Lotus Elan Sprint TJE 4K now in France!

PostPost by: zimzum » Sun Apr 16, 2017 2:09 pm

Hello everyone,

Finally, after 10 years I finally bought my Elan FHC!

I'm french, 32 years old, working in the automotive industry.
I've always loved the Elan, but my first fun car was a Caterham 1600K SS bought in the UK. I still have it, and it is now LHD, with the 6 speed gearbox and LSD, it's a car I could not sell.
Caterham 1600K SS (1997)
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After the Caterham was paid, I wanted to buy the Elan, but the prices increased a lot, and I finally bought a great, but more affordable Ginetta G15. What a lovely car! It's rare and beautiful, with some Elan styling touches.
Ginetta G15 (1972)
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For the nice days in spring and summer, I use this Fiat 128 as a daily driver. It's a really lovely car, with a very pleasant engine.
Fiat 128 1500cc (1974)
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I've always wanted a comfortable saloon for long trips on the motorway. The Jaguar XJR is perfect for that, and pretty cheap for this power delivery!
Jaguar XJR8 (1998)
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Now, the Elan. Unfortunately I had to sell the G15 to buy the Lotus. But considering the prices rising, if I ever wanted to own an Elan, it's definitely now, or I won't be able to afford one in a few years. I have found this Type 36 Sprint in France. It's a 1972 car with a Spyder chassis fitted in 1989. There is absolutely no rust sign anywhere! Considering the quantity of oil spilled everywhere, it's not a surprise though :)
Some of you might know it as TJE 4K. It arrived in France in 2014.
Considering the huge amount of bills, and the fact the car has been looked after by "specialists", I am a little but disappointed by all the oil spilled under the engine and diff, and the rotten hoses... well maybe I should see another "specialist"...
More photos and details to come.
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC (1972)
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Last edited by zimzum on Mon Aug 14, 2017 4:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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PostPost by: vincereynard » Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:45 pm

Welcome zimzum.

What a complete collection you have. A car for every mood. I have to admit I have always had a hankering for an XJ12 coupe. Which is about as far the from Lotus spirit as can be imagined outside a Yank tank.

Alas, as you have found, some specialists are more specialised than others!
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PostPost by: SENC » Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:51 pm

Excellent, and welcome! Hopefully just needs some gearbox oil as mine did!
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PostPost by: zimzum » Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:55 pm

Yeah, the "Professional" just topped up the fluid levels, but maybe I should check again :)
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PostPost by: nmauduit » Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:48 pm

Welcome! and bienvenue...

we should get together at some point... I'm just 10km east of Paris

Nic
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PostPost by: elanfan1 » Mon Apr 17, 2017 12:05 am

nmauduit wrote:Welcome! and bienvenue...

we should get together at some point... I'm just 10km east of Paris

Nic


Say hello to Mickey for us!
Steve

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PostPost by: Mazzini » Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:13 am

Welcome!!! :D
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PostPost by: nmauduit » Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:59 am

elanfan1 wrote:
nmauduit wrote:Welcome! and bienvenue...

we should get together at some point... I'm just 10km east of Paris

Nic


Say hello to Mickey for us!


Not been there yet, so I guess I can wait an other 25 years...
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PostPost by: The Veg » Sat Apr 22, 2017 3:28 pm

Welcome from USA!

Re: Yank tanks: I had one of these for a few months many years ago:
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I much prefer a Lotus these days! :mrgreen:
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PostPost by: englishmaninwales » Tue May 23, 2017 5:43 am

Caterham and Elan make a great pair to own :D
Sorry to hear about all the all the oil leaks, mine was pretty much the same. I have worked them one by one over the last 3 winters and it's pretty much oil tight ( although the Elan and Caterham share related speedometer drives which all seem to leak!)
Good luck
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PostPost by: zimzum » Wed May 31, 2017 7:04 am

Just back from a 1500km road trip!

Image

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I had several issues like no indicators (can't find the indicators fuse or relay), no start (it's a gremlin in the key barrel), and mainly some carbs adjustments needed as it feels too rich all the time.
I checked the carbs jetting and I have :
Main : 120 (OK)
Emulsion : F7 (!! should be F11)
Air : 155 (OK)
Idle : 50 F9 (instead of 50 F8)
Start : 85 F9 (instead of 100 F5)
Carbs are DCOE 151

Fact is I don't know what work has been carried out on the engine. I have found a bill stating there was an engine rebuild with new pistons and rebore. Is it an overhauling rebore or a capacity increasing rebore? That is the question. I don't know if my engine is still 1558cc.

Here are pictures of what I can read on the camshafts. Are they standard Big Valve Engine camshafts?

Image
Image
Image
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Thanks!
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PostPost by: Pastapesto » Wed May 31, 2017 7:15 am

Hi Zimzum

Good morning.....lovely Sprint!

You need to look at the sprocket end of the cams.....2 grooves at the end denote "sprint spec", 1 groove is for "SE" cams & no grove is for "standard" cams........


Hope that is helpful

Adam

P.s. Welcome to the forum....hope you like it here!
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PostPost by: zimzum » Wed May 31, 2017 8:55 am

Thanks!
The first photos I put are gone, but you may have noticed I refitted the original wheels, seats, and a twin exhaust muffler.
Other modifications are subtle.
I'm now dismantling the dashboard to check all the electrical wiring.
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