Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All,

I?m currently freshening up the vacuum pods on my 69 S4 and have discovered I have 2 different ones. The first has a U shaped bracket on the bottom with a stud in it and the actuator rod measures 4 3/4? from the top of the pod to the center of the rod loop when retracted. The second has no bracket but does have a stud welded directly to the bottom of the pod and the actuator rod measures 5 5/8? from the top of the pod to the center of the rod loop when retracted.

Can anyone confirm which is correct?

Strange thing is that both provided the full range of motion for the headlight buckets before being removed?.despite the 1 1/2" difference in distance from mount point to rod loop.

Thanks,

The one on the left of your picture looks to be correct for a non-failsafe system where both actuators would have the attached lower U shaped bracket for mounting. The other one, with the mounting stud on the bottom of the can, looks to be from a Plus 2 non-failsafe system where an intermediate mounting bracket is used ....ie it's not bolted directly to the body.
Failsafe systems use a single actuator with bottom stud mounting but would not have 2 vacuum connections as yours appears to have.

Thanks Roger,

I will have to make something to space the +2 version up I suppose.

snowyelan wrote:I will have to make something to space the +2 version up I suppose.

If it was working OK why bother ? .... I would leave it as it is.

The spacer would get the bottom of the pod away from the fiberglass which I think was causing it to rust from rubbing. The pod with the bracket has a lot less rust on the bottom.

I thought you were just concerned about the height difference - well worth doing then if it prolongs the life of the actuator.

If you space it up to match other with bracket then you will need to adjust the length of the actuating rod
Alan

The right hand one looks like what was originally fitted in my early non failsafe Plus 2. There is a shape moulded into the front underside of the nose section that matches the domed shape of the bottom of the pod with a hole for the securing stud. Can?t provide pictures as mine were rotted through and I?ve gone the Mazda electric motor route. I don?t think the mounting height is too critical as I don?t think the vacuum pod linkage reaches the end of its travel before the headlight pod does so there is some ?wiggle? room there.

Thanks All,
I ended up making a bracket that was 3/4" taller than the original one to suit the rod length difference so the overall length is the same.