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Click here to see my newest project
UPDATE: The Elan was sold back in March, 2005. It now resides in California with the new owner, who
is very pleased with his purchase. Shortly after it was sold, it was featured on the cover of the May, 2005 issue of
Hemmings Motor News.
This car accelerates, handles, and brakes very well, most likely better than new. Much attention was paid to originality,
but 'sympathetic' upgrades were carried out where it made sense. It's a great car, but I now have other priorities.
It would be hard to find one much nicer!
Car has been completely disassembled and reassembled, with all components either refurbished or replaced as follows:
- New Lotus galvanized chassis.
- Rebuilt engine to 'Sprint' specification including new Hepolite Powermax .020" over pistons, modern rings, new 'big' valves,
valve springs, valve guides, reground cams, stellite valve seats, Dave Bean cartridge water pump, and all seals/gaskets.
Cams degreed by Steve Smith of Twin Cam Sportcars in Sarasota, Florida.
- Powder coated cam cover, oil pan, and other engine accessories.
- New UK-specification distributor with mechanical advance and Petronix breakerless ignition.
- RD Enterprises gear-reduction starter.
- Stromberg carbs rebuilt to UK-spec by Joe Curto, including new butterflies/shafts.
- UK-spec intake manifold, big improvement over US-spec crossover pipes. Almost impossible to find now.
- Stainless steel reproduction of UK-spec factory headers/exhuast system by SS exhausts in the UK.
- New fuel pump with Aeroquip hose from tank to pump.
- New oil pump.
- New OEM heater valve. Can actually be opened/closed from cockpit (a rarity on most Elans).
- All cables replaced.
- New ring gear, heavy-duty clutch disc, pressure plate, and throwout bearing.
- Rebuilt OE generator.
- New Lucas 'bumblebee' plug wires with 'Champion' ends.
- Transmission rebuilt including new bearings/seals. Transmission is semi-close ratio type.
- Early Elan-style gear lever (no sloppy bushing). Much nicer than standard S4 unit.
- 3.77:1 differential rebuilt with new outer bearings/seals.
- CV-joint drive axle conversion. Much better than original Rotoflex couplings.
- All suspension components disassembled, bead blasted, power coated, and refurbished with new bushings.
- Spyder front anti-roll bar installed. Bigger than OE unit.
- New OEM 'Armstrong' front shock/rear strut assemblies.
- Steering rack refurbished in the UK by 'Classicar Automotive', including new pinion gear, all seals, gaiters, rod ends,
and body powder coated. New rack mounting bushings and steering column universal joint installed.
- Brake calipers rebuilt in the UK by 'Classicar Automotive'. This included complete disassembly, stripping, cadmium
plating, new pistons, seals, and bench tested to ensure proper operation.
- All new custom fabricated stainless steel brake piping, including ss fittings.
- Braided stainless steel brake hoses.
- Brake master cylinder rebuilt/sleeved by White Post Restorations.
- New m/c reservoir.
- New clutch master and slave cylinders, with new braided ss hose.
- 3 row re-cored radiator with modern thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan.
- Heater core cleaned out and pressure tested. All heater sheet metal powder coated.
- Complete new wiring loom from the unfairly-named 'Auto Sparks' company in the UK.
- All Lucas electrical components replaced with new. This includes fuse block, voltage regulator, ignition switch,
lighting, and so forth.
- Gauges rebuilt/restored.
- New 'Prestige Autowood' dashboard with 'Carpathian Elm Burl' veneer. Much better than OEM dash, with marine-grade
plywood, radio delete plate, lettering clear-coated over, all polished to a piano finish. Stunning!
- New 'Arrow' rocker switches, as original. These are now impossible to obtain.
- Original 'Colin Chapman' steering wheel recovered with leather in the UK. Powder coated hub.
- Powder coated steering column housing with new bushings installed.
- All wheel bearings replaced. Hubs powder coated. Stub axles magnafluxed to check for stress cracks.
- New Panasport wheels with new 3-eared knock-off nuts.
- Custom fabricated knock-off removal socket and breaker bar included. Doesn't damage wheels or knock-offs but secures
wheels much better than whacking with original copper/rawhide-faced hammer.
- Bridgestone RE92 165/65 x 13 tires.
- Original steel wheels included. Stripped, trued, and powder coated.
- Custom fabricated aluminum fuel cell by 'Fuel Safe'. Exact shape of OEM tank, but has bladder, foam, electronic
level sensor, check valve on vent, and check flap at filler neck. Fills through original fuel filler. Stainless
steel mounting studs/nuts slightly larger than original (so they don't corrode and break off - like the originals!).
- Body completely stripped, repaired, and repainted.
- New bumpers.
- New Robbins top in OE-style 'British Everflex' vinyl.
- Refurbished original top frame, stripped and powder coated original gray color.
- All new OEM-style carpet and felt underlayment. New backing fabricated for door surrounds and rear scuttle.
- Seats completely stripped, frames repaired/dipped/powder coated, and retrimmed with OEM vinyl. Used proper 'Callow
& Maddox Bros.' PVC 'basket weave' inserts, which have dielectrically welded 'seams' as original. New seat tracks
with stainless steel hardware.
- 'Spyder' roll-over bar with headrests. Although unused when I bought it, I had it stripped and powder
coated before installation. Side intrusion bars are included, but not installed.
- 'Willans' 4-point harnesses. Original 'Kangol-Magnet' seat belts refurbished, but not used. Use only if you're
nuts!
- Dash pad removed and completely refurbished by 'Just Dashes' in California. Included stripping of old vinyl, repair
of original foam, and new vinyl molded on. Better than new?
- Door panels recovered in original material.
- New OEM interior door handles.
- All chrome replated or parts replaced with new OEM.
- New electric window hardware and rebuilt motors. New window felt.
- New windscreen gasket/trim from 'Mick Miller' in the UK.
- Aluminum bits re-anodized.
- New Talbot Jr. mirror. $$$!
- New windscreen rear view mirror.
- Lucas European NOS headlights as supplied by Lotus on European-market Elans.
- UK-style amber/red/white tail lamp lenses and new lamp housings/gaskets.
- New 'Lotus' and 'Elan' badges, plus 'L-O-T-U-S' letters on boot lid.
- Air horns, same brand as OEM optional equipment. Original air horns/compressor available, but not recommended.
- If you can think of it, it's been replaced or refurbished. There's simply too much to list.
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