Getting Blipi back on the road

[Stef]

Hello all.

As most shall know, I've been an Elan owner and lover for many many years!

Due to what has proven to yet again be a disastrous relationship, I've been left in a bit of a mess and without Blipi running.

She was taken off-road at least 1.5 years ago with false promises of checking her over and doing her up.

It's not done her any good what so ever being left idle outside

I'm so out of date with sourcing parts or knowledge on best options. Had her checked over today and I'm hoping folk can assist with my dunce mechanical abilities in directing me to some parts I need please!

Head Gasket kit
16 inch wheel Willwood front discs & pads
Front offside bearing
Front nearside brake hose
Rear pads

Once all fitted I shall get her MOT'd and on the road.

Following this I then may have the following parts become available as I sort my parts collection out:

Turbo
Front Galv (and black) wishbones
Centre console casing
Door step trims
- Various other things as I check through!

Shall update as I progress, probably slowly

Hope to get the parts required and her back on the road again ASAP as I've missed her dearly and wish to get her out to petrolhead events this year!

Thank you all - looking forward to me & Blipi being back!
Cars are so much more reliable than men, even a Lotus!

[Fredjohn]

Head Gasket kit
16 inch wheel Willwood front discs & pads
Front offside bearing
Front nearside brake hose
Rear pads

Once all fitted I shall get her MOT'd and on the road.

Stef
Welcome back. Hope life treats you a bit better next time, if you haven't been totally put off men!

All the above bits can be got from SJ Sports Cars or probably any other Lotus specialist like Paul Matty, except the Wilwood bits which you can get from Demon Tweeks. You'll need to know number of the Wilwood caliper you have: it's stamped on the caliper body: and/or the diameter of the existing disc.

If you have the standard rear brakes I have a set of unused EBC Yellowstuff pads. If I can find them (!!!!) you can have them as they won't fit my upgraded rear brakes.

John

[tigerdog]

Do you already have Brian's (F1Lotus) Wilwood kit installed, and simply need to replace the disc rotors and brake pads? Or are you looking for the full kit?

[Stef]

John - Many thanks, I'll speak with SJ, even though I fell out with them badly a while back that cost me a lot of money

Will get correct measurements also!

If your pads are free then that's super, shall PM you

Tigerdog - thanks also for your reply. The kit is already installed thankfully, just need replacements. They were getting worn anyway but the standing outside for so long has rendered them pointless in rescuing now really!

[Giniw]

Hello,
I didn't know Blipi 2 has been off-road for 1.5 years!
Hopefully it will be MOT'd soon
As for your parts, I may be interested in buying the front lower wishbones. But I would need to really check mines, as they might not be rusted beyond repair ... (the front L/H seems good, the R/H has a hole in the bottom plate :/)

[Stef]

She was taken off-road with false promises of being done up for me.

Never trust a man who takes your Lotus off-road and gets his own.

Men - Loads of trouble and usually serious. Let you down constantly and fill you with false promises and no faith

[Dave Eds]

But you need us to help you out again.....

[tigerdog]

The kit is already installed thankfully, just need replacements. They were getting worn anyway but the standing outside for so long has rendered them pointless in rescuing now really!

If you have trouble sourcing on your side of the water, let me know. I can certainly obtain them here. Also, if it helps, here's a quickie search on the Wilwood web site for rotors in the appropriate size. As you can see, they have several kinds both plain and fancy (slotted, drilled, directional, etc.)

[Rambo]

Nae luck Stef

Hope you got 1/2 share of the Evora though

[Stef]

Half share of the Evora... Pah.

Even though I introduced and enabled him to get it (financially included) do you think that would allow me any claim??

Some people are born losers and users it seems. And perhaps I am a loser for allowing too many to take advantage of my trust and generosity.

Bitter? Was and am likely to still be. But not currently, I'm enjoying some good wine on a Saturday night and lust to get my baby back!! But certainly peed off for falling for the promise that someone else would look after the one true joy that I've had in my life! Best hold her back from enjoying road kill scores before a re-spray

Elans are for life, not just for ***insert what you wish***

Yes Dave, sadly I do usually need men to help me, for a number of reasons. Not just for my luddite mechanical abilities!!! - Jars can be tricky to open too

[Candles]

Hi Stef,

I have a head gasket just sat in my garage. PM me your address and I'll post it to you. It is just the gasket though, no 'kit' as such.

If your summary of spares was listed with a view to selling them, then I'm interested in the front wishbones.

Candles.

[Rambo]

AndI thought Ian was a nice guy

Still, you've still got Blipi, the bubble car, TR6, Formula Ford etc.....

Enjoy your wine and "always look on the bright side...."

[Rambo]

But you need us to help you out again.....

Yes Dave And Stef has Fredjohn, Tigerdog, Candles etc.. offering nice new shiny bits and pieces to help her out of a fix

For me, this generosity and willingness to help a fellow LEC'r encapsulates just why this site is so fantastic

[Stef]

Hi Candles. thanks for the offer!

Will get clarity on parts available when I can , but not likely to be too soon atm. Too much in a mes and things going on!

Yes, LEC has always been a great place for advice, friendship and genuine support. Glad it is still running strong

Still also got bubble and the FJ, Both still off road with the FJ becoming more of an imminent need to finish and sell-on. Trying to retain what has taken a long time to build. Getting frustrated as hell just having a Smart car to utilise!

[par]

Hi Stef,

I have an extra front wheel bearing as I lost count of the bits I had been acquiring for the front suspension overhaul on my car, if you send me your address I will send it in the post to you.

[Stef]

Par - Thanks!

[chrisP]

Hi Stef
Rockauto will be a good location to look for the headgasket set, if that is what you need. If you cannot get a wheel bearing from anywhere else, all you need is a bearing for a Astra MK2 or Calibra - I have just changed mine for one at the weekend. I tend to avoid SJ's at all cost as well.

Hope you get Blipi mk2 back on the road

[Stef]

Thanks Chris

Good tip on the Vauxhall part!

Have used Rock Auto in the past as they have a good range of Elan items, although shipping from America is slow and costly! Better for group buys usually. Thanks for their reminder though. Think I used them for the HG kit a number of years ago on group buy.

Once the essentials are sorted, I need to re-visit the chip options! Took the BBR kit out before she went off-road.

Really appreciate all the LEC support and love

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Hi Stef
Rockauto will be a good location to look for the headgasket set, if that is what you need. If you cannot get a wheel bearing from anywhere else, all you need is a bearing for a Astra MK2 or Calibra - I have just changed mine for one at the weekend. I tend to avoid SJ's at all cost as well.

Hope you get Blipi mk2 back on the road

For all of the other gaskets, it is OK, but the head gaskets their kits have are not the same as the Isuzu/Lotus Turbo gaskets. Others have tried all of the packaged kits from Rock and ALL of the head gaskets failed.

[Rambo]

Stef - from experience, I have found the shipping and costs of packing/postage from the States to be both fast and very reasonably priced. You now pay all import taxes at source so no buggering about with forms and payment at this end

I suspect by now you probably also need a cambelt change (+water pump, tensioners, idlers, PAS belt, alt. belt etc...) RA is an excellent source for these parts and I recently got 3 sets, inc post, taxes, packing etc for about the same as 1 over here