Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Posted: **Wed Sep 01, 2021 12:06 am**

I have a camshaft on order from Bean, and in the meantime have gotten my gearbox back together - test fit the remote and gear lever to ensure everything is working as expected (it is!):

Posted: **Wed Sep 01, 2021 6:21 am**

Very nice! It's better than anything that ever came out of Lotus/Ford.

Posted: **Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:40 pm**

Mazzini wrote:Very nice! It's better than anything that ever came out of Lotus/Ford.

Ha! I certainly spent more time on it than they did! A bit silly, to some extent, but while apart might as well clean, paint, and replenish. Won't look that good for long!

Posted: **Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:00 am**

Finally a little progress... put in a new camshaft (fast road, slightly more lift than the A2) that fit and spins as expected, and then got the pistons in.

Posted: **Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:35 am**

So it was definitely a bent camshaft?

Are you short of any parts or do you have everything you need to complete the rebuild?

Posted: **Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:43 pm**

I think I'm good, Robin, but as you know you always find something along the way... but hopefully getting in the short rows now. It will be next week before I have a window to get back to it, but maybe I can get the head back on before the end of next week and begin the larger reassembly process.

The rear camshaft journal had a very slight out of round condition at about its midpoint. If I shifted the camshaft deeper (half the journal extending beyond the block) or shallower (not fully inserted) it would spin ok - but not in the correct location. On close inspection there appeared to be some signs of stress at a couple opposing positions (diametrically) at about that same equatorial range. That was creating the notchiness we were feeling, which combined with new bearing s with no wear to make it very tight and notch.

On offering the new camshaft, notchiness went away but tightness increased significantly - partially a sign of the wear on the original but also because the monkeying around I'd done with the original had caused imperfections in the bearings. I ended up having the machine shop replace the front bearing again and after a touch of scorchbrite cleanup on the rear bearing the new camshaft slid right in and behaves as expected. I'm quite confident the original would now also slide in and spin easily and that I may not even notice the notchiness as the new one may have expanded that bearing a smidge.

Posted: **Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:13 pm**

I'm glad to hear that you sorted it all.

You have a fabulous car, which will be even more fabulous when you finish it :-)

Posted: **Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:50 pm**

A little unexpected time this weekend, got the sump on, checked runout on the flywheel, and even test fit the head.

Posted: **Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:25 pm**

More progress...

Posted: **Sun Sep 26, 2021 5:34 am**

Beautiful and better than new!

Posted: **Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:50 am**

Mazzini wrote:Beautiful and better than new!

Let's make sure it turns over and doesn't go "pop", first!

Posted: **Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:22 pm**

Test-fit the gearbox today. Out of pocket the next couple of weeks, but hopefully then can get it back in the car and begin hooking everything back up.