New Owner '69 S4 - Unravelling the Mystery
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Post by: AHM » Tue Nov 18, 2014 7:23 am
Welcome John,
That looks like an interesting project!
Just to clarify 2 stripes denotes a 'D' Type Super SE cam - There is a good book by Miles Wilkins that has just been reprinted.
You want to get a boot on that alternator wire - It is direct to the battery!
That looks like an interesting project!
Just to clarify 2 stripes denotes a 'D' Type Super SE cam - There is a good book by Miles Wilkins that has just been reprinted.
You want to get a boot on that alternator wire - It is direct to the battery!
- AHM
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Post by: Famous Frank » Tue Nov 18, 2014 4:13 pm
AHM, good eyes! I was looking at the headers so closely, I totally missed it already has a nice alternator. Good catch with the boot!
Famous Frank
67 Elan Coupe
66 Elan S2 SE
65 Elan S2
65 Elan 26R
69 S2 Europa
06 Elise
67 Barracuda
67 Elan Coupe
66 Elan S2 SE
65 Elan S2
65 Elan 26R
69 S2 Europa
06 Elise
67 Barracuda
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Post by: jbeach » Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:44 pm
AHM, thanks for catching the alternator wire - I'll boot it at my first opportunity!
Frank, your post perfectly supplements the solid information already provided - You are speaking my language on all of this!
It looks fairly certain Dave Bean did the block upgrade in the 80s. I read somewhere they sold a well-designed set of headers back then engineered for fast-road use and wonder if these came from Bean with the engine rebuild.
Your recommendation I have the cams "degreed" is fantastic. I've forwarded your post to my mechanic (he'll love that, I'm sure) and plan to have him degree the cams as he's putting everything back together (hopefully this week). I'll talk to him about installing the secondary breather tube when we discuss degreeing.
It looks like the ARP rod bolts are an engine-out operation. Because I only have the head off now, I'm leaving that for another time. But I like your recommendation and will implement it when I have the chance.
Finally, I'm totally with you on the CV/rear axle replacement! That's number one on my list of larger projects and I'm planning to tackle that myself in December/January.
Rohan, thanks again for the additional info. Since my last post my mechanic has measured the valves and it appears they were not upgraded to "big valve" spec when the Sprint cams were installed. While I consider that odd, I've read the larger intake valves don't yield a dramatic power increase, so maybe it was omitted as a cost-saving measure. If I were doing all of the other work, I believe I'd have sprung for the big valves too, but the previous, previous owner must have decided differently.
Thanks to all - I'm truly experiencing the value of this forum!
best,
John
Frank, your post perfectly supplements the solid information already provided - You are speaking my language on all of this!
It looks fairly certain Dave Bean did the block upgrade in the 80s. I read somewhere they sold a well-designed set of headers back then engineered for fast-road use and wonder if these came from Bean with the engine rebuild.
Your recommendation I have the cams "degreed" is fantastic. I've forwarded your post to my mechanic (he'll love that, I'm sure) and plan to have him degree the cams as he's putting everything back together (hopefully this week). I'll talk to him about installing the secondary breather tube when we discuss degreeing.
It looks like the ARP rod bolts are an engine-out operation. Because I only have the head off now, I'm leaving that for another time. But I like your recommendation and will implement it when I have the chance.
Finally, I'm totally with you on the CV/rear axle replacement! That's number one on my list of larger projects and I'm planning to tackle that myself in December/January.
Rohan, thanks again for the additional info. Since my last post my mechanic has measured the valves and it appears they were not upgraded to "big valve" spec when the Sprint cams were installed. While I consider that odd, I've read the larger intake valves don't yield a dramatic power increase, so maybe it was omitted as a cost-saving measure. If I were doing all of the other work, I believe I'd have sprung for the big valves too, but the previous, previous owner must have decided differently.
Thanks to all - I'm truly experiencing the value of this forum!
best,
John
John Beach
'69 Elan S4 DHC - A Work in Progress
'69 Elan S4 DHC - A Work in Progress
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Post by: jbeach » Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:54 pm
Frank,
By the way, did you replaced your oil dipstick with a little red cap? I really like that idea, as I'm losing some oil out of my dipstick hole. Any suggestions on finding a cap that fits?
Best,
John
By the way, did you replaced your oil dipstick with a little red cap? I really like that idea, as I'm losing some oil out of my dipstick hole. Any suggestions on finding a cap that fits?
Best,
John
John Beach
'69 Elan S4 DHC - A Work in Progress
'69 Elan S4 DHC - A Work in Progress
- jbeach
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Post by: mbell » Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:34 pm
Try a "vacuum cap" most parts places should have a multi pack with various sizes and colors. I've been thinking of adding one onto my dip stick but one of the many jobs I've not quite got around to...
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
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Post by: Famous Frank » Wed Nov 19, 2014 5:00 am
John, you're having way too much fun doing this!!! Enjoy, because as they say, "the journey is as much fun as the destination!"
Ha! The red cap is just in there because we put it there as the engine came off the dyno and I had to transport it back to Atlanta. It will be replaced with a regular dipstick. As you can see, it has red covers on the carbs too!
Oh, a little more carb info. Up to the 150 HP mark, Strombergs can work as good as the 40 DCOE Webers. But over 160 HP, you would have to exchange the 40 DCOE's for 45 DCOE's. It's never easy but it's fun!
Ha! The red cap is just in there because we put it there as the engine came off the dyno and I had to transport it back to Atlanta. It will be replaced with a regular dipstick. As you can see, it has red covers on the carbs too!
Oh, a little more carb info. Up to the 150 HP mark, Strombergs can work as good as the 40 DCOE Webers. But over 160 HP, you would have to exchange the 40 DCOE's for 45 DCOE's. It's never easy but it's fun!
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Famous Frank
67 Elan Coupe
66 Elan S2 SE
65 Elan S2
65 Elan 26R
69 S2 Europa
06 Elise
67 Barracuda
67 Elan Coupe
66 Elan S2 SE
65 Elan S2
65 Elan 26R
69 S2 Europa
06 Elise
67 Barracuda
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Post by: jbeach » Thu Nov 20, 2014 1:02 am
Frank,
I'll be perfectly content with a good 130 (or so) HP. Let's see if degreeing the cams can get us there!
And, yes, so far I'm having a blast. Honestly, mostly because of the great help I'm receiving here.
Many thanks to you all,
John
I'll be perfectly content with a good 130 (or so) HP. Let's see if degreeing the cams can get us there!
And, yes, so far I'm having a blast. Honestly, mostly because of the great help I'm receiving here.
Many thanks to you all,
John
John Beach
'69 Elan S4 DHC - A Work in Progress
'69 Elan S4 DHC - A Work in Progress
- jbeach
- Second Gear
- Posts: 187
- Joined: 10 Nov 2014
40 posts
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