Rookie in Normandy

[olivertwist]

Hello Lotus fanboys,

This post to introduce myself : Oliver, froggy from the d-day beaches....

I just bought a Plus 2 which is in very good shape.
Still, a few things will have to be done, so get ready for some questions !

I'm a beginner in mechanic but will be happy to host/help UK members who would like to cross the channel for some Lotus tourism in Normandy

Bye

[KevJ+2]

Hi Oliver and welcome, love to see some photos of your car. Best of luck for the future.
From a fellow Louts fanboy
Kev.

[olivertwist]

Thanks,

Here are some pics.

Bye

[theelanman]

we shall be in St Malo on the 7th July and Caen on the 11th July

[theelanman]

ooo....pics arrived while I was typing.....


nice car

congratulations

[Elanconvert]

hello oliver and welcome to elanworld!

very helpful and friendly bunch here!

francophile-fred

[pharriso]

Bienvenue! Your car looks beautiful.

[Europatc]

welcome Oliver, nice looking car

[pereirac]

Hi Oliver,

Any plans to enter the R?trofestival at the end of June next year? We will be there in our Sprint for the 4th year running and it would be nice to have some other Elan company... Last year we were the 'token' British entry

The dinner on the Saturday night at the town hall is good as well ..

Carl

[olivertwist]

Good idea Carl,

Let me check.

cheers

[Chris]

Hi Oliver. Car looks very nice congratulations. I don't know what you have to do to it, but I think the number plate position detracts from its otherwise clean looks, and would look better formed with individual letters and numbers mounted on the radiator mesh. Providing it is legal in Normandy.
Happy motoring
Chris

[The Veg]

Hello from USA!

Welcome Oliver, I too have just purchased a Plus 2 so I share your excitement! You did get a beautiful car; to my eye that blue/silver scheme is wonderful. Mine is just plain yellow.

Looking forward to hearing more about your car!

[olivertwist]

Hello Guys,

I must admit I didn't expect such a warm welcome. Thank you so much.

So here is the work to do on the car (I will try to do it myself, and already started digging into the forum).

- front suspension is new (bushes, spax dampers, and springs) but rear is "old" and too smooth => I find the car unbalanced... it "waves" on bad roads, and change "heading" when road changes brutally (for instance when passing from an old macadam to a brand new street and the "height" of the road is different - don't know the right word in english)

- steering play : +/- 2 ? on the steering wheel + 5-6 millimeters along the column axe. (Rack is brand new, but column is original). I'am planning to check for the rack mounts (rubber => solid), same for the coupling (did'nt took the time to check if it is rubber or solid yet).

- steering column : want it more "hardly" fixed + 1cm up and 1cm right

- driver size : driver seat is too high for me, my head touches the sky ( i'm 6 ft 1) + my right knee horns several times on each ride ! + my thigh touches the wheel... didn't think of solutions so far.... may be get surgery to short my legs.

- some esthetical finitions inside : passenger carpets + finishers (fake leather) under facia panel/dashboard (RHD => LHD).

- event mod (previous owner added fawcetts at events'ends... it works... but i'd like to get rid of those tubes running in the roof...

- a bit of electricity : interior lights + horn on the wheel

Well I guess that's all folks.

Do you think I can handle it with common sense + forum help ?

Cheers

[el-saturn]

.....................i doesn't take a rocket scientist to get those chores off your desk - i like the shortened legs approach: BUT in racing it is/was a lot cheaper and more ethical to hire a puny driver!!! sandy 36 4982

[The Veg]

driver size : driver seat is too high for me, my head touches the sky ( i'm 6 ft 1) + my right knee horns several times on each ride ! + my thigh touches the wheel... didn't think of solutions so far.... may be get surgery to short my legs.

I am 6'4" with 34" inseam and I fit quite comfortably, no problems with my head or legs, which tells me that your seat may have been altered. Did you buy the car from a very small person?

Now as to the surgical option, I did consider that myself when I had an Esprit.