What did you do to your Lotus today...

[Craven]

It also doubles as an Anti-theft device if you take the key!!

[JonB]

Off topic, but do thieves actually target our cars that much?

[mbell]

...or what I use on the Plus 2:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-Brain- ... 2126760608

....gets plipped whenever I leave the car

I have one of these on my car but I don't think it is intended as a cut off switch. I believe it will not disconnect the battery if it believes the engine is running, I am not sure exactly how it figures this out (voltage, current flow, wave patterns) but it could prevent it disconnecting if a serious short is occurring.

I've noticed with mine it often won't let me disconnect battery for a few seconds after I've turned the engine off.

Still a great device for to avoid fire risk when the care is left, as a security device and avoid flat batteries!

[Craven]

Off topic, but do thieves actually target our cars that much?

Usually a question asked in insurance application, hidden switch seems to satisfy in the case of classic vehicles. I?m sure many here will remember ?remove rotor arm?.

[JonB]

Oh yes, the old rotor arm trick. Not exactly accessible under the carbs, though.

Mine has an electronic immobiliser fitted so I think I'm covered. And as to flat batteries, I think the main culprit is the amount of time you need to spend cranking the engine to get fuel into the float bowls if you've left the car for too long. The solution being an electric fuel pump (also on my to-do list).

I would have thought that a car thief targeting an Elan would use a small transporter.

*** Sorry, this is all off topic ***

[vincereynard]

Maybe I'm overthinking things!

Just a bit! I just wanted an isolator so that I don't have to disconnect the battery when it's in the garage.

As the "keys" are much the same it is probably a poor anti theft device anyway!

[Craven]

Maybe I'm overthinking things!

Just a bit! I just wanted an isolator so that I don't have to disconnect the battery when it's in the garage.

As the "keys" are much the same it is probably a poor anti theft device anyway!

568 Mar. 07 12.45.jpg

You just need a little lateral thinking, you don?t highlight the position of the access hole.

[Mick6186]

I bled the brakes on my 130/5 using a 'Vizibleed' tool that I purchased new from ebay for less than ?4 delivered. It made bleeding the brakes single handed a simple task. Highly recommended!!
Mick

[vincereynard]

You just need a little lateral thinking, you don?t highlight the position of the access hole.

Getting it stolen is not really a concern, a fire in an attached garage however.......

[rgh0]

200 kmh and 8000 rpm down the main straight at Phillip Island today - FUN!!!! The right hander at the end at 6000 rpm is even more fun when you get it right.

4 cars in my garage section at the track with friends from my production sports cars class. TR3, TR6 Lotus 7 and my Elan. Two broken gear boxes and an ignition problem in the other 3 - the Elan was perfect... who says they are not reliable.

cheers
Rohan

[Keith Scarfe]

Not exactly 'Today' but some of my winter jobs finally getting going (its almost spring now.. Doh..)

Changed the head to block breather/drain tube thing instu which was a soggy squidgy mess and very suspect. Was not as bad a job as I was expecting. Once everything removed around it (including fuel pump) was OK to get to. I didn't even need to trim any off. Applied some blue hylomar and just forced it in, bottom first. Once in, rotated it a bit to seat it.
New brake master cylinder which was working fine but leaking a little puddle under the car. Reconditioned / sleeved by 'Past Parts' in Bury St Edmunds - very good service.

And while it was out:

New seal kit for the pump and replaced the 2 valves in the hope it will retain the fuel in the carbs and not let it drain back so it starts easier. The 50 year old original ones coming out were very corroded and brittle so I recon it will be an improvement. (I'll report back when it runs).

Next job to replace the rusted up rear brake caliper pistons.
Such fun these cars aren't they.....

[The Veg]

Got medieval on a wheel bearing.

[vincereynard]

Locked the keys inside the car! Oh dear!

[elated]

Presumably a fhc!
3 mins jiggling with a scissor blade or nail file will have you in.

[Frogelan]

Took the the LH window guide rail to pieces by drilling out the sold rivets...off to be rechromed this week. Curiously, the RH version does not need the same treatment (both from a Californian S2).

Have been looking carefully at the windscreen frame. It has a single bobbin on each side (not the original one for the car).

Today's anorak question: when did the Elan go from one bolt on each side of the windscreen frame to having 2 ?