Accepted Mods

[mr fixit]

JUst a quick note on Mods as I get well ahead of myself.
I want to keep the car as standard as possible but thinking that;-

1) drive shafts to CV is OK
2) electronic ignition within the dissy is OK
3) superbushes are OK

In the intersests of a more useable car, are there any other seripitous mods?

[Jason1]

All mods are fine, but an original car is worth more than a modded one. I only upgrade areas that can easily be reversed and are out of sight. I would say the ones you have mentioned and:

Negative earth
Headlight motors
Wider radiator
Some people say change the dynamo to an alternator. Mine is still on the Dynamo.

[Spyder fan]

How about the following, some simple others a bit more involved, but all reversible:

Central locking
Heated front windscreen
Xenon headlamps
Monza style fuel filler cap (non leak unlike the original)
14 inch Minilite wheels (gives more choice of modern rubber)
Green Stuff brake pads with grooved or crossdrilled discs

I have all the above and a lot more on my +2, but a lot of the other items are not easily reversible, by easily reversible I mean can be changed back to original within a day.

[nebogipfel]

JUst a quick note on Mods as I get well ahead of myself.
I want to keep the car as standard as possible but thinking that;-

1) drive shafts to CV is OK
2) electronic ignition within the dissy is OK
3) superbushes are OK

In the intersests of a more useable car, are there any other seripitous mods?

FWIW I'd skip the bushes ....

3) Alternator, especially with the electrical equipment on a +2
4) Wide (S3) radiator with modern electric fan.

[stugilmour]

In the interests of a more usable car, are there any other surreptitious mods?

In terms of general usability and depending on present condition, wiring and relays for various stuff could be considered for the list. Maybe conversion from ammeter to voltmeter if you go the alternator route. Upgraded starter is also popular.

[jono]

Alan,

I think I heard that after market Xenon lights are now subject to MOT test (as of this year) and will be a fail if not fitted with washers and self levellers

[cal44]

5 speed/overdrive

[stugilmour]

5 speed/overdrive

Plus one on that suggestion, but not reversable in one day!

[Spyder fan]

Alan,

I think I heard that after market Xenon lights are now subject to MOT test (as of this year) and will be a fail if not fitted with washers and self levellers

Hi Jono,
That will be interesting then, as my +2 is booked for it's MOT on Wednesday next week, I will let you know the outcome. It goes back to Spyder for the MOT each year along with a 12 month service, I'm sure they have MOT'd similar cars already this year.

Alan

[Higs]

Alan wrote:

I think I heard that after market Xenon lights are now subject to MOT test (as of this year) and will be a fail if not fitted with washers and self levellers

Here is an extract from Section 1.7 of the latest MOT Inspection Manual:

"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge
(HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted
with headlamp washers and a suspension or
headlamp self levelling system.

Where such systems are fitted, they must work;
however, it is accepted that it may not be possible
to readily determine the functioning of self levelling
systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt
must be given."

So, you do not need washers and self-levellers and you should not fail the MOT.

However, its not easy to win an argument with a MOT tester!

Here is the link to download the manual (for those of you who are having difficulty sleeping...):

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm

Richard

[jimj]

From an Elan based special to a period minor modification, it`s a purely subjective choice. If the owner of the car is happy that`s all that matters, no justification is required.
Jim

[elansprint71]

5 speed/overdrive

Has anyone ever fitted an overdrive to an Elan?

[simonknee]

Mods I would suggest:

Braided fuel lines.
Braided brake lines.
Two 10" Kenlowe (fans) rather than one.
Electric fuel pump.

[Kerryt333]

Hi All,
One mod not mentioned yet which I would consider a must is a cassette type water pump, can be done yourself if you have access
to a lathe & milling machine.
Regards
John

[Spyder fan]

Jason mentioned the wider radiator as fitted to earlier +2's and Elans. This is a good upgrade, but if funds permit, the Tony Thompson 26R style aluminium radiator and swirlpot is a really nice piece of kit and you can frankly forget about looking at the temperature gauge even in heavy stop start traffic on the hottest day of the year, it even looks good under the bonnet.
Costs about ?600 including VAT
There is a specially designed +2 version (designed by me ) that bolts straight in. The other nice thing about this syatem is that it allows you to tweak the engine as much as you like with racy cams and high compression at a later stage and you don't have to worry about keeping it cool. I can vouch for the radiator being able to deal with up to 200BHP engines as I adapted mine to run with the Zetec that now lives in my +2.

Not sure whose car this is below, I lifted the picture from Google images, but it shows the 26R radiator setup (for an Elan).