Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Assistance please. I am either being very stupid or its difficult. I assume both carbs have to be removed together, if this is correct how do you get at the 2 nuts on the bottom of the rear carb. I can see them but getting a spanner on them is proving difficult.
Thanks for any help

2 nuts? I have one nut there (and that's enough trouble to get off / replace). You need a short 1/2" ring spanner (with a piece of string attached to stop it falling into the depths - you'll drop it a lot) and multijointed fingers.

There is only one, but is a pita to get to. I finally cut a slot underneath a reach it through the footwell from inside. When finished, I slide some black duct tape under the carb and also put a layer from the inside. I guess water could get in there, but there are many other places as well.

Bob

My car is a Federal Sprint, so likely a bit different than yours. There are 3 nuts holding an intermediate plate to the Federal crossover casting. There is no way I've found to get at the bottom nut of the rear carb (yes, without cutting a hole in the footwell).

The alternative is to remove the 4 nuts holding the carb to the intermediate plate. On a Federal Sprint this is doable, but I had to take a 1/2" combination wrench, cut the closed end off to shorten it, and grind it thinner to get at the nuts.

Thank you for your assistance, much appreciated. Being new to Lotus ownership I have a lot to learn and this site seems to be where to learn.
Thank You

You may be able to get at the nuts by removing the engine mount bolts and easing the engine up slightly to get a socket and extension on. Keep a check on the hoses, wires and oil pressure gauge line and disconnect battery.

Probably doesn't apply here but on my +2 with webbers I use a small bit racket + socket reaching under the airbox from the front to get the lower rear nuts. Tricky to get on, but once you get it on you can normally get them off quickly.

Specifically this tool set:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-35-Piec ... et/3387640

steve lyle wrote:My car is a Federal Sprint, so likely a bit different than yours. There are 3 nuts holding an intermediate plate to the Federal crossover casting. There is no way I've found to get at the bottom nut of the rear carb (yes, without cutting a hole in the footwell).

The alternative is to remove the 4 nuts holding the carb to the intermediate plate. On a Federal Sprint this is doable, but I had to take a 1/2" combination wrench, cut the closed end off to shorten it, and grind it thinner to get at the nuts.

IMG_0417.JPG

You have to remove the intermediate plate from the secondary throttle body ... extract the carbs then remove the carbs from the intermediate plates.

hope this helps