Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Emma-Knight wrote:With the wiring loom, I would carefully try to get it out in one piece.

I’m afraid on further inspection the wiring harness has already been butchered!

Its an additional $600-700 to buy a new one, which isn’t welcome, but I can have a few customizations made, alternator, negative earth etc, and the peace of mind of a reliable electrical system.

Ian

Ian,

Good call to replace the harness. Mine spent most of its life garaged. When we removed the dash, much of the insulation on the wiring was turning to powder after 50+ years.

There are very few things on these cars that will keep them reliable, a good fuel system and a good electrical system. Both are also high on the safety list. The last thing I want is to see all my hard work going up in smoke!

There are several companies that make high quality harnesses and with the ability to have a few customizations incorporated in the factory build, the damage to my otherwise good condition harness, it was an easy decision to make.

Ian

Today I was able to clean the back end and trunk of the car today, hopefully the garage will smell better now!

There appears to have been some significant damage to the trunk floor and the repairs not too clever!



I know that I’m going to have to investigate these repairs and correct them, but I think I need to see what the outside surface looks like once the paint etc is removed.

As I was pressure washing inside the trunk it occurred to me that the trunk really is a black hole. We’re they painted black inside from the factory?

Ian

Ianashdown wrote:Today I was able to clean the back end and trunk of the car today, hopefully the garage will smell better now!

There appears to have been some significant damage to the trunk floor and the repairs not too clever!

EBDBFD69-A7C2-477A-9245-7E09F4175B05.jpeg

D3754EE3-BC08-41E3-94DA-B926BCF3AA86.jpeg

F7B9815F-2447-49E7-9E61-1AAC4C0EC990.jpeg

I know that I’m going to have to investigate these repairs and correct them, but I think I need to see what the outside surface looks like once the paint etc is removed.

As I was pressure washing inside the trunk it occurred to me that the trunk really is a black hole. We’re they painted black inside from the factory?

Ian

Looks like two or more repairs. One may have been the silencer/muffler bottoming out or getting hit to break the spare tire side along with the tunnel and mount for the tailpipe. Not as bad as the bodges I found in my boot. At least they didn't try to fill all of it with bondo.... It took me two days to grind it all out when I found the damage after I pulled the leaking fuel tank.

It could be much worse!

I want to see what it looks like from the other side before deciding what’s the best plan of action!

Either way I see an itchy future!

Ian

Ianashdown wrote:There are very few things on these cars that will keep them reliable, a good fuel system and a good electrical system. Both are also high on the safety list. The last thing I want is to see all my hard work going up in smoke!

There are several companies that make high quality harnesses and with the ability to have a few customizations incorporated in the factory build, the damage to my otherwise good condition harness, it was an easy decision to make.

Ian

Ian,

A wise choice. Irrespective of the butchering, the wiring harness in the engine area will be shot. The heat will have hardened the insulation, which will have cracked, and water will be leaching along the wires corroding the conductors. The connectors (particularly in the nose) will be corroded, often beyond usable repair.

The wiring was never designed to last 50+ years. Replacing the harness should be high on the list of every restoration.

As for the fuel system, I would stay away from the braided hose replacements for the 'Y' pipe between the fuel pump and carbs. A number of us on here have had these fail, and it is impossible to inspect the rubber. Proper R9 (ethanol resistant) hose is available, and IMO, better to build your own 'Y' with known good pipe.

Thanks for the regular updates, very interesting to see your progress.

Andy.

Braided hose in its self is no guarantee of anything! I have braided hose on my toilet! Beside it would be out of place for this restoration, which I want to be a near original as possible.

I’m very fortunate to have all manner of suppliers close by so I feel I should be able to find the correct parts, pieces and materials.

Lotus have a reputation for catching on fire and I’m really not sure if there is and underlying reason, I don’t see anything inherently wrong, but I will be taking all the precautions possible. I’ve even thought about having an onboard fire system like we would do on any race car; I think I could hide it away sufficiently.

Ian

Ianashdown wrote:Lotus have a reputation for catching on fire and I’m really not sure if there is and underlying reason, I don’t see anything inherently wrong, but I will be taking all the precautions possible. I’ve even thought about having an onboard fire system like we would do on any race car; I think I could hide it away sufficiently.
Ian

The coil is right under the carbs. Any fuel sweating//beading/leaking/spewing out and it has a nice handy place to ignite waiting for it underneath....

Ianashdown wrote:Does such a thing as an S2 Parts Manual Exist?

Mine is dated 1970 so definitely not S2!

Ian

Look in the Wiki on this actual website.

Yes the Wiki is marked unfinished but the parts manuals portion seems to work OK.

Ianashdown wrote:Does such a thing as an S2 Parts Manual Exist?
Mine is dated 1970 so definitely not S2! Ian

Yes there is an early parts manual that covers S1 & S2 cars, pm me your email and I will try to send a pdf if it is not to large.
There is also an early workshop manual but I only have the manual and no pdf, they occasionally come up on ebay, it can be identified by its green cover, here are a couple of pics of it.

ajwheels wrote:

Ianashdown wrote:Is this what is known as a painted nose badge?

F65F9BB5-4BBA-4EB8-9904-EE4499A78950.jpeg

Has a nice patina!

So . . Restore or use as is?

Ian

I'd use the badge as is.....imagine the rest of the car nicely restored, and then this badge as a link back; a bit of the history retained as found.....but hey, that's just me.....

^^^^ Totally agree. That is a very early badge

661 wrote:

ajwheels wrote:

Ianashdown wrote:Is this what is known as a painted nose badge?

F65F9BB5-4BBA-4EB8-9904-EE4499A78950.jpeg

Has a nice patina!

So . . Restore or use as is?

Ian

I'd use the badge as is.....imagine the rest of the car nicely restored, and then this badge as a link back; a bit of the history retained as found.....but hey, that's just me.....

^^^^ Totally agree. That is a very early badge

Earlier than the car (July ‘65 build) do you think?

Ian

A bit of badge info.....

ajwheels wrote:A bit of badge info.....

Nose Badges by Mike Causer.pdf

Very interesting!

I’ll measure mine tonight, but visually I’d say it is the original design. If that is the case, it pre-dates the car.

Ian