Elan Sprint out of hibernation!
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Post by: EMA7K » Mon May 18, 2009 4:04 pm
Richard
I know whenever my elan was laid up for sometime the clutch was siezed. The only way to free it was to start it in first then accelerate and engine brake. It would then free off. May be difficult if you can't run it on the road.
Be nice to see another elan running on the Wirral
Gareth
Elan Sprint
Zetec + 2
in Bebington
I know whenever my elan was laid up for sometime the clutch was siezed. The only way to free it was to start it in first then accelerate and engine brake. It would then free off. May be difficult if you can't run it on the road.
Be nice to see another elan running on the Wirral
Gareth
Elan Sprint
Zetec + 2
in Bebington
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Post by: RichardS » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:45 pm
Had a productive morning yesterday - culminating in my Sprint having its first taste of the open air since 1990! I parked the Sprint in the garage 19 years ago and it sat there gathering dust until I started the recommissioning project a couple of years ago.
My friend Graham and I have spent the last few Sunday mornings tightening everything up, doing the tracking and fitting a new radiator. Last weekend the Lumenition, which was fitted years ago, gave up the ghost. It had initially produced a spark a few weeks ago but was obviously tired! I fitted an Aldon Ignitor yesterday which is much neater and very easy to fit. We had briefly had the Twin Cam running a few weeks ago - yesterday she started first time and was soon timed and the carbs adjusted. She seems to be running well with 40psi of oil pressure. It was also good to see that the headlights popped up - I had renovated the headlight vacuum circuit and it was gratifying that they go up and down as they should.
The clutch freed off rather easier than I anticipated, considering it has had nearly 20 years to stick together - I drove the car up the drive 4 or 5 times having started in first gear and blipped the throttle with my foot planted on the clutch pedal - suddenly the clutch freed and I was in control! And the brakes work and feel good, albeit at 10mph. I have fitted +2 front calipers.
I've got a few more hours to put in before I can book the MOT. Need to fit Cliveboys air filter, wire up the rad fan and a few other jobs to finalise roadworthiness.
Pic below with Graham on the left and me on the right. A celebratory hand shake to mark the occasion!
Richard
My friend Graham and I have spent the last few Sunday mornings tightening everything up, doing the tracking and fitting a new radiator. Last weekend the Lumenition, which was fitted years ago, gave up the ghost. It had initially produced a spark a few weeks ago but was obviously tired! I fitted an Aldon Ignitor yesterday which is much neater and very easy to fit. We had briefly had the Twin Cam running a few weeks ago - yesterday she started first time and was soon timed and the carbs adjusted. She seems to be running well with 40psi of oil pressure. It was also good to see that the headlights popped up - I had renovated the headlight vacuum circuit and it was gratifying that they go up and down as they should.
The clutch freed off rather easier than I anticipated, considering it has had nearly 20 years to stick together - I drove the car up the drive 4 or 5 times having started in first gear and blipped the throttle with my foot planted on the clutch pedal - suddenly the clutch freed and I was in control! And the brakes work and feel good, albeit at 10mph. I have fitted +2 front calipers.
I've got a few more hours to put in before I can book the MOT. Need to fit Cliveboys air filter, wire up the rad fan and a few other jobs to finalise roadworthiness.
Pic below with Graham on the left and me on the right. A celebratory hand shake to mark the occasion!
Richard
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Post by: RichardS » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:47 pm
Delighted to report that I got a green [pass] MOT certificate this morning!
Still plenty of things to do but it was great to drive on the road again - albeit a short distance to the local garage for the MOT. Nice to know nothing obvious hanging off under the car. The mechanic who did the MOT used to work for Alan Voights of 5 speed fame so ws familiar with Elans. Interestingly a +2 was booked in for later in the morning but our paths didnt cross.
So .... on course for a drive to Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
Richard
Still plenty of things to do but it was great to drive on the road again - albeit a short distance to the local garage for the MOT. Nice to know nothing obvious hanging off under the car. The mechanic who did the MOT used to work for Alan Voights of 5 speed fame so ws familiar with Elans. Interestingly a +2 was booked in for later in the morning but our paths didnt cross.
So .... on course for a drive to Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
Richard
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC 1973
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Post by: EMA7K » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:10 pm
Richard
Glad your back on the road. I'll be going to Oulton on the Saturday for the practice and on the Sunday and probably the Monday. I've got my sprint back fom PM's with a 420 spec engine. 148 BHP its pretty wicked.
Gareth
Glad your back on the road. I'll be going to Oulton on the Saturday for the practice and on the Sunday and probably the Monday. I've got my sprint back fom PM's with a 420 spec engine. 148 BHP its pretty wicked.
Gareth
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Post by: RichardS » Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:46 pm
Gareth
- will look out for you! If not then we must meet closer to home - my engine was rebuilt by Vegantune in the 1980s and allegedly is 150bhp - somewhere I have a rolling road printout showing 120bhp through the rear wheels. I am hoping to get new tyres this week to fit to a new set of Minilites. At present have the original steel wheels with 20 year old Grand Prix S tyres so didn't push too many bhp through the rear wheels this morning!
Richard
- will look out for you! If not then we must meet closer to home - my engine was rebuilt by Vegantune in the 1980s and allegedly is 150bhp - somewhere I have a rolling road printout showing 120bhp through the rear wheels. I am hoping to get new tyres this week to fit to a new set of Minilites. At present have the original steel wheels with 20 year old Grand Prix S tyres so didn't push too many bhp through the rear wheels this morning!
Richard
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC 1973
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Post by: EMA7K » Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:48 am
Richard
My Sprint is fitted with Minilites. When I bought them we had to do some mods to the rear wheel arch to get them to fit. They were only the second set ever built for an Elan-so I was told! I have just had fitted Uniroyal raintyres as I used to find the car a bit twitchy in the wet when on Michelins. If you like I could pop round and compare notes.
I work from home mostly so an quite flexible timewise.
Gareth
My Sprint is fitted with Minilites. When I bought them we had to do some mods to the rear wheel arch to get them to fit. They were only the second set ever built for an Elan-so I was told! I have just had fitted Uniroyal raintyres as I used to find the car a bit twitchy in the wet when on Michelins. If you like I could pop round and compare notes.
I work from home mostly so an quite flexible timewise.
Gareth
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Post by: RichardS » Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:34 pm
Gareth
I'll try and speak to you later in the week and would be good to meet up.
I've had a trial fit of a 175 65 14 tyre and it doesn't catch on anything [I have got 5 1/2 " minilites] I've ordered Yokohama A drives which several people have suggested. Really looking forward to a drive with a fresh set of tyres
Richard
I'll try and speak to you later in the week and would be good to meet up.
I've had a trial fit of a 175 65 14 tyre and it doesn't catch on anything [I have got 5 1/2 " minilites] I've ordered Yokohama A drives which several people have suggested. Really looking forward to a drive with a fresh set of tyres
Richard
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Post by: RichardS » Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:33 pm
I thought I would finish this thread off having just done a very enjoyable 60 mile round trip today. After 30 months of tinkering to get back on the road it is great to be now savouring the Elan driving experience again after a 20 year break.
Drove out into Cheshire and found a suitable pub for lunch. To cap it all we briefly exchanged words with the driver of a green over white Sprint who passed us at a junction on the way home.
The Sprint ran very well and even the rain held off till just after we got home. Had the window down all the way and just lovely to hear the exhaust noise and smell those familiar smells of hot engine and a bit of exhaust! Engine temp remained well under 90 and oil pressure 40 to 50. I'm getting used to the various quirks of starting the engine from cold or hot with different throttle techniques! Having driven an automatic for the last 20 years the muscle memory for changing gears manually is also fast returning.
Even better - my wife suggested the outing! We had a succesful trip to the Gold Cup at Oulton Park on Monday and she so enjoyed the trip she wanted more today. She is impressed we haven't broken down yet. Bodes well for future Lotus related outings!
Richard
Drove out into Cheshire and found a suitable pub for lunch. To cap it all we briefly exchanged words with the driver of a green over white Sprint who passed us at a junction on the way home.
The Sprint ran very well and even the rain held off till just after we got home. Had the window down all the way and just lovely to hear the exhaust noise and smell those familiar smells of hot engine and a bit of exhaust! Engine temp remained well under 90 and oil pressure 40 to 50. I'm getting used to the various quirks of starting the engine from cold or hot with different throttle techniques! Having driven an automatic for the last 20 years the muscle memory for changing gears manually is also fast returning.
Even better - my wife suggested the outing! We had a succesful trip to the Gold Cup at Oulton Park on Monday and she so enjoyed the trip she wanted more today. She is impressed we haven't broken down yet. Bodes well for future Lotus related outings!
Richard
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Post by: alexblack13 » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:16 pm
Hi Richard,
Congrat's on getting the Sprint on the road again. Very well done sir!! It looks wonderfull. A credit to you.
The Scottish weather is so bad just now my little Lotus has not been out for some time. It's been V wet! I am about to re mot it then finish the wheels job. That should see it fine for next year. Fancy the idea of a trip to Le Mans next year? I can't wait..
PS ... Feeling great. Running uphills now. Mrs B cant keep up!
Alex B....
Congrat's on getting the Sprint on the road again. Very well done sir!! It looks wonderfull. A credit to you.
The Scottish weather is so bad just now my little Lotus has not been out for some time. It's been V wet! I am about to re mot it then finish the wheels job. That should see it fine for next year. Fancy the idea of a trip to Le Mans next year? I can't wait..
PS ... Feeling great. Running uphills now. Mrs B cant keep up!
Alex B....
Alex Black.
Now Sprintless!!
Now Sprintless!!
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Post by: RichardS » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:43 pm
Alex
Thanks for your comments - the photo is very flattering to the tatty paint work but the new minilites give a real lift!
I will keep an eye on the Europe trip thread - having got behind the wheel again my confidence and enthusiaism are growing. Delighted to hear you are on the mend - cant believe its a year since your Sprint got its MOT.
Richard
Thanks for your comments - the photo is very flattering to the tatty paint work but the new minilites give a real lift!
I will keep an eye on the Europe trip thread - having got behind the wheel again my confidence and enthusiaism are growing. Delighted to hear you are on the mend - cant believe its a year since your Sprint got its MOT.
Richard
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC 1973
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Post by: alexblack13 » Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:06 pm
Thanks Richard. I cant believe it either. Sept 29th in fact. Just setting up for a rematch.... Im off on a med' cruise Sunday next. Will attend to it on my return.
Did you need any mods to fit the minilites?
Alex B....
Did you need any mods to fit the minilites?
Alex B....
Alex Black.
Now Sprintless!!
Now Sprintless!!
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Post by: alaric » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:05 pm
Good for you Richard - an inspiring thread with a happy ending. My +2 has sat waiting for me to get back to it since early August - apart from running it up and down the driveway - that's just fun though, so I need to get back to it. I've found the key is to get out there for an hour every night if poss, even if I end up just tidying.
All the best.
Sean.
All the best.
Sean.
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Post by: RichardS » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:27 pm
alexblack13 wrote:
Did you need any mods to fit the minilites?
Alex B....
Alex
Can I point you to my recent posts on the "Any Black Minilites out there?" thread - all is revealed!
Richard
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC 1973
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Post by: alexblack13 » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:06 pm
Roger that Richard. Get out there n drive that car. 
Repeat after me.. Alpineitis is curable. Repeat as many times as you like. Still wont work....
I'm waiting on the rain going off!
AB..
Get out there n drive that car. Repeat after me.. Alpineitis is curable. Repeat as many times as you like. Still wont work....I'm waiting on the rain going off!
AB..
Alex Black.
Now Sprintless!!
Now Sprintless!!
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