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Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 3:13 pm
by Wattie
Galway, don't do it !
Keep the car if you can, if I was in a position to acquire it I certainly would and put it back on the road, but over here in Meath ! .
( eventually ).
If a breaker gets it - that's what happens - its broken and it's gone forever ...
It's your car until you settle with them - make sure it's secure until you get it back.

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 5:35 pm
by Spyder fan
I have been following this topic and would like to add my condolences and moral support. I drove 260 miles in my +2 today, it needed an MOT that I could get done locally, but I wanted a day out to see the guys at Spyder where the car was converted, I managed to see a customer on the way back, so the trip was tax deductible :D I can't imagine being without my cars. There must be a way of keeping the car and making a happy ending?

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 8:21 pm
by elanfan1
That's an entirely different discussion!

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 8:09 am
by Spyder fan
Oops!
Have I missed the plot again?

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2017 4:15 pm
by John Larkin
I and a friend Alan have bought the Elan to save it from being broken up. The car is too good to allow it to suffer a fate like that. We are grateful to Bill for his efforts to ensure that the car was saved. We intend to repair it over the next 8-10 months, and have promised Bill that we will drive back to Galway to show it to him when it is finished.

I will try to post reports of our progress/setbacks on this forum over the course of the work. No doubt we will be asking you guys and gals for advice and encouragement along the way.

We expect to be able to start work on the car in July/August after family holidays.

John Larkin

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2017 5:30 pm
by Galwaylotus
John Larkin wrote:I and a friend Alan have bought the Elan to save it from being broken up. The car is too good to allow it to suffer a fate like that. We are grateful to Bill for his efforts to ensure that the car was saved. We intend to repair it over the next 8-10 months, and have promised Bill that we will drive back to Galway to show it to him when it is finished.

I will try to post reports of our progress/setbacks on this forum over the course of the work. No doubt we will be asking you guys and gals for advice and encouragement along the way.

We expect to be able to start work on the car in July/August after family holidays.

John Larkin

I am extremely grateful to John and Alan for saving this Elan. John and I agree that we don't really own Elans. We just mind them during their time in our possession. As much as losing mine in the fire distressed me I would be completely devastated if it had to cease existence as an entity in its own right and be broken up for parts.

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2017 7:41 pm
by elanfan1
Nice one squirrel!

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 12:13 am
by billwill
Phew! Thank Goodness.

:mrgreen:

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 6:56 am
by Bombay Racing Green
Good luck John and regards to Alan!

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 6:58 am
by pharriso
That's great news.

Would love to know what caused the fire. Looks from the way the fuel line is routed that there was an electric fuel pump & the hose split / came off by the firewall?

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 9:01 am
by Wattie
Fantastic news :) and just the kind of inspiration I needed too.

Look forward to hearing progress reports.

Well done to the rescuers ...

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 12:45 pm
by The Veg
I'll join the chorus of well-wishers and I can't wait to see the updates!

Re: My Personal Disaster

PostPosted: Wed May 31, 2017 4:45 pm
by Galwaylotus
While I can never be certain of the cause of the fire, let me postulate a potential theory.

Suppose an exhaust manifold needed to be replaced with the engine in the car. Due to the proximity of the Y-frame to the manifold, the left engine mount would need to be disconnected and the engine jacked over to provide clearance for removal and installation over the head studs.
If a fuel hose running from the bulkhead to the Webers was strained during this operation and not noticed, the connection could become tenuous. Later - even much later- after driving and its associated vibrations, the hose might come free from the fitting and with an electric pump the fuel would continue to pump from the fitting. The engine would then run out of fuel and the raw fuel pumping into the engine bay might ignite causing a catastrophic fire.

Just saying ...

I'm just glad "my phoenix" will rise from its ashes and be roadworthy again with its new owner. :wink:

I shall continue to lurk on the forum in case I can be of any help to anyone.