Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[scott_budds]

Thanks everyone! I hope you are all able to get into the garage and do a bit too!. The weather looks like its turned a bit and I have been doing lots of work lately...lots of spending on new bits too ouch!

I have been working trying to sort coolant pipes and conecting electical cables...now where does this one go etc.

More pics to follow soon.

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[scott_budds]

Hi people I have been working still on my project. Ive been a bit skint lately so been trying to do the cheaper of free jobs at the moment! I have been painting my wing mirrors so that's been good learning how to do it so when I have to spray my rear bonnet lid I will have a a little spraying experience!

I have started removing the front suspension all looks very rusty here so its a job to clean it all up to see what can be used and what needs replacing.
01a$








Although all these bits look rusty or broken the underside of the car and the chassis look very good!



I have had the rad repaired just need to sort out the new 3 cooling fans I need.


Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[scott_budds]

Been a while chaps but I have been making some progress!

Rusty old parts turned in to shiny shiny parts!







Got a box of new parts seals etc to fit.




I had my Rad re-corded



And I finally got my exhaust pipe fitted on the old girl! Boy it was cold out here last night!




Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[Car-Nut]

Buddsy,

You are brave chap working out there these nights it must have been freezing it was -5 this morning
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Car-Nut
'62 S1 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 FHC
'70 420G - 13th from last RHD
'70 420G - 17th from last RHD

[scott_budds]

My project has been going on too long! I am motivated to get out there and do what I can!!

Buddsy
_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[JC T ONE]

Good to see the progress on your Lotus

Nice plating, on the suspension / brake parts
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http://www.eurods.eu/wp/index.html

[scott_budds]

Well just a little update so you chaps didn't think I was being lazy!

I removed the old rad fans which were actually Fiesta Mk1 fans and replaced them with one from America by a make called Tripac. There was a little amount of fettling as I had to remove the lugs from the fan outside with the linisher and Dremmel.







Once they were fitted in the shroud I was able to fit them to the Rad



The rad was then fitted to the holding tray along with the air con rad and the oil cooler.





It was then a bit of a job lifting the assembly back into position and connecting the new hoses. But got there after a while.





Nothing else for it but I had to splash out on the new suspension parts I needed. They do look nice and shiny though!





Well that's all for now people. Oh and one thing I have learnt...do not remove a suspension spring without spring compressors! I had one of those "I should really use compressors before I try to undo thi...BONG!!" moments which resulted in missing skin from two fingers and a big black thumb nail!

Cheers all

Buddsy
_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[Rick]

Good stuff, are Lotus keen to help owners of their older models or did the parts come from a specialist? The company seems to be having a bit of a rough time of things right now.

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[scott_budds]

Actually Lotus are the best company in the world for older models. They really are top. If I get stuck I ask the question on the Lotus forum. If that draws a blank I can chat to a chap at the factory who knows all! Brian Angus they call him Mr.Esprit. He not only know what changes were made and when but why too! They recently re done the Spring and Damper programme with new spec polyy bushes Bilstien dampers and Eibach springs using new technology and physically fitted a hand full of cars and put them round their Test track to get the best set up! Servicing for older cars at the factory is £50.00 per hour...Brian sometimes pops along for a pint with the Norfolk Lotus group at the Angel @ Larling. A real nice chap and if something becomes unavailable they look to see if its worth get a btach remade for us owners.

Things have been a bit crazy at the factory of late but there has been some real good stuff coming out. The test track is excellent I I highly recommend their driving academy (http://lotusdrivingacademy.com/ ) if you want to learn a bit! The new 3.5l V6 Exige is a unbelievable little monster with rave reviews. Dany Bahar was sacked yesteday and Mr Aslam Farikullah is now in charge. Time will tell their futre but I think if they get some money behind them they are in a good position. For all the friends who work there I do hope so!

Buddsy
_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[JC T ONE]

[scott_budds]

Well I got of lightly!

The pipes look a exposed but there is a lower spoiler that covers those up. There is also a flat under car tray spoiler too which helps make the bottom of the car flat for the Lotus "ground affect" too.

Buddsy
_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[scott_budds]

Hi chaps

Well Ive been pretty busy with fitting the front suspension, brakes and brake pipes. I then used some of the underseal to clean the inside of the wheel arches too. I think I am now ready to fit the front wheels so I can push her out to give a wash before I start to fit the front spoiler & bumper.









Buddsy
_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[scott_budds]

Hi chaps

Well Ive been pretty busy with fitting the front suspension, brakes and brake pipes. I then used some of the underseal to clean the inside of the wheel arches too. I think I am now ready to fit the front wheels so I can push her out to give a wash before I start to fit the front spoiler & bumper.









Buddsy
_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[scott_budds]

Well still plodding along! I was trying to bleed the brakes last night and was having no luck! I thought I would use the Easibleed thing but I dont have a cap to fit the master cylinder. It is a very old kit so the right lid could have been lost?

Any way I fitted the front bumper I have sprayed myself. Its not too bad a job still needs to be cut and polished. There is a bit of colour difference between the old and new paintwork but that was expected. At some point when every thing else is sorted maybe I will be able to get a full respray but for the time being Im hoping it will get me by. Luckily the front bumper & spoiler are quite low down so Im hoping you dont see them too much!!








_________________
Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[ukdave2002]

Its looking good

Red paint is the hardest colour to match especially when its a few years old. That said your paint supplier should be able to mix it to matched the aged original.

Dave