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1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 2:11 pm
by gusvlachos
Hi all,

Back in 2000 I found a + 2 elan body in a very bad condition, w/o engine and other parts, and a previous very bad repaired body crash.
Emotionally and knowing the glory of Colin Chapman, I took the decision to buy this car and give it life, someday.
I tried to find a Lotus engine here in Greece and elsewhere to keep it original, but the cost was very high, ( keeping in mind that everything had to be machined, rebored, and be in a perfect condition).
Thinking that Chapman's policy was to use parts of various car makers ( Ford, Alfa Romeo, Triumph, jags ..), I decide to use a stage 2, 180 bhp approx. TR6 6 cylinder engine, (which I had built back in 1986 for racing use ), taking the risk to be characterized as sacrilegious !! ( ..Please give some sympathy- are British made, after all ! )
Of course I knew that a hell of modifications needed, to make a reliable pro job, ( body & chassis strengthening, brakes, suspension, diff./half axles ..), but the cost will be minor for me except time, which now is plenty available.
The first plan was:
To strength the body & chassis, make all mods to chassis to obtain the new engine and 'J' type O/D TR6 gearbox, mods to suspension, use of 7j x 16 rims along with 205/55/R16 rear & 195/45/R16 front tyres, and leaving everything else to it's standard position in a way that any time we can use the old lotus components.
For the final stage, i' ll leave the brakes (very important), and TR6 differential unit with special halfshafts.

I upload some pics before & after, and i' ll inform the forum for the progress to any interested.

Regards
C.S :lol:

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 3:06 pm
by Mazzini
I look forward to seeing and reading how your project progresses. Best of luck and happy New Year.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 5:38 pm
by gusvlachos
Mazzini wrote:I look forward to seeing and reading how your project progresses. Best of luck and happy New Year.

Thanks and happy New Year, too.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 5:42 pm
by Bud English
Very interesting. I, too, look forward to watching your progress. Your project looks well thought out and professional. Keep us up to date, please. :D

Please disregard the inevitable naysayers that will feel compelled to chime in. :roll:

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 5:53 pm
by gusvlachos
Bud English wrote:Very interesting. I, too, look forward to watching your progress. Your project looks well thought out and professional. Keep us up to date, please. :D

Please disregard the inevitable naysayers that will feel compelled to chime in. :roll:



Thanks Bud, I 'll do.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:20 pm
by Sea Ranch
Awesome, Gus. I'm excited to see this progress and get on the road!

Randy
(former TR6 owner ;))

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:19 pm
by Mazzini
I agree with Bud, a very professional looking job.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:19 pm
by bulfin
Welcome, interesting project and please keep updating it. I owned a 71 TR6 and have often thought it would be nice to have its overdrive transmission in my Elan.

Bob

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:41 pm
by The Veg
Welcome Gus, and wow, that looks exciting! Can't wait to see more!

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:52 pm
by Quart Meg Miles
This is going to be fascinating as I don't think anyone has done it before. So best wishes for success and do keep us posted on the key issues. It's strange seeing an non-crossflow engine in the chassis but I guess it's a PI so will look cleaner than with carbs.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:12 am
by stugilmour
Very nice CS. That engine & transmission looks like it belongs in there!

Welcome aboard.

Stu

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 11:27 am
by Certified Lotus
Impressive work! Very interested in more details.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 11:58 am
by gusvlachos
Sea Ranch wrote:Awesome, Gus. I'm excited to see this progress and get on the road!

Randy
(former TR6 owner ;))

OK THANKS.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:01 pm
by gusvlachos
Certified Lotus wrote:Impressive work! Very interested in more details.

Thanks to All, i' ll upload more details soon.

Re: 1969 ELAN+2 SE, powered by TR6 unit

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:25 pm
by gusvlachos
bulfin wrote:Welcome, interesting project and please keep updating it. I owned a 71 TR6 and have often thought it would be nice to have its overdrive transmission in my Elan.

Bob

Hi Bob, I had in the past, a TR4A with 3 45DCOE webers tuned by SAH , & a TR6 PI with an electronic (ex - bmw 2.5) - Bosch Motronic fuel system mod.,too.