OMG WHAT HAVE I DONE?? (Version 2.0)

[elansprint71]

Well done- looks like an excellent project.

[JonB]

I have a question about my LR chassis (subframe, cough cough). The S4 chassis has a bit more caster angle, I think to help cope with the wider 155 tyres. Is there a way to determine the caster angle on my chassis (I mean by asking someone in the know, given the LR number, rather than trying to measure it)?

Meanwhile, I’ve been tinkering with it a bit. Stromberg diaphragms are in good shape and it appears to have a new oil pump. It’s overfilled with brand new oil, presumably for lay up. I need to score a new battery so I can turn it over and test compression. That’s next. And before someone says “it’s a resto, why bother - you’ll be rebuilding the engine anyway”, let me say I’m after data on the condition of the thing before the body comes off. As it appears to have done 63k miles, there’s a good chance it will be usable as is, but I am going to test the engine before making any assumptions.

[mbell]

(I mean by asking someone in the know, given the LR number, rather than trying to measure it)?

I assume that LR chassis would have the later increased caster but I think measuring it is as simple as putting your smart phone against the upright with the correct spirit level type app. This should also give you the accurate measurement of the chassis rather than the design spec.

[JonB]

Ok I’ll give it a go.

Ah, looks like I got it wrong, S4 has less caster. 6 30” to 7 30” for S1&S2, 2 30” to 3 30” for S3&S4. The difference being 4 degrees which should be measurable easily.

[JonB]

Quick check, looks like 3 degrees of castor, which is great.

(Off topic, just learned it’s caster in the US and castor in the UK.)

[Sadbrewer]

That is not sad...I've run many a car not in as good original nick as that.
Original being the key..my advice would be to keep it in it's original specification and simply restore it to it's former glory. Don't replace those Strombergs...there is a lot of b******s talked about carburettors...Strombergs were ( according to Graham Arnold in one of my conversations with him in the dim distant) the most reliable carb fitted to Elans....the others were more' tweakable'...after being brought up in the motor trade I recognise tweakable as being the danger of the well sorted motor at the hands of the amateur mechanic...the guy who wants to slow or speed the idle but actually adjusts the mixture screws.
Keep it as original and faithful as possible to the time it rolled out of the factory.

[miked]

Nothing wrong with Strombergs. I ran 1000's of miles on mine. The car took some catching. Loads of torque. Don't deserve the bad press given to them by folk who have never run them.

[JonB]

Yeah, I'll be keeping the Strommies, even after reading Brian Buckland's "not quite glowing" report on them.

I'd like to restore the chassis (subframe, cough cough) too, for the sake of originality, but I'm not sure it would be safe. I need a good welder.

On a different note. I went and got a battery and turned the engine over to test compression. Results all good, 140 bar all round apart from Cylinder 1 which is 120. Some lights were working (indicators, rear sidelights, courtesy lights) but everything else dead. To attempt a startup (for the purposes of engine evaluation only) I'll need to sort some things out: Bolt down the Strommies as they are flapping about on the top nuts, sort the ignition wiring out, plug up the otter switch hole, fill with coolant and drain some of the oil as it's overfilled. Maybe then!

[types26/36]

Results all good, 140 bar all round apart from Cylinder 1 which is 120. !

Wow! thats some compression......over 2000psi

[Sadbrewer]

Yeah, I'll be keeping the Strommies, even after reading Brian Buckland's "not quite glowing" report on them.

I'd like to restore the chassis (subframe, cough cough) too, for the sake of originality, but I'm not sure it would be safe. I need a good welder.

On a different note. I went and got a battery and turned the engine over to test compression. Results all good, 140 bar all round apart from Cylinder 1 which is 120. Some lights were working (indicators, rear sidelights, courtesy lights) but everything else dead. To attempt a startup (for the purposes of engine evaluation only) I'll need to sort some things out: Bolt down the Strommies as they are flapping about on the top nuts, sort the ignition wiring out, plug up the otter switch hole, fill with coolant and drain some of the oil as it's overfilled. Maybe then!

I've never read what Brian Buckland has said, but we were in the garage trade for 40 yrs and from a reliability point of view my old man rated Stromberg's as an easy to maintain no frills carb that stayed in tune well ...the only caveat I would add is that it's worth keeping a spare diaphragm as they do have a tendency to puncture occasionally, but it's a doddle to change.
As to the chassis ...assuming it's original or very old, I wouldn't even consider going near it with a welder...I've been there and done it, chasing cracks around the tissue paper thin front suspension towers and vacuum crossmember, I guarantee it is not worth trying... bite the bullet and buy a new one, you won't regret it.

[h20hamelan]

^+1
My chassis friend was convinced no problem, though it meant folding new chassis metal from tunnel up.
Spyder now on its way, and no regrets outside of working a few weeks to pay it off

[The Veg]

Looks like a real charmer! Love the colour.

And I love my Strombergs (so far at least anyway, having driven so few miles), as they seem to be just a larger version of the Bing carbs I knew on BMW motorcycles. Very easy to live with and the engine runs great and starts easily. Notice too how many threads there are about questions with Webers vs Strombergs in this forum alone. That should tell you something.

[alan.barker]

Hi Jon,
I think you're a bit mixed between PSI and Bar pressure. 1 Bar is 14.7 PSI.
Have fun
Alan

[JonB]

Hi Jon,
I think you're a bit mixed between PSI and Bar pressure. 1 Bar is 14.7 PSI.
Have fun
Alan

Quite possibly. I’ve had a long day…

[The Veg]

Hi Jon,
I think you're a bit mixed between PSI and Bar pressure. 1 Bar is 14.7 PSI.
Have fun
Alan

Quite possibly. I’ve had a long day…

Then take your PSI to the bar and order a stiff drink!