Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi,

After getting my +2S I discovered that the air horns had been replaced with a modern horn (to be honest, I didn't even know it should have had air horns when I got it). I have since obtained some Maserati air horns, but I have no idea where they would have originally been mounted. The workshop manual is of no use. I have searched all over this site and I can't find a definitive answer. Some thread I did see said the compressor was mounted on the left hand side wheel arch, but I also would like to know where the horns were mounted.

If it makes any difference, the car is early 1970 (VIN 7001...). Thanks for any help!

I have the later 71 +2s with the smaller Radiator (horn compressor is mounted to the radiator - body bracket on mine) but if yours is an early big radiator car it should look like this picture half way down the page lotus-twincam-f39/new-radiator-way-t29282.html

If you have a later type small radiator the compressor will be mounted like this (Its a 2 seater but you get the idea)

Agh, brilliant, thank you. Looks like I have more investigating to do. I think I have the narrow radiator (it's not much wider than the engine), but the left hand side of the radiator has the windscreen wiper bottle, so that's probably been moved? The right hand side of the radiator has the expansion bottle.

Thanks!

P.S. It's strange how many little mods you find on what previously looked like an original car I took the radiator out to reverse flush it, and discovered that somebody had replaced the electric fan. Nothing wrong with that, until I realised that the fan was mounted the wrong way round (presumably because it rotated the wrong way), and that the original fan bracket had been modified to bring the fan closer to the radiator. I obviously only discovered this after getting another fan, and after draining and removing the radiator to fit it. I had to put it all back again as it was - one afternoon completely wasted

My +2 had the wiper bottle on the front of the radiator mount and air compressor on the rear. I see no reason that the Elan would be different for the same radiator, bottle and horn setup.

Strangely enough mine is the other way round, the Horn Compressor is on the front and the washer bottle on the back but i know my +2 has had at least two rebuilds in its life so wouldn't shock me if there the wrong way round.

Just been out and had a look at the car (it's cold tonight). There's definately room to fit the compressor on the other side of the mount from the washer bottle. There's also two big holes so this is probably where the bolts went (there's no other holes). I also found two holes in the floor in front of the radiator so this is where the horn bracket went. Thanks for your help!

Yes..........the compressor is supposed to be on the outside, not inside. On the Federal cars the compressor is on the drivers side (L) outside and the washer is on the right (R) inside

On my 73 Plus 2S 130 /5 the compressor was bolted to the inside of the body on the inner front wheel well to the left of the light vacuum pod in the photo, it has been removed in the photo as I was part way through stripping the car when I took this photo. The horns are located bolted to the bottom of the nose as you see in the photo



cheers
Rohan

Yup, we're getting there! Lots of contributions. I'll offer mine, too. Although it's from a federal car, also. February 1970 Plus 2S. Pretty sure my car's compressor and horns have never been moved in 45 years







Hope that helps a little

Randy

Interesting that explains what the holes I found on my car in that spot were for. A PO must have relocated the compressor for some reason...

I does seem a tru-ism that many people see vintage Lotus' as fair game for modifying and "improving". Does this attitude/approach exist in the vintage Triumph community, for comparison? I don't think so. I owned 2 and never did I have the feeling I wanted to pump them up and "improve" on the design.



Perhaps it has something to do with the racing heritage of Lotus street cars, or the kit car history, or just the fact that they are so amenable to modification . . . ?

On mine the washer bottle is bolted to the radiator bracket and the compressor is mounted on the inner wing next to, and in front of the washer bottle. The horns themselves are are in the nose

Robbie

Sea Ranch wrote:I does seem a tru-ism that many people see vintage Lotus' as fair game for modifying and "improving". Does this attitude/approach exist in the vintage Triumph community, for comparison? I don't think so. I owned 2 and never did I have the feeling I wanted to pump them up and "improve" on the design.



Perhaps it has something to do with the racing heritage of Lotus street cars, or the kit car history, or just the fact that they are so amenable to modification . . . ?

Not as simple as that, allot of Lotus cars where Retrofitted so things where added or taken off to change the spec by another shop off the production line, so there are plenty of cars out there that are the same model and have the same parts fitted just fitted in an easier position to go onto a built up car rather than one on the line.

Not to forget Lotus cars are an "Easy restoration" compared to a rotten steel bodied car so they attract more amateurs (no offense but given the choice of a project Lotus that has sat under a cover outside for 30 years or the same scenario TR6 i know which i'd prefer) so they might not be as keen on originality as some purists.

Triumph in there early days maybe but the BL cars your lucky you got all the bits in the first place