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For personal reasons, I decided to seek out a long term project and bought this Elan recently. A restoration had been started in the early 80s and then left. The PO had got as far as fitting a new galvanised chassis and buying a big chunk of new parts before mothballing the project. Originally Lagoon blue, I have resprayed in Colorado Orange, another period Lotus colour.    After nearly 40 years in storage, the body was scratched everywhere. My aim is not to return to as new, but to make it presentable as a regular driver. For me, the project is to give me a focus and not an economic decision. So, the paint job is rattle can and it’s fine for that purpose.      The front suspension has been checked over with new pads, callipers, brake discs and replaced degraded seals. The exhaust manifold has been fitted requiring some modification to the chassis. I have not touched the rear suspension yet but expect need to rebuild the callipers and new discs/pads. Fuel tank removed checked and reinstalled with new hosing. The old hosing was hard rather than being flexible. New sound insulation installed In the cabin, the old felt was mainly dust now. Period alloys and new tyres fitted. The original steels and tyres were degraded and flat, so at least the car rolls now. Next jobs, carpets, headlining , heater matrix and install new looms and everything else….! |
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Last Edit: May 1, 2022 17:47:14 GMT by doctor924
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Looks a great project.
Paint looks good for a rattle can, mine was originaly lagoon blue too, it's now carnival red (with a few blisters!). On the heater you might want to think about incrporating a more powerfull fan and larger matrix, in standard form the heater is pretty pathetic.
If you want the headlamps to stay down a mx5 motor can quite easily be used as an electric conversion.
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Yes I am looking at electric conversion for the headlight lifter.I have a 924 as another classic, so might raid those parts for the lifter motor set up. I’ve just been tidying the heater matrix this morning ahead of installing it in the cabin, so thanks for the tip.
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Beautiful, paintwork is looking very good in the photos,
Really jealous of your project,
I nearly bought one about 45 years ago but went TR6 instead,
Still a car I'd love though, just nowadays priced out of my range,
Looking forward to seeing future updates on this thread,
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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I did buy one 45 years ago and I still have it. They are a very much underated car.
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pptom
Part of things
Posts: 470 
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Great project, similar condition that mine was in 4 years ago.
Cheapest way into such an iconic engine. Escorts and cortinas with the same engine and box are £50k plus now, crazy
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May 22, 2022 14:12:42 GMT
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Update. Been working on the new loom and putting bigger bits back in the engine bay. New alternator, new distributor, good used radiator and fan.  It seems the PO bought the wrong loom for the car, mine is an SE whilst the loom is for a big valve 130 model. That said as a later loom it has a single fuse box and relays for the light, screen and horn, so I’m trying to make it work (and save the large expense of buying another loom). What is working so far… indicators, hazards, ignition light and I think starting circuit, dipped and main (sort of), washer and wiper, heater fan and unit installed, but still plenty more to go at. It looks messy and it is! But I want to ensure I get the loom working before fitting the new dashboard.  Sound proofing installed in the cabin, new fuel breathers and filler hose fitted. Working on the false floor for the boot. Recovered the centre console and dash top to follow. Ps. In the neighbouring lean to (temp home) is my new project but this one is on the road and legal..  |
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Last Edit: May 22, 2022 15:01:47 GMT by doctor924
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May 23, 2022 10:14:48 GMT
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i'd love a +2, great cars
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Continuing to battle with the loom, which is not quite correct for this version (a better loom would cost nearer £600!) but slowly winning. Got most circuits now working and fitting the dashboard.  Wiring looks messy as I’ve had to extend a number of loom wires to fit. I’ll install the dash and tidy the wiring , then onto headlining, carpet and windscreen  |
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Partial interior reassembly. Installed headlining, it’s ok but not perfect. Waiting on windscreen rubber. Carpets partially installed with centre transmission tunnel cover. Oddly the cars parts included inertial front seat belts but there are no mounting points for them so I’m waiting on backing plates to install them on the bodywork. The wiring is still a mess, I’m going to box in the wiring in the footwell when if it the footwell trim.    |
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Jun 11, 2022 15:57:42 GMT
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Windscreen in followed by crash pad. I never ever want to fit another windscreen and locking trim again,   (The screen isn’t cracked btw). |
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