Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi Jono, looks like great progress, well done!! Regarding calipers, stainless pistons are a great plan, but if you separate the caliper halves do be careful to get the correct bolts to re-assemble and also to torque them correctly. They are highly stressed and were tightened to a precise torque/angle. I think I have the original assembly drawings somewhere, I’ll try to find them.

Regards, Jonathan

Hi Jon, I am way out of touch with who makes and sells stainless brake pistons. It is not a difficult job, and back in the day I made my own with excellent results. I would have a word with Monkey before parting with your cash.
Happy Christmas
Chris

Chris wrote:Hi Jon, I am way out of touch with who makes and sells stainless brake pistons. It is not a difficult job, and back in the day I made my own with excellent results. I would have a word with Monkey before parting with your cash.
Happy Christmas
Chris

Hi Chris - Happy Christmas to you too!

I bought new pistons from SJ Sportscars and they weren't to expensive to be fair - on average about £10 each so I bit the bullet.

However you can probably help with a plater for the caliper bodies - Lee said you might know a good firm in the NE?

Cheers

Jon

Hi again Jon. The son of one of flying pals, Ben Morris who used to plate in Carlisle, and now I believe, has a business in the East. Whilst in Carlisle he did some tip top plating for me. I will try to get More info. For you.
Blue skies Chris

Thanks again Chris, and for our chat earlier.

Cheers

Jon

I've spent the last few weeks working on the underside of the car so that I can reunite it with the chassis in readiness for it going off for painting around early Spring.

For what was an expensive car I have always been appalled at the way in which Lotus finished (or didn't finish) the inside of the wheel arches by leaving lots of open flanges and odd creases/dirt traps. I decided to remedy that by cutting them off and glassing in. The whole front of the shell feels so much more rigid now.

I've almost finished the underside now and applied 6 litres of Gravitex for good measure - I will finish it with satin black paint before the chassis goes back on. I made new closure plates using some 1.5mm galv sheet I got from a local salvage yard for a tenner - sealed the joints with Tigerseal.

The front chassis upright bobbins had become loose so these were ground out and re glassed in - did on one side first to keep them in the correct location then ground out and did the other side.

Lovely job, you're inspiring me to get going, I've put off work over the winter.

Mind you it doesn't add lightness!

Best
Mike

you're right about the lightness Mike but I have this for that!

Bit of an update - I re-fitted the chassis over the weekend and it feels like a milestone.

In theory re fitting an existing chassis should be straight foward but, no, there was much shuffling and fiddling (and some swearing) to get all the holes to line up.

Got there in the end though and the next stop is the paint shop. I will strip the engine next.

Bit of an update,

The shell is painted and back with me now - looks lovely.

Engine rebuilt and head back from machine shop - new guides, new seats and new valves and a light skim. Just need to reunite them now and time in the cams.

I had the wheels powder coated and they look superb, just awaiting refurbished spinner from Sue now (together with headlining and other bits).

I got the rear bumper back from Derby Plating and the roof drain channels - the usual superb work. So pleased I've left the front bumper and door frames with them - lots of dosh but 'don't spoil the ship' and all that!

Door hinges re bushed and lovely, pedal box - bushed and a new spindle made in stainless, just need to paint and re fit now.

I also sourced a repro moustache from Vince Hayden - trousers down jobbie but it looks to be nice quality and fits

I'll post up some pics when I've re sized them.

Jon

Hi

Great work, and exciting times. I am in the process of using gravitex on the stripped interior of my plus 2. I will them proceed to the underside as you have. Will you add any modern sound deadening material? Also what colour did you paint the car?

All the best

Berni

Looks like great progress Jono.

Your underbody prep looks great. I had not heard of Gravitex before and it does make the underside look very neat.

Did you use this on VRH314H or is it something else?

Cheers

Alistair

Hi Alistair - yes VRH was done with Gravitex too, including the interior of the shell.

Berni - I will using 1/2" jute sound deadening inside the car, as per original as available from Woolies

Some photos of progress so far.

The car came without any bumpers and a forum member kindly donated a rear bumper which as you can see needed a fair bit of patching with the MIG, however Derby Plating made a lovely job of re plating it for me

Sorry for the sideways photos - this happens when I use the Iphone and re size them for the forum...even after I subsequently rotate them

Jono, that looks amazing!!! The body is so flat and smooth, its going to look superb! Good job on the bumper as well, I'm about to try the same thing. I have had a Riley Elf bumper donated plus another very scabby one and so I will make a jig from my existing bumper and then fabricate a 'new' one, then off to the platers. When it returns I'll then get my original one plated, as its in reasonable condition (no holes or dents) and then I'll have the original plus a spare. Looking forward to seeing your car come together, it will be rather special I would say!

Regards, Jonathan