Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

HI , I HAVE JUST TAKEN MY S4 ELAN OUT OF WINTER HIBERNATION TO FIND
THAT THE WATER PUMP HAS NOT SURVIVED,. I DONT WANT TO REMOVE THE
ENGINE, SO MY PROBLEM AFTER READING HOURS OF LITERATURE IS DO I REMOVE
THE HEAD PLUS DROP THE SUMP AS PER MILES WILKINS, OR FOLLOW WORKSHOP
MANUAL AND JUST DROP THE SUMP. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH WELCOME AS THIS
IS MY FIRT MAJOR PROB. MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE IAN

Yes..it can be done without removing the head.but you often get leaks.or
your break something getting the front cover out..



Pull the head, it is .much easier...



Tony Vaccaro



_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of ianclarets2003
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 2:47 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] WATER PUMP WOES



HI , I HAVE JUST TAKEN MY S4 ELAN OUT OF WINTER HIBERNATION TO FIND
THAT THE WATER PUMP HAS NOT SURVIVED,. I DONT WANT TO REMOVE THE
ENGINE, SO MY PROBLEM AFTER READING HOURS OF LITERATURE IS DO I REMOVE
THE HEAD PLUS DROP THE SUMP AS PER MILES WILKINS, OR FOLLOW WORKSHOP
MANUAL AND JUST DROP THE SUMP. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH WELCOME AS THIS
IS MY FIRT MAJOR PROB. MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE IAN













_____





* Visit your group "lotuselan
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotuselan> " on the web.

* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
***@***.***
<mailto:***@***.***ect=Unsubscribe>

* the Yahoo!
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service.



_____

Not to hijack Ian's email, but on the topic. Be aware that the DB water
pump conversion (the cartridge) will now require you to manufacture a spacer
for the crank pulley. This is because the new aluminum front cover puts the
pump pulley about 200 thou out further from the block where it was orignally
- you have to shim out the crank pulley by a like amount. There used to be
an alternative pulley that was available, but no more. Unfortunately, when
you shell out the big bucks for the parts, nobody tells you that there are
additional steps required. Ask me how I know.

Cheers,
Bill Tebbutt

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of ianclarets2003
Sent: 2006/04/18 14:47
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] WATER PUMP WOES


HI , I HAVE JUST TAKEN MY S4 ELAN OUT OF WINTER HIBERNATION TO FIND
THAT THE WATER PUMP HAS NOT SURVIVED,. I DONT WANT TO REMOVE THE
ENGINE, SO MY PROBLEM AFTER READING HOURS OF LITERATURE IS DO I REMOVE
THE HEAD PLUS DROP THE SUMP AS PER MILES WILKINS, OR FOLLOW WORKSHOP
MANUAL AND JUST DROP THE SUMP. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH WELCOME AS THIS
IS MY FIRT MAJOR PROB. MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE IAN

Having recently changed a water pump, I say pull the head. It is not
difficult to do and a safer way to do a proper job. However it can get
expensive.... Well while the head is off I may as well have ???? done.....

Tony Vaccaro wrote:

Guys,

Having had to do the waterpump not long after I got my +2 I would say take the engine out and do it properly. It was my first major job on the car and I just pulled the head and the sump - and what a kafuffle that was with the sump! I put it all back together and had endless problems with oil leaks particularly between the head and the front cover. It's not easy pulling up cork gaskets in two different directions without damaging them. Oil drip city!

I have since rebuilt the engine and the oil leaks are cured. What a doddle it was putting the front cover/head and sump back on with the engine on the bench. I recon it would be quicker to do it this way, in the end. You'll have fewer problems. Especially if you have never done the job before.

Another Lotus challenge!!

Regards,

Hamish.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Waterworth" <***@***.***>

Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 8:22 PM
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] WATER PUMP WOES

Just coming out of the water pump procedure on my S3. I too resisted
pulling the head and then the engine ---->

You can try it with just dropping the sump ... But if you have much
corrosion you will find that you will need to go ahead and remove the
head. The head and the chain rub strip will restrict the access and timing
cover plate movement you need have in order to safely "work" the cover off.

My S3 has a the 4-bolt engine, and I found that the sump cannot be fully
removed, even with a removable chassis brace so after much effort trying to
find a work around I went ahead a pulled the engine. (I doubted being able
to get all the old gasket off and not have chunks in the engine without
getting the sump fully removed.) Pulling the engine was not difficult or
particularly time consuming, but it seemed like the "tide" was going the
wrong way. On the plus side it is a great opportunity to clean and detail
the engine compartment. And it did lead to a number of other things that
were discovered as needing attention.

Speaking to the after-market timing covers with easily replaceable pump
inserts. While they address the difficulty of pump replacement, I am not
sure they answer the cause of pump failure. I believe that the
modifications implemented by Keith Franck to the original pump does resolve
the cause of pump failure and will save about $500.00 over the new cover
replacements.

At 12:47 PM 4/18/2006, you wrote:

I removed the head but left the sump in place, for reasons mentioned by
Marc, need to be careful about sealing, but I don't have any oil leaks
after about 3-4 years. Fitted the capsule version from Burton Power, did
not fancy all that rigmarole again- pump will probably last for 30 years
now!
Do replace the timing chain.

Good luck,

Pete.


Marc Fuller wrote:

Forgot to mention that my S4 has a removable cross brace which makes
dropping the sump very easy. If your car does not have one of these
then engine out is the easiest option.

Hamish Coutts wrote:

I've had the Dave Bean cartridge water pump for the last 8000 miles
with no spacer and no problems. Everything needed came with the kit.

Steve B.



--- In ***@***.***, "Tebbutt, Bill" <bill.tebbutt@...>
wrote:

Well, you're 8000 miles ahead of me. I just bought the kit last month, and
am not thrilled with the extra work required.

BT



-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.*** <***@***.***>
To: ***@***.*** <***@***.***>
Sent: Wed Apr 19 15:33:47 2006
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] WATER PUMP WOES

I've had the Dave Bean cartridge water pump for the last 8000 miles
with no spacer and no problems. Everything needed came with the kit.

Steve B.



--- In ***@***.***, "Tebbutt, Bill" <bill.tebbutt@...>
wrote: