Recomissioning an Elan Sprint.
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:17 pm
I have been asking questions on this forum with some very information insight thank you all.
I thought it would be worth discussing what I am doing to put all these questions into context.
Earlier this year I got a phone call from a friend to ask if I wanted an Elan as I had mentioned I would like to get another one having owned an S2 in the early to late 80's.
The car as it turns out is a one owner 1971 Elan sprint, yellow over white ( weird as my last one was yellow).
I have effectively bought the owners entire hobby as it came with quite a range of spares and second hand parts.
The List is extensive and included a new gal chassis..
The Original owner bought the car from Sports Motors Manchester. in late 71/early 72 as a Demo.
The last year the car was registered in the UK was 1999. From what I can gather talking to the owner at about that time a Mail Van backed into the front doing only minor damage for the nose. The car was subsequently repainted in the original color.
It then had an complete engine build by QED in 2001. A gearbox rebuild and a 4 bucket load of spares was bought over the next 5 years and the car came to Australia in 2004.
The car has been driven on a "regular basis around an industrial estate" and basically has no miles on the new engine.
Here is where the fun begins I did drive the car only a short distance before the purchase, what sold me on the car was just how semi time warp the car is, well as a Lotus can be, as there are parts of the car that are as they left the factory and that I love.
I plan an empathic recommission as the car doesn't need to be restored just yet .
Having said that, so far I have replaced the master cylinders, changed all the other fluids and thanks to some guidance I will be changing the heater hoses although in Australia I wonder the necessity.
The Car was running but it felt like it was missing but its not, I partly believe its a sour fuel issue and a major exhaust leak and changed the "y" connector for a better flow unit, as the original was badly shrouded internally causing serious back pressure.
Changed all the plugs and did a cold comp test 195 on all 4,
There is a aldon Automotive electronic ignition which is still available, any one else using this unit? The instructions say low voltage causes rough running???
http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/shop/prodtyp ... Position=1
I have also cheche the TDC mark to ensure its correct.
Drained all the fuel cleaned and new gaskets in the carbs which were overhauled at the engine build. I put a filter at the out let of the tank, Weight saving is one thing but no fuel filter..
Fixed the Vacuum T piece on the chassis. presto headlights work...
Diff to lower chassis clearance to sort, change heater hoses, replace carbs and seats, fuel in and drive off into the sunset....
so far 4 weeks of part time work.....
Cheers
Graeme
I thought it would be worth discussing what I am doing to put all these questions into context.
Earlier this year I got a phone call from a friend to ask if I wanted an Elan as I had mentioned I would like to get another one having owned an S2 in the early to late 80's.
The car as it turns out is a one owner 1971 Elan sprint, yellow over white ( weird as my last one was yellow).
I have effectively bought the owners entire hobby as it came with quite a range of spares and second hand parts.
The List is extensive and included a new gal chassis..
The Original owner bought the car from Sports Motors Manchester. in late 71/early 72 as a Demo.
The last year the car was registered in the UK was 1999. From what I can gather talking to the owner at about that time a Mail Van backed into the front doing only minor damage for the nose. The car was subsequently repainted in the original color.
It then had an complete engine build by QED in 2001. A gearbox rebuild and a 4 bucket load of spares was bought over the next 5 years and the car came to Australia in 2004.
The car has been driven on a "regular basis around an industrial estate" and basically has no miles on the new engine.
Here is where the fun begins I did drive the car only a short distance before the purchase, what sold me on the car was just how semi time warp the car is, well as a Lotus can be, as there are parts of the car that are as they left the factory and that I love.
I plan an empathic recommission as the car doesn't need to be restored just yet .
Having said that, so far I have replaced the master cylinders, changed all the other fluids and thanks to some guidance I will be changing the heater hoses although in Australia I wonder the necessity.
The Car was running but it felt like it was missing but its not, I partly believe its a sour fuel issue and a major exhaust leak and changed the "y" connector for a better flow unit, as the original was badly shrouded internally causing serious back pressure.
Changed all the plugs and did a cold comp test 195 on all 4,
There is a aldon Automotive electronic ignition which is still available, any one else using this unit? The instructions say low voltage causes rough running???
http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/shop/prodtyp ... Position=1
I have also cheche the TDC mark to ensure its correct.
Drained all the fuel cleaned and new gaskets in the carbs which were overhauled at the engine build. I put a filter at the out let of the tank, Weight saving is one thing but no fuel filter..
Fixed the Vacuum T piece on the chassis. presto headlights work...
Diff to lower chassis clearance to sort, change heater hoses, replace carbs and seats, fuel in and drive off into the sunset....
so far 4 weeks of part time work.....
Cheers
Graeme