Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Body is red as are the seat belts!

The upper panels and parcel shelf were black, yes. I just did not like them but wanted the whole thing brighter. I am changing the dashboard to be covered in the same leather, but might leave the front crash pad black to counter any glare.

I am not concerned about originality..!

If the Dash is covered that's like Classic TVR cars, Why not.
What has been done looks nice.
Alan

Wife and kids have left me home alone, so took some time to too some overdue jobs on the +2... also given it a clean and over due polish.

Next up more tuning for the carbs.

Spent the afternoon seriously cursing anyone, especially previous owners, for not knowing an iota about thread sizes...they should all be thrown into a big black hole

I cannot get my headlight adjustment spot on due to someone either re-tapping or forcing metric bolts through the bobbins that I have had to start a major job in correcting. And this is knowing that I still have to tackle the so called bonnet/hood arrangement that some bright soul dreamt up all thos years ago

But after a cold beer - it was 31 here earlier - I do have to ask the question: why in this day and age, and by that I mean post WW2, is the world faffing around with different threads and dimensions. How much easier it would be if everyone wjust agreed that the way to go was to be one or another...

On the Elan they are all Imperial except for some later Front Calipers with Metric.
If someone has forced Metric in them throw in the Bin and fit Helicoils.
Buy a Zeus book for thread sizes and a Screw Pitch Gauge.
Alan

You misunderstand! I am fine with the various threads - it is previous owners who do not, that I curse.

HCA wrote:But after a cold beer - it was 31 here earlier - I do have to ask the question: why in this day and age, and by that I mean post WW2, is the world faffing around with different threads and dimensions. How much easier it would be if everyone wjust agreed that the way to go was to be one or another...

To be fair, Sir Joseph Whitworth had a good stab at standardising thread sizes back in the mid 1850s. Post WW2, the world has slowly moved to the metric system, with a few standouts - most pipe fittings globally are still 'British Standard Pipe' which is a Whitworth thread.

I think it was "Rudge" motorcycles but i could be wrong.
Alan

and of course all modern european cars are standardised to metric... unless you count the seatbelts

Ah, primer.

HCA wrote:Spent the afternoon seriously cursing anyone, especially previous owners, for not knowing an iota about thread sizes...they should all be thrown into a big black hole

Take five, grab a beer and spend an hour or so with this fascinating little book.
ISBN # 0-7432-0850-1
It might still be available.

persiflage wrote:

HCA wrote:Spent the afternoon seriously cursing anyone, especially previous owners, for not knowing an iota about thread sizes...they should all be thrown into a big black hole

Take five, grab a beer and spend an hour or so with this fascinating little book.
ISBN # 0-7432-0850-1
It might still be available.

Thanks - just downloaded the kindle version.

Some paint!

Just about wrapped up with Phase 1 of the full refresh- all suspension and bits back onto the frame finally. I have to fit up the rear hubs and then wheels go on! It'll obviously need all the adjustments for steering, brakes and suspension once it's all back together and properly weighted, but this feels good to be this far.
Next up, the engine!

Thanks to everyone here for all the great posts and answers to questions as I've gone, this forum has been a great help to the project.

Wow, that looks great, Bill!