Lotus Elan Central

by **Sy V** » Mon 23.01.2006, 16:50

Update e-mail address for James:

james@amber-performance.co.uk

by **M100 TWO** » Mon 23.01.2006, 17:23

Nige you will have to phone James and order the connector and pay for it. May pay the SE guys to get the connector as the old lotus connector will not be stepped and there will be less give in the new hoses
john

by **Dico** » Mon 23.01.2006, 17:51

Monty, can you confirm if SE owners need this stepped connector???

Cheers.

by **PAUL30** » Mon 23.01.2006, 19:44

arrived today.thanks for the effort guys.time to get my hands dirty! :-D

by **Monty** » Mon 23.01.2006, 19:44

Dico wrote:Monty, can you confirm if SE owners need this stepped connector???

Cheers.

SE guys should already have the connector, IIRC u should have a spare one from when u replace the main radiator hose with the one piece Samco hose, so these could be passed on to the S2 lads. But doesn`t need to be stepped connector :roll:

by **Rogerf** » Mon 23.01.2006, 20:36

Received my red pipes today.Thankyou to all concerned they look great.

Has mine is a S2 is the ' connector ' anything special or can my mechanic source it within the trade as i'm having mine fitted a week today along with the BIG service.

Roger

by **Exbury** » Mon 23.01.2006, 22:39

Luvy, luvy red pipes!!!

To add to the list of things to do.....ouch its getting longer;

Fit coolant pipes
Change coolant
Fit Carbon fibre pipes
Get and fit dump valve and pipes
Buy and fit Upgrade chip
Replace oil O rings
Cambelt (and possibly water pump) & re-time
Remove and clean up rear brakes
Fit SS brake lines
Fit new rear pad
Replace brake proportioning valves

by **Monty** » Tue 24.01.2006, 00:26

roger_fewtrell wrote:Received my red pipes today.Thankyou to all concerned they look great.

Has mine is a S2 is the ' connector ' anything special or can my mechanic source it within the trade as i'm having mine fitted a week today along with the BIG service.

Roger

Roger,

When i removed the old hose from pinky II it had a 15mm copper pipe :roll:

, just measured the origanal connector and it`s O/D 15mm x 70mm. You could always ask Amber for one.

The parts manual has one listed for the bottom hose, should be the same size.

connector pipe, bottom hose:- B075K0111Z

or try your local motor factor

ps don`t use mild steel :roll:

by **Rogerf** » Tue 24.01.2006, 14:06

Cheers Monty,
It was the size i was after so my mechanic as got one to hand.
Apparantly the AA carry numerous connectors with them so if all contacts should fail .....
I will go and source the 15mm connector you've listed.

Roger

by **John_W** » Tue 24.01.2006, 19:38

Dico, Monty (&Graham),
Thanks for fixing it for me.

My hoses were delivered today by TNT (after finding nobody home yesterday). They had destroyed the box, so Monty's pictures came in very handy to verify that all 11 hoses (and the clips) were present.

The black ones (same as all other colours I suppose) do indeed have a blue interior to them, but it's not going to be noticeable.

All-in-all I haven't been happier since the last time I received a parcel of black rubber through the post.

John

by **Paul.P** » Tue 24.01.2006, 20:54

John_W wrote:All-in-all I haven't been happier since the last time I received a parcel of black rubber through the post.

John

John, this sounds interesting, care to elaborate

by **John_W** » Tue 24.01.2006, 21:18

Paul.P wrote: this sounds interesting, care to elaborate

I got a set of Michelin Pilot Sports for a great price.
:wink:

by **Paul.P** » Tue 24.01.2006, 21:22

John_W wrote:I got a set of Michelin Pilot Sports for a great price.

You must be as old as me matey, if thats your last dabble with rubber :wink:

by **Enright** » Tue 24.01.2006, 21:32

I predict a right lot of peeking under bonnets and ooing and aahing at Donington. :roll:

by **M100 TWO** » Thu 26.01.2006, 12:04

my 16m-19m connector arrived today from Amber, putting the 16m into the straight hose it most definitely gaps for a well engineered and executed finish, I would strongly recommend that this stepped connector is used, price including postage and packing is £14.79.

by **Rogerf** » Thu 26.01.2006, 17:15

I agree, but i wasn't sure it would arrive in time for my service this coming Monday.
So i had one turned by an engineering friend and what an excellent job he made.
Roger.

by **Dave M** » Mon 30.01.2006, 23:11

For those in the US looking at a kit, the only hose I have found an issue with so far is the thermostat housing to radiator piece. Since the US radiator has a different orientation to it, below you can see the US pipe has an additional two pieces to it. The kit does not have the extra hose piece, but the UK hose appears nearly the same size as the same US hose. It should be easy enough to add the extra pieces and have it fit. The Samco hose may just need to be trimmed slightly.

I should put the remaining pieces on tonight, so I'll make note of any other issues.

by **Dave M** » Tue 31.01.2006, 13:46

Last night I found a few other issues with the Samco hoses on US cars. The "big" hose (engine to lower rad to aux coolant pump to expansion tank - those who have the kit know - it's an impressive piece) has a couple of fitment issues.

1) Since the US radiator is mounted at an angle, the lower portion of the rad is farther away and the hose doesn't reach. See first pic below. I imagine a simple 45 degree bend inserted in the gap will do it. Not ideal to have another splice in there, but in the end, the new hoses should make up for it in longevity.

2) The aux coolant pump may fit in a different location. This may not be the case with all US cars, but the "big" hose in my install seems to want to locate the pump in a different position. See second and third pictures. I'm not sure if the US and UK locations of the pump is the same, but you can see the mounting bracket in my car (not being used) above the pump. I have not mounted the pump in the pictures, but merely set it in position to get mounting ideas.

Before you worry on this issue, one thing to note about my car over a stock Elan: I have fabricated a new downpipe from the turbo. Because of its location, I had to route the coolant hose in a way that may be different than those with a stock car. You may be able to route your hose in a way that allows for the stock aux pump placement.

3) The hose from the aux coolant pump to the "Y" pipe further toward the firewall is longer than it needs to be. In my case, I'll be trimming about 1" off before I splice it in.

Yes, a few issues - the lower rad connection being the main one, but nothing insurmountable. Once I find a supplier for the pieces I use to make it all fit, I'll let you know and post pics.

by **chrisP** » Tue 14.03.2006, 11:13

Hi All, I have been fitting the hoses this week while the head is off (which makes things much easier) the fit and finish on the hoses is great apart from the one that goes from the electric coolant pump to the left hand radiator hose(looking at the front of the car). Obviously it replaces the metal intermediate pipe but the new hose is not long enough to fit in the metal pipes clip and so it rests on top of the anti-roll bar and also is pinched between the body work and the turbo wastegate valve. Has anyone had the same problem as I'm thinking of cutting the Samco pipe and putting the metal pipe back

Cheers
Chris

by **muley** » Tue 14.03.2006, 11:33

When I got back from holiday, I found my orange set had arrived. I was a bit anxious about the packaging, but they were in a sturdy box. They look great, and a big thank you to the guys that organised them.

Result!!

Now I need to set aside some time to fit the buggers.

Jim

Lotus Elan Central

Samco silicone coolant hoses, possible group buy.

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