S4 Spyder Cosworth

[disquek]

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking here a while and I've posted a couple of times.

I wanted to take a minute and introduce myself and the cars.

My father bought a '62 S2 Super Seven when I was just out of high school and that set the Lotus hook. It's always been a dedicated autocross car. It had been run hard and put up wet. So I've been working on it for a few years. It's down to the diff chunk. That's at a specialist and it should be done soon.

I've always admired Elan's and I'm lifetime racer and hot rodder. I'm not an "it has to be stock" kind of guy. Hence this Elan really appealed to me. The car is is great shape and is mostly stock appearing, but there is obviously much more under the skin. The BDP was just pulled to re-seal it and convert it from the square tooth timing belt to the round tooth. I will also reseal the gearbox while it's out too.

Have a look! Happy holidays!

-Kyle

[gjz30075]

Welcome Kyle. Hope to see you and either your Elan or 7 at upcoming LOG at Sturbridge.

[disquek]

Thanks!

I hope to be there.

I?m also hoping to make it to Amelia Island in 2020, when Lotus is the featured marque.

Kyle

[gjz30075]

Whoa! How do you know this??

[baileyman]

You bought the Leadfoot car! I think I've watched that, and wrung my hands over it, for a year. Maybe more. What a temptation!

John

[elaninfuture]

Cool cars! Enjoy.

Joe

[tvacc]

It will be great to see you at LOG. Please look me up. I would like to bring my Spyder Elan but most likely will bring my Elise 190. I would love to see your Elan.

Tony Vaccaro
Lotus Ltd President

[disquek]

Sorry for the Amelia false alarm. I went back to the folks that told me and they are pointing fingers at each other. So that might have been a red herring.

Yes, this is the Leadfoot car. It was mostly built by Auto Europe in Detroit. It?s had little use and has been well cared for. It just needs some resealing from age.

I?m doing all of the seals (brake, clutch, engine, gearbox, and some misc stuff along the way (shocks, alternator, battery, etc). Hopefully it?ll be ready for some adventures in the spring of 2019.

[seniorchristo]

Hi Kyle
Congratulations on your Elan BDP. I did some research on building an Elan BDA but balked when I saw the time and money involved. I am still interested in it as a future possibility. I know it's been done successfully quite a few times. I have a 1967 S3 Elan and live in Whitehall, PA. There are a number of active Elans in the area as well as an active club, PALS, Philadelphia Area Lotus Society. Hope to see you around town!
Regards
Chris Herr

[prezoom]

Kyle, Nice to see another Prod Racer moving to Elan ownership.

[Davidb]

Congratulations! Nice looking car-I have to say that because it looks just like mine-colours etc... And like you I am an 'old' racer who doesn't need cars to be original. Mine also has a BDD bottom end but TC top with 1720cc so nice and torquey (sp?)

[disquek]

Thanks Everyone.

I've only driven it about 30 miles. It's great fun and at 200hp the BDP really makes it scoot.

The jackshaft leak was bad enough to warrant the engine out service. The dominos fell from there ... "While it's out you really should also replace the ....". lol. That's ok. I really like my engine builder, so I'm always happy to bring him work.

The side mirrors are entirely useless in their current location. My plan is to have a friend cast some "Powered by Cosworth" emblems to cover the holes and then mount some new mirrors on the doors. I'd always liked the look of the Raydyot mirrors, but I recently learned that they have to be loosened from inside to adjust them. That sounds like a non starter on an Elan. So I'm open to recommendations. I've done a few searches here, but I haven't found anything I love. I'm considering the SPA mirrors from Pegasus. Not period correct, but cool looking!

I need to figure out a plan for the shocks. This Spyder chassis has the double wishbone rear suspension, so the only supplier of off-the-shelf shocks is Spyder (Spax). I'm not a big Spax fan. I'm talking to TTR about developing a set of rear dampers for the Spyder double wishbone rear suspension. I considered using the shock engineer that I'd used for my race car, but I think the price might be outside my budget. I did love those Ohlins though!

I'd like to add a volt meter and a wideband AFR gauge. Has anyone found discrete ways to add gauges to an S4? I was thinking maybe something custom in the ashtray?

The car doesn't have the diff upper brace. I'm told that it might be redundant with the Spyder chassis. Does anyone know?

-Kyle

[gjz30075]

The car doesn't have the diff upper brace. I'm told that it might be redundant with the Spyder chassis. Does anyone know?

-Kyle

The differential upper brace was added to the Sprints, beginning roughly Feb of '71. Certainly worth
adding, even with the upgraded diff case.

[disquek]

Thanks!

Do you think that it can be added with the diff in the car?

Also, I think the Spyder chassis is much closer to the top of the diff. I'm not sure that it'll fit.

-Kyle

[tvacc]

My car is a full Spyder setup, built by Spyder in the UK back in the early 80's. Mine does not have the diff brace either and it has a high hp twin cam in it. And it was raced back before I got it, like in 1985/1986. I don't see any issues.

Tony V