in advance for all the cost because I wasted half a day of running around looking for them.

[Russc]

Looking good. Can`t wait to see the complete finished product.

[jimbob]

Looking good. Can't wait to see the complete finished product.

That makes 2 of us!

[jimbob]

Peco Stainless exhaust came today should be interesting to see if its a good fit.

[Mike Y]

Do you want to sell the old exhaust? I remember fitting it.

Regards Mike

[paulwatkins]

Jim,
A bit of friendly advice before you fit the peco exhaust; Check that the inner pipe (the round one within the oval piece) of the very last section is securely attached.

Mine fractured and I found it loose within the oval pipe. It's not able to come out completely, but I have now had to wedge it back in!

Peco will take it back and repair/replace but I've agreed I wont do this until I take it off the road for the winter.

Yours is probably ok, but its just a 2min check.

Paul

[jimbob]

Hi Mike, for the time being Im hoarding any useful bits I have at the moment at least until the car goes on the road just in case I have any teething problems, at least I have the option to put the old part back on, but I will keep you in mind when the time comes.

Hi Paul had a look at the back box, I can't see anything untoward, thank god because its fitted now! Not so good for yourself though.

[jimbob]

Well I got my peco fitted this afternoon, its not a bad fit considering its not factory, at least there's no squish. A couple of points to note, clearance to rack is tight, I had to swivel second section round a bit so down pipe would clear rack. The other thing is the hanger bracket on the front of the back box could do with a little heat and persuasion to bring it back in line with the bracket above it, apart from that its spot on

Oh and last but not least MY ENGINE GOES! and everthing electrical which is on the car seems to work ok - so far so good !

[Monty]

That just looks superb, now you`ll have to buy a 2nd elan as that just looks to good to go back on the road

[jimbob]

That just looks superb, now you'll have to buy a 2nd Elan as that just looks to good to go back on the road

Funny you say that Monty

[Doug]

Jamie, do you have a link to some pics of your 1970 Elan? Would like to see it.

[jimbob]

Jamie, do you have a link to some pics of your 1970 Elan? Would like to see it.

Hi Doug, this is the car that started the Lotus/glassfibre car fascination off for me. My grandfather bought it in 1970 and has been in our family ever since, sadly he passed away in 2002 and it has been passed down two generations to me. So this is more than likely the next project - full restoration. I'll maybe leave it a year or two though, to get a chance to recover after doing my se. This car has quite a good novelty factor in that there is a photo of me less than six months old in my pram sitting next to it - not many people can say that!!

[dermotbell]

Unbelivable!

I wish I had the guts to to try this, but I think to see this through you need to have a background in the industry, never mind the willpower.

You will have the best Elan in the country if not the world!!!

I made the mistake of trying to rennovate a house while owning 2 Lotus needing rennovation. There are some things even a good women won't put up with.

Almost there, keep going, it will be worth it in the end. Sad part is that Scottish summer is almost over (3 days in June usually). Ah I miss the constant dreek, consolation is you will have a whole winter looking at a perfect car before you dare take it on the road. No hump back bridges for you!

PS ANy Elan owners in Sleaford area of Lincs?

[Doug]

thanks, Jamie, the white Elan is beautiful already! what a nice garage photo the pair will make when Blackie is done.

[Mike Y]

Hi Jamie

I had a conversation with Colin D.(Previous owner of JUF to me) at the weekend at the Lotus Lakes Invaision. He will be having a look at this thread as I believe Colin still has a hankering after the M100 Elans following his ownership of JUF. He currently owns a superb 111S Elise.

Regards Mike

[jimbob]

Finally got the T.C.A.'s painted and the bushes fitted and now they are going on the car.

Don't know why but things always seem to happen just before I do a block of night shifts.

[Doc Fizzix]

Shouldn't this thread be renamed?

How to build your very own Lotus Elan M100 in your own garage