Recovered from the wedding!

[Famous Frank]

Congratulations on it getting back on the road so quickly! Great job!

What we do need is a new pick and not one on a trailer!!!!

Of course, I should be the last one to talk.

Is it staying the same color? Or should I say colour?

How does it feel to drive? Any change in acceleration? A report please.

I envy you,
Frank

[William2]

I would be interested to know how you get on with registration and the DVLA as I will have to go through the same process at some point.

[Oldthumper]

I shall get some pictures up as soon as I can,although nearly all of the work was "underneath" so not much really visible to show for all the money! I've decided to keep the car the same colour,as over the years we've all got very used to seeing a little yellow thing,and although not being obsessed with originality for its own sake,would like to keep as much so as possible.
My bodyshop friend is confidant that he can do a very good job on the paintwork,with me removing as many parts as possible,and him removing all existing paint,making good where necessary,preparing and spraying. He's also going to put on the correct s4 front wheel arch. He has a young apprentice to do some of the hard work.
He has me booked in for mid June,and is reckoning on about two weeks work. It should be very interesting to see how his work stands up against that of the well known specialists!
I haven't started taking bits off yet,in the vague hope that my registration might come through quicker than expected,and I might get a few running in miles before it goes away again.
All very exciting, and frustrating at the same time!

[collins_dan]

I recently replaced both front arches on my S4. While the shop did a great job blending them in, I would say that the shape of the new arches is not as defined as the old. I suspect that is a function of the new mold they were made from. My point is that since you are only replacing one, they may need to do some work, so that both look the same. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. All the best, Dan

[Oldthumper]

Thanks Dan,I shall make sure I ask my bodyshop to check for shape,and not just assume that the new part is correct.Mine is coming from Boss Motors,who advertise regularly in the Club Lotus magazine,does anyone have any previous experience of them? I know I should probably have gone to Miles for the part,but,as I have mentioned before,finances are getting a bit tight now,and I can't afford any more nasty surprises!

[Elanintheforest]

It may be worth checking that your painter has experience with painting fibreglass before, especially after making repairs. Each gel coat crack will require to be repaired with tissue and resin, and of course, the wheel arch repair will also require more repairs.

The repairs will require at least two weeks to cure properly, and more usually, they are left for 4 weeks. If this isn't done the resin will carry on curing under the primer / paint coats, creating sinkage and splits in the top coat of paint. I really don't believe that your painter can strip all the paint, repair the shell properly, prepare the shell, prime and paint it in 2 weeks elapsed....hopefully he is talking about 2 weeks labour for a couple of people spread over a 4 to 6 week period....and that would be working very hard to do the job properly.

I know that you're not after perfection or an expensive job, but if it's rushed, or just given a blow-over, the result may look great for a few weeks or even months, but it wouldn't last, and could end up looking worse than it is now.

Have a chat with Miles. I learnt how to repair fibreglass ,and paint fibregass, from him, and he certainly has the experience to outline the best approach to take.

Mark

[Oldthumper]

Waiting for the forms to come back from Club Lotus,so that I can start the registration process.
I can't use the car on the road,and don't want to start dismantling it yet,in case I get the chance of a few weeks use before it goes away again. I've spent a bit of time undoing as many fixings as possible,and so far only had to resort to drilling out one of the front bumper coachbolts,everything else so far has come apart pretty easily!
So the routine has been to undo,remove,clean up and replace,ready to remove all again in a few weeks. Very frustrating,but keeps me occupied, so I'm not tempted to go out for a quick (unregistered) spin.
The bodyshop is very keen to get started,in fact he's wanted to get his hands on the car since he first saw it four years ago.
I have seen much of his work over the years that I have known him, and have every confidence that he will be able to do the job properly,and in the time required.Also, I know him well enough to be sure that he will not do a less than perfect job.

[Oldthumper]

Just a few pictures of progress so far

[Oldthumper]

Form back from Club Lotus,authenticating the car.
It wasn't just a rubber stamp exercise,quite a bit of checking and research was done,now I just have to send the forms off to Dvla,hope they don't lose them,and wait for registration papers to come through.
Meanwhile,my bodyshop is going to put on my new correct S4 front wheel arch section,from Boss Motors,and we can then get ready for to repaint.
Holding the new wheel arch up against the car shows exactly how little difference there really is between s3 and s4,but I'm sure it will be worth it.
I'm hoping to get hold of some trade plates,so that I can at least get in a few miles before it all gets taken apart again for spraying!

[Oldthumper]

Happy day today. The registration papers came back from Dvla,so I shall be able to get a few miles in before starting to prepare for the bodyshop.Hoping for a few short shakedown runs before a longer run to Portsmouth if I'm feeling brave enough!

[collins_dan]

I notice you have bonnet pins currently. Are you going to stick with those, or go back to the original system, as now would be the time to make the change? I recently had my car painted and installed the old system and am very glad I did. Dan

[Oldthumper]

I am hoping to be able to get together all the components to reinstall the original bonnet/hood closing system,as absolutely none of it is present,nor indeed has been since at least 71! I notice that Miles had to trim the bonnet to clear the air cleaner,so I guess the bonnet was replaced at some time prior to my ownership. I seem to remember my brother telling me that he had been told that the previous owner was fed up with the bonnet flying off and had fitted the pins as a remedy with yet another new bonnet!

I've been using the car on a daily basis for the last few days,only a short town commute to and from work,(it does look good and attract a lot of attention outside my pub)but it is an absolute joy to drive. It does make me realise how bad our roads are around here,after years of neglect we have potholes everywhere and generally very poor surfaces.
I shall have to upgrade the headlights,as the original sealed beam lights are a bit of a culture shock after modern lights. I need to sort the wiring out anyway,as the headlights have no relays (never have)
Other shocks for everyday use are that I've become accustomed to more modern demisting/heating systems,and I'd forgotten that it takes a mile or so before the car really runs properly after a cold start.( actual starting is perfect)
All being well I should be able to complete the running in miles before going in to the bodyshop.
I've decided against any change of colour,so Lotus Yellow it will be again.
Off for an shopping trip now. It's funny how even a trip to the supermarket can be fun in the right car!
Ray

[Oldthumper]

Best part of a hundred miles today,car ran faultlessly once properly warmed up. The traffic from Worthing through to Chichester was absolutely awful solid all the way,and was only wondering how low the chance was of seeing another Elan,when I looked about six cars ahead in the queue and spotted what I think was a pistachio fhc s4. Unfortunately I had to pull in for fuel and didn't see it again. Wondering if it was anyone on here,or perhaps a car someone here knows?
So far we have had a wave from a 7, a flash from an Elise in Worthing,and now sight of another Elan,quite good for just 4 days!
I now have a stainless exhaust up to my old original twin tail box,and think it is much noisier than the original cast iron manifold with small box just below, and found cruising at the 3000rpm running in speed pretty loud and tiresome,and I guess some of the grommets must have come out,allowing too many engine smells to come in,so more work there!
Ray

[pauljones]

Hi.
It's good to have another lotus in the area.

[Oldthumper]

Wheels back from blasting, ready for refinishing. We were very surprised to find inner tubes with repairs! Not quite what I expected to find supplied by He Who Must be Obeyed!