First drive

[nhhiker]

Yesturday I took 50-2164 out for it's first drive since it was sold in Fla in the early '80. It made a number of stops at new owners on it way up to New Hampshire a year and a half ago. After a body off redo, it is back on the road. I drove it a total of 89 miles for it's first day back. Not done, but driveable. It is missing a few parts. A course the center console was missing. PO had removed the wet the rugs and backing and the console broke into a lot of small pieces. So I am looking for something.

Two little problems. Both the tach and the speedo bounce up and down about 500 rpm/ 5 mph. I am thinking the speedo in just need lube on the cable. Any ideas would be welcome.

I will try to put a picture of the car up.

Bill Fralick
69 +2
66 Cooper S
02 Cooper

[garyeanderson]

One of the previous owners was me, I bought it sight unseen (with the camshafts in the boot and valves un-shimmed) in Northern Virginia with the intent to part it out. When I went to pick it up, first glance told me it was way too nice a car for that. I paid parts car money and couldn't keep it so Bill made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I had no indoor storage and the Plus 2 was just going to be parts if it stayed outside any longer. Its great to see it all back in one piece, I wish I could have kept it but I knew it was going to a better place...
The car looks great Bill, nice job.

Gary

p.s. - I might have to make lunch next Wednesday and see it in person and get the ride I didn't take when I owned it.

[rdssdi]

Good luck finding a console. I have been unable. There was talk of digitizing a console and making reproductions but no word since the initial discussion.

I would like a fiberglass copy of the front part only. I could have it covered, attach the rubber gaiter and finish the rest of the tunnel in carpet. I have my tunnel carpeted with a removable and bound piece. The small portion of console at the dash would be all that is needed.

Bob

[oldokie]

Carbon fibre would be ideal for consoles, I'm sure the market exists. From what I've seen, it's a rare Elan of any ilk that wouldn't be happy to have a new console.

[denicholls2]

By all means, lube the cable. But in my experience, cable bounce is caused by the fact that the speedo drive has a brass bushing. Sittiing around for 30-plus years with dissimilar metals in contact causes interesting corrosion effects.

Option 1 is to send it to be rebuilt, but that's a waste of money IMHO.

Carefully disassemble the speedo. Remove the dried remains of the original grease and clean things up as well as possible without bending or twisting anything. Remove spiders and other insect debris. (While you're doing this, you might want to spray paint the inside of the case white so it reflects the meager light offered by one Lucas bulb. It makes a huge difference.

Lubricate the bushing with a penetrating oil and make sure it turns smoothly by hand (with screwdriver or other precise tool jammed in the drive hole)

Lubricate the components and what cable you can get to with spray white lithium grease (comes in aerosol cans).

You will likely be surprised by both the newfound smoothness and precision of your "rebuilt" speedo.

If you bolyx the needle during this operation, pull it off, reinstall at the little dot just behind the stop pin, then pull the stop pin back from the rear and move the needle in front of the pin, then release the pin to hold it. Again, you might think some complex alignment procedure must be performed by a qualified technician, but you'd be thinking wrong. I've done three of them this way and each one reads within 3 MPH of the right speed from zero to at least 70 MPH based on GPS. And beyond 70, you're talking to the man anyway, right?

[BillGavin]

Good work Bill, the car looks great!

I'll look forward to seeing it next week.

- Bill

[nhhiker]

Denicholls, thank you for the insight into rebuilding the speedo drive. That is one the things I will get to in the next few weeks.

This really is an on going project. But fun to drive.

Gary and Bill, I will see you on Wednesday. I am still working on making things better. Monday it goes for the state inspection. Everything works at this time. Will see if they still do on Monday!

[jeff jackson]

Hi Bill,
Re your speedo bounce, you will probably find as I did that this is caused by a small bit of rubbish in the speedo wheel itself. What you have to do is take the speedo apart, and its really easy, take the glassout by moving the bezel, rmove the screws in the back of the unit itself, and the insides just easily fall out. clean the peg and wheel arrangement and put some very light grease in. Re assemble, and if you are careful, get a square drive and a battery operated drill, and by placing the drill bit into the drive and slowly operate the drill you will see the speedo needle turn, after cleaning the inside mechanism, I bet there is no bounce, and by using the drill you won't have to put it back in the car to check.

Done this with two speedo's with the same problem, and cured them both. ( one was sat on a shelf for 30 years, and worked perfectly after cleaning!)

Hope this helps

Jeff 72+2

[kstrutt11]

Bill,
When the console fell ppart on my +2 I made a new one out of thin sheet aluminium and pop rivets then covered in it vinyl (mine is a late +2S which was covered in vinyl anyway)

Kevin

[CBUEB1771]

Bill,
The Plus 2 looks great! Here it is in front of Sevens and Elans in Ayer, Massachusetts today as we gathered for the weekly lunch. Busy days at the shop getting XIs and the Climax-engined S1 Seven ready for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix this weekend. Bill ran his new rear license plate through his sheet metal rolls so it matches the curvature of the rear panel. Nice touch Bill.

[garyeanderson]

Hi Bill

The Plus 2 runs great, the brakes with the booster left me a little panicked at times as I have not ever had the pleasure of using one in assisting my right leg, but once accustomed to it it would apply the force as needed. The car corners flat and is nicely balanced. There is a sweeper on the section of road I was on and was moving smartly and I touched to brakes to scrub some speed and of cource there was another car as I came around the corner at 60. All in all I am very sorry to have sold her but not so sorry as to have done all of the work to get her back into tip top shape.

Thanks Gary