Federal Airbox

[john122S]

Hello all,
First post from John in Virginia, with first Lotus, reassembling 72 S130. Airbox has 4 bolt holes to match the Strombergs, but its circular opening (where trunking attaches) angles too far downward, running into the inner wing. Do I have a baby Elan airbox? If yes, does someone have a +2 airbox to sell?
Thanks

[1964 S1]

Welcome Aboard Matey,

Me thinks you may have one of the folllowing:
1.) The wrong outer airbox cover. There are several variations including Elans and +2 models. (aarrrrgghh, beware of tha term, baby, here.)
2.) The wrong backing plate.
3.) Weak or improper motor mounts.
4.) Body mildly slanted or tweaked on the chassis.


The clearance is minimal on many Elans, +2 included, if you can give us a picture it might help, what's the depth of your backplate, and, outer cover?
They're cars full of fun.
Eric

[john122S]

Cheers & thanks, Eric.
PO thought problem was motor mounts. Replaced (they were bad) but problem persists.
Spyder chassis looks to be okay and motor sits square.
May have a pic by Monday, but airbox is one-piece unit (black fiberglass) and looks as per the picture in the parts book (as posted on the RDEnt website) on the dual throttle body page, where p/n is A026 50112 (B for non-Federal). Identical drawing is used on equivalent baby Elan page but with p/n A036 5012. All the different p/ns suggest maybe there are different shapes to the various boxes.
There is no backing plate, gasket, etc, just 4 2-3" bolts going into the Stromberg side threads through the box and 2 shorter ones through the box top flange into the top threads on the carbs.
Interference with inner wing would need about an inch cut away and lowered to get the box that came with the car installed.
John

[ppnelan]

Yes, you have an Elan airbox instead of a +2 one.
The +2 one has only one short bolt. The rear end is higher - the box is angled downwards to follow the slope of the car and miss the pedal box...

Matthew

[john122S]

Thanks Matthew,
The good news is that I just need the correct airbox and not major mods to the car. Since I am LHD, the airbox has no pedal box to miss, although my 1st major chore on the car has been a total pedal box overhaul. I am now ready to build a ship in a bottle, should I ever retire from fiddling with old cars.
I'll post a Wanted for the +2 airbox.
Cheers, John