Change engine mounts issue

[tonyabacus]

Need to change the engine mountings on my Elan S4 to try and solve carbs hitting the top of the footwell on start up. Once started, the carbs no longer hit on the footwell.

The car is fitted with Webers and has the correct different mounts (which appear quite new) on either side (i.e. the raised mount being fitted on the carb side). So back to basics I have purchased new harder rubber mounts to install to ensure they are of the correct type for the Weber set up.

The issue is actually getting at the mountings, due to health issues I cannot get under the car but a friend tried to get at the bolts from underneath, but with little success. I seem to recall many years ago changing the mounts on an earlier Elan I had, without too much difficulty. .So my questions are,
1. Is it easier to get in from the top
2. Must the carbs come off first
3. The carbs are fitted with K&N filters, so what sort of gap should I be looking at once the new mounts are fitted.
4. How long does it normally take to changeover the mountings
5. Any suggestions for alternatives to the K&N's that will solve the knocking problem

Thanks
Tony

[h20hamelan]

https://www.piercemanifolds.com/weber_d ... p/1093.htm

?

[elanner]

I've only ever done it from underneath, leaving the carbs in place. Access from above with the carbs removed would certainly be nice but isn't necessary.

Ideally it will possible to run your fingers along the underside of a regular airbox. They'll be snug, but not tight. Which is plenty of clearance. (The same on the exhaust side with the heater valve.) These clearances seem to vary from car to car, presumably due to the body fit and how much the mounts are sagging. I can't help with the K&Ns.

I think it makes sense to change the mounts as a pair. It seems that a stiff new mount forces a soft old mount to absorb more vibration load so that it soon fails (a few weeks in my case). I guess it makes sense for the mounts to balance each other.

Allow a few hours of scraped knuckles - luck and technique are everything!

Nick

[Lotus54]

I did it from above with carbs off.
The new one would not fit on my car- I think there was some mods done to the frame portion there.

I will fix that next winter.

[tonyabacus]

Thanks both for the input.
I have both new mounts (perhaps not clear in my description). The biggest problem is not being able to get underneath and having to rely on others. Has anyone done it from the top and can give any tips please
Thanks
Tony

[rgh0]

I normally install the Carb side mount from the top. You need to remove the carbs first to get access. Are you sure its not the K&N filters hitting the footwell, do the project down more than the standard air box ? With Webers and fialing engine mounts and standard airbox its the bottom of the Carbs that hit the footwell.

cheers
Rohan

[tonyabacus]

Hello Rohan
Thanks for the input, yes its the K&N filters hitting the footwell and at present there is probably about1/4" between the the filters and the footwell.The filters I think are the standard fitting for this engine and are 3" from front to back. Not sure if they can provide a narrower fitting filter which might possibly solve the problem. do you know?

I think your answer to fitting the mountd confirms what I did many years ago, so my thanks for that.
Regards
Tony

[rgh0]

I dont know if there are alternative K&N filters that fit on the carbs without hitting the footwell . It may be best to fit a standard airbox and duct to the nose and mount a K&N cone filter there as many people do.

cheers
Rohan

[tonyabacus]

Thanks Rohan, that probably answers my question
Tony