Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

willskoda · Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 3

I tried this question out elsewhere but as yet still don't have an answer, which I find a little hard to believe! Anyway here is a direct copy and paste

Firstly let me introduce myself a little. I come to you from a number of other car forums, I always use the same name; you can find me on Briskoda, Ford Ka Owners Club and Detailing World. I would introduce myself and the car except right this minute I don't know enough about it!

We own a Lotus Elan 1600 which I believe is an S1 but it could be an S2, I need to check. We have owned it for many years but it has remained stood for the last 15 and untouched. It has not been preserved with anything protective in anyway.

What I would like to know is - where do I start in order to get this thing back on the road?? Right now there are a load of old carpets over it! I imagine all the fluids will be rotten and a number of things will have seized up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Very Happy

victor 101 · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 446 Location: East Yorkshire

Hi, where you start depends on what you find when you remove the carpets that cover it. Being a Lotus the body will be fibre glass so no rust problems, open the doors and see what state the interior is in, if that looks half tidy you might want to put a fresh battery on it and see what works and what doesn't, (dont try and start it at this stage). After that it's check the underneath. While your doing all that, take a few pic's and post them for other forum members to view.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Sorry about the lack of response but welcome to the forum. I suspect other forum members will have reacted the same as me on reading your question.
Namely, that there is no correct answer to the question. No doubt there will be quite a lot of items requiring attention in all sorts of areas. There is much truth in the saying "use it or lose it!"

Just start working on what ever area takes your fancy. Once you have made progress with one area you will gain enthusiasm to investigate others.

If it were me I would want to get the engine running first but it would probably be a good idea to take the sump off first and check whether any water has got it there. Take some of the bearing caps off and check whether there is any corrosion in there. Whilst underneath turn the crank over to let you see the condition of the bores. If all looks well, put it back together and squirt some oil into each plug hole. The fuel system could be a gummed up so
the Webers might need some dismantling but it's probably worth just trying it. Petrol in the tank will probably be stale so drain it and fill anew.

I could drivvel on like this but perhaps you'd rather rub down the paint
work or check out the brakes. It doesn't matter where you start.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

RobMoore · Joined: 16 Jan 2011 Posts: 105 Location: Peterlee

If it were me I would get the engine running, then remove it and the gearbox. Then I would look at freeing off the brakes to make it easier to move it about the work area.
tbh I would free the brakes off 1st for that reason.
Then take out the seats, carpets etc to get a better idea of the the full extent of work required. then its a matter of deciding where you want to start.
Some people will take a sytematic approach whilst other will move about the car doing bits here and there.

mid · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 136 Location: Northampton

what ever order your decide, take loads of photo's along the way - 1, it gives us something to look at and 2, makes it a hell of a lot easier to remember how it all goes back together!

scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

If its in a bad way I would start by a clean up to see what you got. A wash then try to dry it all out. My Lotus seats looked dead but came up a treat. Where are you based?

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!!

nqtraderman · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject:

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/

seems a good place to start
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Owner of a 1953 Sunbeam Alpine

willskoda · Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 3

Thanks for the response guys, I've no real plans to start the restoration yet but I wanted to know some ideas about what I needed to consider doing to start such a project! Thanks for the link to the Lotus forum and the car is based north of Bradford for he who asked. Thanks again everyone, you've given me some food for thought!