Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Found another oil leak due to porosity which seeps out oil near a camcover stud. Wondering if old stock red GE Glyptal is okay to seal the camcover from the inside. Is it okay with the synthetic oils? How clean do I need to get the camcover to get that stuff to stick really well? I've cleaned oil saturated magnesium transmission cases before to weld up by heating with heat lamp and wash off the oozing oil with laquer thinner many times over the course of a week. Do I need to get the aluminum camcover oil free to seal it completely?

In defense of the Cometic camcover gasket the aluminum half-moons inserts I made were sticking up proud by at least 10 thou. I'll have to level them back down to the head surface by draw filing them in place. That will take a few hours effort and the engine needs to be stone cold so it's going to have to wait till the other more important tasks are completed.

Looked for extension coil springs with an ID of 1/2" and wire diameters in the range of .02-.03 to squeeze the hose to seal the studs on the camcover from the inside. Was shocked to find there are none available. The smallest wire diameter is about .05" and that is way too stiff. It was a good idea up until this moment. I've got all the wire and the lathe tool to wind up my own though. Bought this stuff to make my own dizzy springs since those are unobtainium too.

I know its against the Chapman ethos but how about adding a few ultra lightweight aluminium weld beads where you have the porosity?

That would entail accepting the risk of ruining the camcover altogether due to heat warping it. I don't have another one laying around to slap on there if it goes all wrong. Have thought of applying an epozy like JB-Weld onto the inside surface. Seems the porosity is right around the spotfaced area I machined in the cover. Maybe even where the rubber hose butts up against the cover so sealing it with a thin sealer that permeates into the aluminum substrate is preferred.

Speaking of camcovers, Dave Bean asked me if we had one of the Gus Hutchison special camcovers since we have one of Gus's formula cars. He's looking for one to use as a pattern to replicate a few more. Anyone have one laying around out there by chance?