Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Engine finished but I need to take a bit more time over the clutch/gearbox refitting as I need to order some new clutch springs. Whilst I wait I have a quick question. Thanks to Colin@fatboyoz for pointing out that the lower left hand bell-housing to gearbox bolt needs thread sealer. Can you guys recommend a product readily available these days that I should use to seal this bolt?

Grateful, as always, for your help.

Ian

Ian,
Wellseal Jointing Compond is one. Just looking in my toolbox, I'm pretty sure I used Loctite #3 Aviation Gasket Sealant. They are both non-hardening, suitable for thread sealing and are compatible with oil.
Regards,
Colin.

slowsprinter wrote:Engine finished but I need to take a bit more time over the clutch/gearbox refitting as I need to order some new clutch springs. Whilst I wait I have a quick question. Thanks to Colin@fatboyoz for pointing out that the lower left hand bell-housing to gearbox bolt needs thread sealer. Can you guys recommend a product readily available these days that I should use to seal this bolt?

Grateful, as always, for your help.

Ian

Try the bolt in the thread to see how tight it is. If its lose in the thread, wrap plenty of PTFE tape on the bolt, if its tight in the thread, just a couple of turns of PTFE will do it. Job done.

Leslie

Hello Ian,

Looks like good progress my friend.. E mail me some pics..

Alex..

Chaps

Photos of current progress updated. See below.

One question, Leslie. Is PTFE tape ok when in contact with gear oil? If so that is an easy solution.

Thanks as always for your advice and encouragement, fellas. I am a little sad I have no chance of finishing her before the 50th celebrations. Its my fiftieth next month too, I think I need lots of new parts like my car is getting too, starting to feel my age now

Ian.

PTFE tape will seal the threads fine Ian.. Oil wont touch it. If in doubt clean the threads out and apply some loctite thread sealant. But the tape will be fine..

AB...

Hi Ian,

Had a look at your pics this morning, coming on great, nice work. Did you get your engine parts balanced and have you deceided on who is going to paint your car?

A friend is just completing a chassis change on his Sprint. The old chassis, a replacement fitted by Robin Alabaster, an old Lotus expert restorer in the vein of Peter Day and Mick Miller. only lasted 2000 odd miles over 10 years, because in RB's infinate wisdom, he fitted the dreaded saddle matting to the chassis. That stuff can be a chassis killer if it is not cut back to a good 2-3" above the horizontal rail, as it absorbs water, which then takes an age to dry out, all the while being in contact with your steel. Best to fit closed cell high density foam, available at plenty of places. Just my opinion, keep up the good work.

Leslie

Leslie/All

Thanks for your reply.

No, I have not had the engine parts balanced. However, everything was marked up and went back in the correct order and orientation. So, I hope it will be as balanced as it was as it left the factory in 1972

I saw Alex Black's lovely Sprint at Donnington last year. The finish on his car is superb and he highly recommends Option 1. That is good enough for me so that is where I hope to deposit mine sometime this summer. It is certainly not cheap but I suppose a quality job couldn't be.

Thanks for the advice about the chassis spine covering. I had already decided to ditch the horsehair type affair in favour of 12mm Neoprene as recommended in Brian Buckland's book. If anyone has a good source of such stuff I would be interested. I suppose I just need a sheet of it and can use the old horsehair stuff as a template, then glue it to the chassis? I think I also need to make neoprene pads to go around the diff mountings at the chassis rear to stop water ingress into the boot?

Advice is always welcome as my learning curve is pretty steep as I have never before restored anything!! Thanks to all those who have posted and taken an interest.

Regards
Ian

All

Back to report a little more progress!

Twin Dellorto re-furb finished and gearbox is fast approaching being re-united with the twink. Photos below updated for those interested.

Ian.

looking great Ian.. When's the body going down?

AB .....

Looks great, Ian. I'm especially impressed by the way you have been able to get the Dellortos looking brand new. I've got an old set of Webers I'd like to spruce up for sale, how did you get the carb bodies to clean up so well?


Cheers,

Steve


65 Elan S2 #4221

slowsprinter wrote:......12mm Neoprene as recommended in Brian Buckland's book. If anyone has a good source of such stuff I would be interested.

I used an Argos Camping Mat I think that's a common solution ..

Hi All,

Got the engine and gearbox re-united finally but not without a bit of a flap! Some new clutch springs and thrust bearing were purchased so I could crack on a little. I decided to fill the gearbox with oil to check for leaks, primarily from the bottom left hand bell-housing to gearbox bolt that I PTFE'ed. Thanks for the tip Only to find I had a major leak from the rear seal. I rushed in to fire up the computer and log onto this forum and searched for gearbox leaks, to find that the prop yoke seems to provide part of the seal. So, I temporarily rigged up the prop and inserted the yoke, refilled with oil. No leak now That is correct isn't it chaps?

So now I am happy again. I need to order some correct engine and gearbox mounting bolts and am working away for a few weeks. Have left the whole contraption slung on my engine crane in the hope of no further oil leakage. Will get back to hopefully get it all mounted back into the chassis and then turn my attention to getting the body off to Option 1. Have not fully briefed Mrs SS on my plans yet so that will be a difficult conversation Big bucks!!!

A quick question guys? The right angled speedo drive (please see my rather blurred photos - sorry!) how can I check it for serviceability, I don't understand how it works. Should I install the cable now, whilst it is easy to get at? How can I check that it is all ok? Brian's book either is not clear to me or I am too thick to understand.

John, thanks for the Argos mat tip, I am a shortarse so even after I cut a metre off it I could still use as a sleeping mat. 2 for the price of one, I like it.

Steve, ref my dellortos, I think to be honest the flash on my camera makes them appear much more shiny than they really are. I stripped each carb one at a time and ran all components several hours in my parts degreaser. Then I half filled a bucket with petrol and after I had dried everything dropped them into the petrol and gave everything a gentle brushing with a brass wire brush. Dried it all off and gave everything a good blow with my airline to check all small holes etc were clear. With the service kit I ordered I replaced all diaphragms, gaskets and o-rings, gave the brass components a gentle wire brushing and re-assembled. Inside everything was pretty poor before but it has come up quite well and I am pleased. I just hope for the best when I try and fire her up for the first time!!!

AB, no decisions yet on when the body is off. I have some logistical problems to overcome. My Saab 9-3 family salloon does not have a towbar and I had a quote of 650 to get one, so that won't happen I think I have talked my brother in law into a car swap for a while so I can use his old Forrester with towbar and Hitus (another Forum member with a Sprint local to me has given me the name of a place I can hire a car trailer) so I hope to get things sorted in the next few months. I need to work out whether I will mount the body onto my chassis and take the lot down. Option 1 say they can't store the chassis while they work on the body so I hope to call on the hospitality of a mate in the Brum area to store my chassis for me for the duration. I want to get Option 1 to finally mount the body on the chassis for me as i don't feel confident enough to get it right myself.

I am nervous about the whole thing. Its a bit like taking your child to hospital for an operation. You put your trust in the experts and pray that it all goes ok. Do you know what I mean? I need to get it all done, too before Scotland votes for independance and I risk being stranded at Gretna with my Elan spread over the British Isles

Photos all updated and thanks to all for your continued support. I turn 50 next week so I am proper Elan age, I wish I could get my body restored too!!

Ian.

Give me a ring Ian..

You are putting a whole heard of horses before the cart..

Drain the gearbox oil and save it. Remove the prop shaft and store safely ... Don't fit the speedo cable or drive.. easily done later...

I will try n get up to help when the time comes to refit the body. I will really try my best to do so..

Call me..

Alex.... 01383 - 850139....

Don't worry Ian... It will all be fine mate.. You will be surprised how simply it will go together...

Do you have somewhere you can keep the chassis whilst the body is away? pref in your own garage and not outside if possible.. Don't take it south. You don't need to cost yourself a bomb to have A N Other fit the body. or Option 1.. Let them do the body then go get it. We will fit it back together.. I will come up..

Alex....