"New" member in Wales
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:14 pm
Hello,
I joined in December and have been lurking on the site for even longer, so it's time to introduce myself.
Classic cars is just one of my interests (others include vinyl records and vintage radio/TV). I got a 1972 VW camper in 2005, and I've had several MGB GTs since then (my current one is from 1968). However, I've always wanted to get a Lotus (admittedly, The Avengers and The Prisoner had an influence there). But I've always been put off by the price and the reputation (Lots Of ...). So when an Elan +2 came up locally sold by a reputable dealer I got it (went in to "have a look at it" on the way into work and bought it - how did that happen?).
That was back in November. I couldn't collect it immediately (and the garage wanted to replace the rotoflexes, rebuild the servo and replace the master brake cylinder). In the end I collected it on 23rd December, the day of the big storm before Christmas (I had arranged it before this was forecast). Driving it home on the M4 with the storm coming in, everything seemed to be OK. Then, just as I got to the M48 Severn bridge it started to misfire. Tried to coax it across (I live just over the bridge) but it conked out right in the middle as the storm hit. Easy to diagnose - the battery was completely flat. Wouldn't turn over, and I couldn't even wind the window up from paying the toll (it was bucketing down by then, with strong winds). Ring up the RAC, and they promise to be there within the hour (blocking half the bridge). However, the Police duly arrive with their Land Rover, wanting to drag it off as they were preparing to close the bridge. On explaining it was fibre glass and that the RAC was on the way they held off - but at least their Land Rover was now stopping a HGV from crashing into the Elan. The RAC finally turn up after the Police control room begin to ring them. With a booster power pack, the Elan starts and I get it home with no more incidents.
The good thing with getting it from a dealer is that you get a warranty, useful for early problems (the experience with the MGBs showed that lots of things go wrong at the start, from exhausts falling off to a blown head gasket). The garage collect it, and diagnose a bad earthing point, meaning the battery wasn't charging. They bring it back, but it stalls when I drive it into the garage and won't start again. Luckily the garage was still there. Removing the distributor cap, and the wire is broken off the condensor. I get a new condensor from the garage a couple of days later and fit it, but it still won't start. The garage come and collect it again...
This time the garage fits electronic ignition. I'm a little unhappy at this as I prefer to keep things original, but some research shows that this is a worthwhile upgrade on an Elan. The garage has also done a compression test. One of the cylinders was low (number 3?), and the head needs to come off. They report that it looks like a valve wasn't correctly lapped in, and that the head needs to go off to a machine shop. Luckily, all done under warranty.
I finally get it back at the start of February. Work and weather means it went straight into the garage. A couple of things needed doing - none of the door locks worked, and the air pipe is off the air cleaner (taking out the filter housing shows it and the grille all rusty, so they also needed sanding down and repainting). So at the moment all I've managed is a quick 10 minute drive around the block! Seemed to go OK, but with a little hesitancy. I'm hoping that this is just down to it doing nothing but idling in the garage for the last few months, which should be cured by a long drive.
Forgot to mention the car details. It's a 1970 Elan +2s, reg number PSS 360H (original engine has a Nov 1969 date code). Bought from Cleevewood Garage Bristol, for 9K which seemed good for a +2 with MOT.
Thanks,
Rob.
I joined in December and have been lurking on the site for even longer, so it's time to introduce myself.
Classic cars is just one of my interests (others include vinyl records and vintage radio/TV). I got a 1972 VW camper in 2005, and I've had several MGB GTs since then (my current one is from 1968). However, I've always wanted to get a Lotus (admittedly, The Avengers and The Prisoner had an influence there). But I've always been put off by the price and the reputation (Lots Of ...). So when an Elan +2 came up locally sold by a reputable dealer I got it (went in to "have a look at it" on the way into work and bought it - how did that happen?).
That was back in November. I couldn't collect it immediately (and the garage wanted to replace the rotoflexes, rebuild the servo and replace the master brake cylinder). In the end I collected it on 23rd December, the day of the big storm before Christmas (I had arranged it before this was forecast). Driving it home on the M4 with the storm coming in, everything seemed to be OK. Then, just as I got to the M48 Severn bridge it started to misfire. Tried to coax it across (I live just over the bridge) but it conked out right in the middle as the storm hit. Easy to diagnose - the battery was completely flat. Wouldn't turn over, and I couldn't even wind the window up from paying the toll (it was bucketing down by then, with strong winds). Ring up the RAC, and they promise to be there within the hour (blocking half the bridge). However, the Police duly arrive with their Land Rover, wanting to drag it off as they were preparing to close the bridge. On explaining it was fibre glass and that the RAC was on the way they held off - but at least their Land Rover was now stopping a HGV from crashing into the Elan. The RAC finally turn up after the Police control room begin to ring them. With a booster power pack, the Elan starts and I get it home with no more incidents.
The good thing with getting it from a dealer is that you get a warranty, useful for early problems (the experience with the MGBs showed that lots of things go wrong at the start, from exhausts falling off to a blown head gasket). The garage collect it, and diagnose a bad earthing point, meaning the battery wasn't charging. They bring it back, but it stalls when I drive it into the garage and won't start again. Luckily the garage was still there. Removing the distributor cap, and the wire is broken off the condensor. I get a new condensor from the garage a couple of days later and fit it, but it still won't start. The garage come and collect it again...
This time the garage fits electronic ignition. I'm a little unhappy at this as I prefer to keep things original, but some research shows that this is a worthwhile upgrade on an Elan. The garage has also done a compression test. One of the cylinders was low (number 3?), and the head needs to come off. They report that it looks like a valve wasn't correctly lapped in, and that the head needs to go off to a machine shop. Luckily, all done under warranty.
I finally get it back at the start of February. Work and weather means it went straight into the garage. A couple of things needed doing - none of the door locks worked, and the air pipe is off the air cleaner (taking out the filter housing shows it and the grille all rusty, so they also needed sanding down and repainting). So at the moment all I've managed is a quick 10 minute drive around the block! Seemed to go OK, but with a little hesitancy. I'm hoping that this is just down to it doing nothing but idling in the garage for the last few months, which should be cured by a long drive.
Forgot to mention the car details. It's a 1970 Elan +2s, reg number PSS 360H (original engine has a Nov 1969 date code). Bought from Cleevewood Garage Bristol, for 9K which seemed good for a +2 with MOT.
Thanks,
Rob.