Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

SO, what is this thing down at the base of the distributor? Has wire from coil going into it and wire going to the distributor - so I assume a ballast of some sort?



What is this connector going into the inlet to cylinder one?



And why does one Weber wingnut have a little hole in it, but the the other doesn't?

The first thing 'might' be your distributor's capacitor, but I've never seen one like that on a car.

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The hole is due to the dreaded wing-nut moths, I expect.

I thought the wingnut moths were extinct...

Need to figure out what that addition is to the circuit...

"What is this connector going into the inlet to cylinder one?"

That's the vacuum connection to the chassis plenum / headlights

Don't worry about the moth hole... That's just the jet cover on your carburetor.

The item below the distributor looks like it may be an oil pressure sensor I think screwed into the block oil passage. The Weber wing nuts often / usually have holes in them so they can be lock wired as they have a tendency to come loose with vibration. especially if you are doing quick jet changes at the track and you forget to tighten them up again (been there done that!).

cheers
Rohan

Some fascinating photos indeed.
1) I agree with the oil pressure sensor theory if your car which is a +2 has an electrically operated oil pressure gauge, which I believe they do have & it does look like ones that I've seen in the past.

2) The connection with the black plastic tubing is a non-return valve for the vacuum system for the headlamp operation & brake servo (if fitted to your car).

3) most intriguing is that little hole in the wing nut; I've never seen that before!
For wire locking the hole is usually drilled through one or both of the wings but down through the middle & into the threaded hole is a new one on me.
Maybe the stud it screws down on to is too long & needs the extra clearance but as Bill mentioned it could well be the work of a Brass moth but most likely when it was in its worm stage; known as "Brass Worm"

Nice quality photos, by the way!

Cheers
John

P.S. The hole in the wing nut is more than likely just a manufacturing error, which I'm surprised that Weber let slip by. When you think about it, nearly all wing nuts have "through holes" but in the case of these "special "spun in" nuts, Weber decided on a "blind hole" so that people would not worry about "a leak" that was never going to happen &/or just for aesthetic reasons.

1) Oil Pressure sender...Smiths 0-60 PSI

John

john.p.clegg wrote:1) Oil Pressure sender...Smiths 0-60 PSI

John

certainly looks like it to me too....
also agree that its the vac pod pipe for the headlights

Yes - the fitting in #1 cyl inlet is definitley a vacuum supply (to lights or servo - I haven't followed the pipe all the way).

Oil pressure sender - makes sense.


Cheers all.

I think you'll find the servo is fed off cylinder No 4...

John

Cheers

Now looking for source/s of oil leaks around front (near oil dip stick).

Can see where it is weeping - just need to figure if it is a head-off job (probably).

oil leaks out the dip stick itself!!! A common fix is a spark plug boot
cheers
Rohan

Yeah - someone told me that yesterday - suggesting a rubber thimble.

Odd design really!

Johnfm wrote:Yeah - someone told me that yesterday - suggesting a rubber thimble.

Odd design really!

Mine has a sort of rubber top hat that used to be a rubber cover for where a high tension lead connects to a spark plug. It fits better than a thimble.