New Elan owner

[rms]

Hullo, I have just purchased a 1966 Elan "in boxes". I would appreciate suggestions as to which might be the right (best/most comprehensive) restoration book to help me avoid as many pitfalls as possible while putting this car back together. It is a restoration which "ran out of steam" and the work that has already been done appears to be very good. When completed it will join my 57 Morgan+4, 60 Lotus Elite, 74MGB GT, 75 TriumphTR6, 84 Fejer7, and 2007 BMW Z4M. Most were restorations (not the BMW). I am located in Toronto Canada.

[Sadbrewer]

The original workshop manual and Brian Buckland's Elan restoration book are both invaluable...there may be others that will be recommended.

[StressCraxx]

Welcome! Suggest a copy of the parts manual. Excellent info on how everything is assembled and the correct fastener sizes.

[The Veg]

Welcome RMS!

[snowyelan]

Welcome RMS,

The best resource is this forum. Best way to search here is with google using "site:lotuselan.net XXXX" with the XXXX being your key words

https://www.rdent.com/manuals/index.html has the parts manuals online.

Owning an Elite you are probably familiar with http://lotusclubcanada.ca/Public/index.html which hold monthly(ish) meetings in the GTA.

Was it the yellow elan from Georgina you purchased?

[smo17003]

You can find downloadable parts and workshop manuals on the elanregistry.org website

https://www.elanregistry.org/docs/

[rms]

Thanks to all for the welcomes,
I will visit the various sites suggested and I am sure that they will assist in keeping me out of trouble (at least to a certain degree--it is a Lotus after all). To Scott, from Hawkestone, yes it is the Georgina car, and although I haven't personaly seen it (I'm wintering in UK and my son looked at it and bought it), the youtube seems to cover enough to have piqued my interest. I have not had the opportunity to delve into its history yet, but the seller seemed to have little knowledge of the car (or cars in general), but any info in this regard would be of interest.
Again, thanks for the welcome, and assistance.
Richard

[stugilmour]

Welcome from Calgary.

[rms]

Although a resident of Canada, I am hiding on the Surrey/Hampshire border in UK to avoid the Canadian winter (or this year unwinter) and I am looking for guidance with regard to good suppliers (hopefully fairly local) for such things as gaskets, seals, maybe a pair of cams and an exhaust manifold. A further question regarding Elan standard equipment--is the bellhousing alloy? The one on my Lotus Cortina from backaways I was led to believe was from an Elan. Can someone set me right please.
Thanks for whatever help you might be able to provide.
Cheers
Richard

[TWebb]

Another source is Dave Bean Engineering. He sells a catalog, $6 US, that is very complete. It is worth the $6 in my estimation. www.davebean.com

Good luck.

[rms]

Hullo Mr TWebb,
Thanks for your input, in the past I have sourced items from Dave Bean for my Lotus Cortina, but as I am in UK I thought that I would do a bit of shopping here before returning to Canada in April.
Cheers
Richard

[mbell]

Some of the main UK suppliers Are:
http://www.mickmillerlotus.com/intro.html (Aka Sue Miller)
https://www.sjsportscars.com/
https://www.parts.classicteamlotus.co.uk/
https://kelvedonlotus.co.uk/
https://www.tonythompsonracing.co.uk/

Be warned that buying in the UK means you'll have to pay VAT (20% tax). SO if you buying a larger amount of stuff it can be more cost effective to have it shipped to Canada, if shipping + duties are less than 20% of what you're buying.

is the bellhousing alloy?

Only the 5 speed has alloy bell housing I believe.

[Craven]

Early Mk1 Lotus Cortina fitted with close ratio 2.5 1st had an alloy bell, I think S1 & S2 Elan fitted with the option for this box also had an alloy bell.