Elan problems

[Simon_H]

That sounds like a fair deal and almost half what they wanted initially. After I’d looked at it and put on watch they sent me an offer to buy at £1250 so they knew it wouldn’t go at the initial price. Good luck with the recommissioning of your car. Hopefully any parts that engine has still fitted you can move on and get a bit back. Mine has now done 165000 miles and although a little tappety when cold it’s still good. The chap who owned it previously didn’t skimp on servicing and going by the possible previous owner this one should be ok so hopefully it will serve you well. As for the rack I personally don’t know anyone who could service it for you. I tend to do such things myself if I can get a rebuild kit but then it’s my fault if it goes wrong. It’s hard because you can’t be sure until you can pressurise the system to be certain it is the rack but I can imagine it’s a bit easier to remove without the engine in. Good luck with your rebuild

[Tuga2112]

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I take it your not interested in the cradle engine then?

[Edward]

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I take it your not interested in the cradle engine then?

Hi,
Yes I would be interested in this as it would take any doubt out of the situation having a cradle engine - however I didn’t wish to push and thought it might come to nothing……
If it is available I’d love further details!
Thanks for your input,
Edward.

[Tuga2112]

[

I take it your not interested in the cradle engine then?

Hi,
Yes I would be interested in this as it would take any doubt out of the situation having a cradle engine - however I didn’t wish to push and thought it might come to nothing……
If it is available I’d love further details!
Thanks for your input,
Edward.

i should be able to find out all the details monday

[Tuga2112]

you have a PM

[Edward]

Just a quick update:
First, a big thank you to all who have helped along this slightly arduous journey!
I am now making progress towards the goal.
Having used its fifth litre of oil in 3000 miles (but still going to be fair!), it’s now time for the engine swap. I look forward to not having my pristine garage sprayed with oil on each startup…..
I’ve advanced sufficiently in the mechanic’s college course I am nearly at the end of to have changed the cambelt and done various annoying jobs on a Ford Puma 1.7 I own, to now be ready to try the engine swap on the Elan.I did the college course because I’m fairly mechanically minded having run a plumbing and heating company and I’ve found that usually I end up putting blood sweat and tears into things until they work right.
I went for a used engine in the end - a gamble I appreciate - but am still thinking about the crate engine someone kindly proposed. One step at a time however.
A big thanks as well to Dave DaPinky as he has been very forthcoming with lots of advice for a relative novice mechanic.
I’d be interested to know if anyone knows where the engine may have come from - it seems to have been quite loved by someone - a 1990 Elan SE Turbo engine with (apparently) 140k on it. Red Samco hoses, red vacuum pipes, a carbon fibre bit on part of the fuel system (I think! It’s a small box and has a carbon fibre cover plate about the size of a box of matches. My current one is not carbon fibre) and a fancy Lotus chrome oil filler cap on it. The cover for the plugs is also non standard. There is a handwritten note on the cambelt cover saying it was replaced 10/23 so it hasn’t been out of action for that long. If anyone knows who the previous owner was I’d be grateful for contact details just to track down a bit of history/info on it.
I’ll let you know how things progress over the next month or so - many thanks again!

[Tuga2112]

here's an idea.

start a small project thread just for an engine swap. put all pictures there and explain all the steps. that way you will be helping someone further down the line.

i never done a engine swap and dont think i am likely to (more likely to make an EV conversion) but surely would like to know theres information about the task in the event i cant escape it

[dapinky]

Edward,

Can you take a picture of your new engine? It may help to establish its history. I know that many engines look the same, and some people may think "surely that won't help", BUT, over the years I have peered under many bonnets and never seen any 2 the same.

(I *may* have a bit of a guess at some of the history of yours, but would need to see a picture or two before making such a bold guess)

[Edward]

So - the saga continues!
I’ve had a lot of help from many of you on here - so thanks very much. DaPinky, Tuga and RonR to mention a few…..
It has allowed me to accomplish an engine change, complete with cambelt change, steering rack refurbishment and I decided to stomach the graunch between third and second gear for the time being. The second hand engine from eBay was installed and it ran pretty well. A few very minor coolant drips resolved - largely due to the aluminium pipes between the rubber hoses pin-holing - and also the heater control valve. It also had a little issue whereby the revs would flutter at idle which it didn’t do with the old engine. I checked the base timing and got that right as it was out, but decided to change the throttle body complete with electronic gizmo on the back of it from my old engine and this resolved it! I was very happy and managed a couple of hundred miles running very nicely. However, I noticed the hoses were quite hard and I thought I kept catching a familiar sweet smell……
The water level dropped…. Just a smidge. No overheating. Thought (hoped!) it was just a minor airlock releasing. But unfortunately no…… High levels of hydrocarbons in the expansion bottle confirmed that the head gasket had gone on this engine.
Caught in time I thought - no overheating! I can use this as a learning opportunity to do a head gasket!
Slightly disappointed at having the car off the road again but buoyed by the success of swapping the engine I removed the head. Hmmm - waterways look a bit iffy. Ran the head to a local engineering firm for testing and a skim and started to clean up the face of the block in anticipation of the head being tested and skimmed tomorrow.
However, on cleaning up the face of the block I noticed some quite deep pitting around the waterways - apparently this is not good news…… Not good news to the point where it has been suggested that I either bin this engine or fully rebuild it including re-decking it.
So I’m now back to the point where I was about four years ago before a court case, a year long college course and quite a lot of hard work and not insignificant funds invested again…..
Oh and of course, the place I bought it from are studiously ignoring my emails - yes it’s a month out of the three month guarantee they offer but it was quite clearly not good when it was sold. I did know it was a chance buying a second hand engine from eBay - however the lack of response is grating a little….
So - can anyone suggest the whereabouts of another engine? Tuga, I’ve tried the chap you suggested with a crate engine but he’s reluctant to part with it.
I think a full rebuild is probably beyond my capabilities (although I might end up giving it a go) but does anyone have any suggestions or leads on a (good!) engine?
I appreciate suggestions may include matches and petrol, or, “Have you thought about a new Toyota?”!

[Tuga2112]

That crate engine is definitely for sale, but it's also definitely only moving hands for someone paying top dollar.

There's also a fella in Middlesbrough that I'm 99% sure will have an engine for sale. No idea on the price, and you always have the usual specialists available

Some pictures of the condition of the engine may be helpful. I personally would only scrap another engine if it was incredibly damaged.
At this point, putting it back together with a new head gasket and just drive it until there's something serious going wrong is what I would do, just got the sake of enjoying the car and getting the most out of the 'crap' engine

I would do that, and get to know as many folk that did cars as possible.
Them when it blows, trying to make one good engine out of 2 (plus whatever parts are needed) by learning and picking the brains of all the contacts made.

[dapinky]

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about the grief with the "new" engine, however, the *good* news is that despite the guarantee being for 3 months, the fact that you (being a 'consumer') purchased it from a 'trader', means that the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is fully on your side.

Basically, the item needs to be 'fit for purpose' (which it isn't) and to be of usable quality (which it isn't) - and any faults in the engine would be present when it was sold (which would be the case), so is the responsibility of the seller.

It sounds like it has been stored without antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor in it, and it has affected the waterways through the block/head interface.

I would start with sending an email to the seller with a 'delivery receipt' and a 'read receipt' recorded for you, expecting some initial contact to open dialogue within 48 hours.

If there is no start to a conversation, then send a letter by Royal Mail with a 'signed-for' service, basically stating the same......

.... once there is an open conversation, keep all records (nothing should be discussed by phone, ONLY by letter or email with a record of what is said and agreed/not agreed).

You don't need a solicitor to help you, but it may be useful to think about if it would be better to use one. Alternatively, speak to the Trading Standards Department which is either direct contact or via the Citizens Advise Bureau.