Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Passion has trumped all logic. The restoration begins.

Send me some of that passion, .......please! Great start! Tell us your plans and good luck!
Frank

The plan is to keep it a road car and to stay true to the spirit of the Elan. It will always be a vintage vehicle and need fettling but efforts will be made to make it a little more reliable. Keeping the cv rear axel, electronic ignition, modern alternator, one piece exhaust manifold etc. Every nut and bolt will be gone through.

The motor will get a few more HP but nothing radical. Blue printed and balanced. A cam to open up the strombergs a bit.

Paint will be lotus themed but possibly not correct for the year. Same with interior.
26r headlight just because I personally don't care for the look of the pop ups.

Here's an update photo.

Famous Frank wrote:Send me some of that passion, .......please! Great start! Tell us your plans and good luck!
Frank

Thanks Frank. Starting wasn't so scary. Let's see how long the momentum lasts.

Restoring is all about momentum. Make yourself a list of things to get done in certain periods of time. You will be amazed at how much you will accomplish. Or not and then it might take years......... Many restoration projects get sold almost near completion because they took so long the energy and excitement is gone.

I'm a bit of a fanatic and work diligently to get projects done in short periods of time (weeks instead of months or years).

The biggest issue is parts availability and cost. Both get in the way and slow things down.

Good Luck and remember, have fun!

The momentum and disassembly continues.

After disassembling everything, this is the first tiny step towards rebirth.

...and someone (you in the past?) has already done the frame stiffening mods. You're a step ahead to start.

Bud English wrote:...and someone (you in the past?) has already done the frame stiffening mods. You're a step ahead to start.

The frame had no stiffening done prior. We also did the stiffening at the uprights. We are doing the all the critical spots as outlined on this forum. Powder coating the frame will be next step.

Duh, that's the step you're doing now. From the pic I thought you were just cleaning up. Should have seen the obvious ground lead for the welder laying there. Looking good.

Another inch forward. Body to painter. Absolute top notch shop that has fiberglass skills. Unfortunately in Portland Oregon a 4 1/2 hour drive from home.

Although Lotus never could have made one. The first John Player livery was in '72 I believe. I would like to think the original cast of characters at the Hethel plant would approve. Progress. Powder coated frame after adding a bit of stiffening. Restored steering rack. Fiberglass repair. Tail light mod in progress (S1). Mock up of rear suspension. New solid brake lines. All new running gear, bushings and bearings.

This will be the new carb/head set up.

14" wheels in JPS color scheme.

just as a tip I use saran wrap to hold the wet fiber glassin place till it hardens then it peels off leaving a nice smooth surface ,,works up side down too ,,ed