Headlamp vacuum units - one or two?

[bruss]

Hi I am restoring a Sprint (S4 bodyshell) that came without headlamps. Has the pods but nothing else. Early elans had two vacuum units (non fail safe) and later ones had a single unit with a cross bar. Anyone know the changeover dates from the twin (non fail safe) to the single (fail safe) units? Thanks.

[billwill]

My second workshop manual dated March 1970 covers S1,2,3,4 and contains maintenance details for both non-fail-safe and fail-safe vacuum lifter/closer, so I imagine that all Sprints had the fail-safe single vacuum pod arrangement.

[types26/36]

I imagine that all Sprints had the fail-safe single vacuum pod arrangement.

I thought it was only the Fedral cars that had the fail safe headlights, my Sprint (domestic) does not have fail safe and that is a Oct 72 car.
Maybe the very last of the Sprints had them but like most things Lotus its difficult to pin down a specific change if it was a running change made during production.

[RichardS]

My Sprint is a Feb 1973 car [UK] and, as with Brian's, does not have failsafe headlights.

Richard

[robcall]

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/viewtop ... ght=#62283

Now that your car is in bits-check for the serial number on the central transmission tunnel and inscribed inside the door moulding.This may give you an idea to the VIN.

[bruss]

Cheers all - checked the vin and manufacture date with Lotus but like all things Lotus They can only give me a year of manufacture nad don't have records of changes. I think that it is probably right that only the federal cars had the fail safe, so I'm going with the twin vacuum system. Thanks

[Frank Howard]

My Federal S4 came from the factory with the single actuator fail safe system and although it works perfectly, I might be selling it soon. I want to install a radiator in the nose and if the vacuum actuator interfers, I'll go with electric actuators.

[1964 S1]

(Frank, if you remove it, IMHO don't sell it, keep it around so when the car eventually goes up for sale or to an heir, the original equipment is nearby.) Semi-original stickler, Eric

[elansprint71]

May 72 Sprint......... 2 x vac units.