Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Gents,
How do you remove the bonnet release cable assembly from a Sprint?

Thanks
Mark

Wirecutter...

Gary
'71 Elan Sprint

The cable is secured by a clamp which is behind the glovebox. Really have to take the glovebox out unless you have the hands of a 4 year old

I would like to go back to the original cable release system (currently hood pins) and have the same question as this old thread. Looks like the PO went the route Gary suggested and just cut the cable, leaving the old brass studs in the firewall. Do I need to unscrew these? Either from the inside, which looks impossible with the dash in? Or can the nut on the engine compartment side be removed and the whole assembly withdrawn from the inside? I'm partially thinking ahead to the install of the new cable and studs. If I can't remove the whole assembly, it would be quite the task to screw the first stud all the way through from the inside the footwell, out into the engine compartment, then back in behind the glovebox. Thanks, Dan

Hi Dan

See if this post helps any.

Gary

elan-f14/bonnet-connections-t26418.html?hilit=%20bonnet%20pull

Thanks Gary, but they don't help. What I am trying to figure out is how to remove the studs that the cable passes through in the firewall. I was not able to find a post that explains if I could just remove one of the nuts from either side of the firewall, or if I had to unscrew the studs from each of the nuts. I didn't want to try forcing the nuts off and risk damaging the firewall, as mine look like they are permanently installed. Gary, yours look more like just nuts on each end of the stud on each side of the firewall. I was thinking there is some kind of sleeve that passes through the firewall, but maybe I am overthinking this. Thanks, Dan

The "tubes" are threaded, they are in reality threaded round stock that has been threaded and a hole drilled through the center.



They are likely to be a bitch to get off but you don't have the weather and salt that we have up here.

Gary

Perfect, that is just what I needed to see. They don't look too rusted. I'll give them a little soak. Getting something on the inside to prevent spinning could be a challenge, particularly on the driver's side. The windscreen wiper mechanism and defrost tubing completely obstruct access. Thanks. Stay warm, Dan

It?s important you start by removing the large nut behind the glove box. It becomes intuitive from there.
Remember the sequence of how the parts come apart as it will save you time trying to figure it out later

Don't cut anything..

James

James, Unfortunately, everything is already cut. I was thinking about starting from the engine compartment side, only because it is easier access, but either could work, I assume. The driver's side is trickier to figure out how to get to the nut from the inside. Wires, vent tubes, wiper motor.... ugly. I have a new fully assembled cable, so don't need the old threaded studs and who knows whether the new cable length is the same as the old. Once I have everything threaded and working, then I need to decide where to mount the handle so it is not in the way of the emergency brake or remote fan switch. Thanks, Dan

I have actually replaced the cable with cable from a bike shop. Soldering the wire to the pull end. Works great. Has for years.

I had to cut the cable from the solid end. Groove it with a dremel and then soldered it in.

The whole thing comes apart rather easily. I think you are over thinking it.

Can anyone tell me what size the securing nuts are? They look like 5/8 unf half nuts but there a pita to get hold of and i have to order them in so can't try them to be sure