What did you do to your Lotus today...

[Quart Meg Miles]

Getting ready to put the engine and box in.

Good luck, Rob, I can almost hear it running!

I'm surprised you have a standard manifold (I note the outlet fitting is different to original) rather than a 4-branch, even I gave up on mine a few years ago. I thought the expansion box was unobtainable now; there's not much demand as I only had one replacement.

[Mazzini]

Thank you.

If you look closely you'll see that it's a two part cast S/E manifold, they didn't have an expansion chamber, just two pipes that formed a Y piece that then fitted the centre pipe.

I think this manifold was used on S2 S/E's and S3 S/E's. I guess in late '67 Lotus went to tubular systems. My S3 is from April '67.

[Quart Meg Miles]

Thank you.

If you look closely you'll see that it's a two part cast S/E manifold, they didn't have an expansion chamber, just two pipes that formed a Y piece that then fitted the centre pipe.

I think this manifold was used on S2 S/E's and S3 S/E's. I guess in late '67 Lotus went to tubular systems. My S3 is from April '67.

Apologies Rob, I see it now and I'd forgotten they were one-piece. I didn't know there were any about.

[The Veg]

I think this manifold was used on S2 S/E's and S3 S/E's. I guess in late '67 Lotus went to tubular systems. My S3 is from April '67.

Not entirely. The federal emissions manifold in my '70 Plus 2 (built in late '69) looks like that except for having the two holes on top where the preheater tubes connect.

[Mazzini]

I think something similar was also used on TwinCam powered Europas.

[JonB]

Crowd goes “Oooooooh!”

And that’s a nice looking workspace you have there as well!

[alan.barker]

Crowd goes “Oooooooh!”

And that’s a nice looking workspace you have there as well!

The Floor looks toooo clean. Maybe there's no Oil in the Engine
Alan

[Mazzini]

The engine and box took one hour ten minutes to install. After thirty-six years of Elan ownership I still have no idea how they fit.

[alan.barker]

The problem is when the Bellhousing blocks on the Engine Mount Lugs.
That's why some fit the Gearbox first then fit the Engine.
I did notice you already had the Generator fitted which makes it difficult to get to the Engine Mounting on the Exhaust side.
Alan

[Mazzini]

The dreaded "bellhousing lock". Why is it some Elan's are easier that others? Production tolerances?

I would have fitted the gearbox first, but it's a close ratio gearbox and a six bolt lip seal engine, which means it has a very thin spigot bearing - thin equates to fragile, so I wanted to make absolutely sure that the spigot bearing was perfectly aligned, hence mating engine to gearbox first.

No issue with the generator side engine engine mount, with a jack and a block of wood under the sump everything lined up nicely.

[lotocone]

Good for you Rob getting the engine and gearbox installed. I take it that you did it without anyone helping.

I've got few things to fix or replace after the paint shop finished my car. They retired after that and I didn't notice a few problems that aren't paint related.

Bob

[Mazzini]

Bob! Good to hear from you. Hope all is well with you and M.

My eldest son helped, without him I'd probably still be there

You should post some pictures of your car, it looks superb in it's new paint.

R

[Bombay Racing Green]

Nice one Robin! I’ve been busy building shelves in the garage and making more space. Was sorting out the spares department this afternoon.

Also got the major components of the diff ready to ship to Al (promotor) once everything has calmed down. His work is superb.

[lotocone]

Rob, good that your son could help you out. A friend once helped me with his hoist to get an engine installed, which was a big favor.

I pushed the car out of the garage for a few photos. The paint color is Signal Orange which is a Porsche color from the period. I would have preferred Lotus Colorado Orange, but the painter didn't have a code for it and we were running out of time. He was about to retire with his coworker.

In one picture you can see the L shaped plastic trim by the windshield and around the small vent is broken. Now that the windshield is in the car with new rubber seals, I hope a new piece can be fit without removing the windshield.

Bob

[mbell]

Modified a Porsche Jack ($50 of eBay) as recommended by a few here...

Now I need to find a spare wheel but very conflicted as I am not adding lightness to the car!