[502M]

Hi Tony,

Yes they are from AutoSparks. First impressions are, they are very well made. I've got the rear one all laid in, so far I've extended the wires to the rear hatch lock, micro switch, as they were (in my particular case) a tad too short. I will need to extend the electric aerial feeds as well. But this is because on my car the aerial is on the n/s rear not the o/s

The dash and engine bay looms have a gazillion wires and nothing is labeled lol, so they will be interesting when it comes time to connect everything lol

Roland

[502M]

Hmmmm. Wiring looms, should be fun

 

[502M]

Rear ABS window finishers on

 

One of the benefits of working in a container when you want something to stick 😂

[502M]

Finally got round to doing my rear inspection hatches, went a bit off piste with this one.  Having looked at photo's of other istallations I wanted something that didn't involve undoing lots of bolts/screws to get the cover plate off.  So I decided to go with some Marine deck hatches.  They come in two parts the inner unscrews from the backing plate.  The ones I used have a 6" opening

 

Cut your hole to match flange on the backing plate   

 

 

   Bond and screw the backing plate to the hole

 

 

Et Voila!    

 

Best to make a template of the backing plate flange

 

 

 

All done.

 

There are extra benefits to the installation

1: Easy access as they just unscrew

2: Really easy to fit

3: Desgned for boats so they are watertight.

Roland

 

[502M]

 

 

 

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Well done 👍 

 

[Tailgate cap]

All sorted now.

[Tailgate cap]

Does anyone have an upper tailgate corner cap going spare?  As you look at the rear it is the one on the upper left, so opposite profile to the one in the picture.

Also can someone post a photo showing the inner tailgate caps, top and bottom?  I have done a test fit up today on my tailgate and I'm unsure how the inner caps sit in relation to the external ones.  Mine seem to be sitting too low.

Many thanks

Roland

[Kimbers and MJK on Repair Shop with a rare Lotus Item]

On 30/04/2024 at 16:12, Kimbers said:

Just been interviewed by a national newspaper which was exciting!

 

Learnt something today that I never knew.

[502M]

On 24/04/2024 at 15:43, Lozza74 said:

Hi Roland,

very 'out of the box' thinking - nice.

How smoothly does the inner run through the convoluted tubing? Is the tubing ribbed on the inside?

I did something similar but using appropriate sized plastic tubing sold for pneumatic piping. I was worried the inner would wear away the plastic, but it seems OK so far - although to be fair its on a different car that doesnt see much rain.

Richard

Hi Richard, smooth on the inside, and the inner runs through no problem

[1976 Elite restoration.]

No battens, just panels.

 

[1976 Elite restoration.]

On 09/04/2024 at 15:50, Doris the dog said:

It basically touches windscreen trim drivers side.  So no further travel possible. B

If it touches then is the blade too long?  Looking at the photo's and also the one Madmax posted it looks like the tip of the blade at rest is level with the bottom windscreen trim where it meets the A pillar trim. Looking at the picture on yours it appears to go a little further towards the corner?

To my mind, moving the arm to a higher start postion as per the photo's will give you a better sweep radius on drivers side. The only thing after that that will stop it getting there i.e hitting the drivers side trim, would be the length of the blade.

Roland

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Hi @Doris the dog,

Lets see if we can muddy the waters a bit more shall we? 😁

The following stills are from a Film/documentry taken at the lotus factory of the making of the Elite....

No1 Car driven fresh out of the factory being examined by two blokes.  Wiper on drivers side.

 

No2 Same car close up. Drivers side

 

No3. narrator saying test car driven over to the continent for extensive testing.  Looking closely it looks like a right hand drive car, but, wiper on passenger side.

 

No4 Actual footage of promtional work for launch brochure. Right hand drive car but wiper? On pass side? clearly not on drivers side

 

No5  Launch brochure on the pasenger side

 

No6 Launch brochure cover. Passenger side

 

No7 Footage of some early Jeremy Clarkson testing car round test track. Left hand drive but wiper on right!

What is the conclusion of all this extensive research?  Even Lotus couldn't make their minds up which side was best 😂😂😂

Having said that it is interesting to note that the wiper blade is never hoirizontal when at rest....😉

Roland

 

ps. Mine when I first got it

 

[502M]

A while ago in this thread I mentioned a wiper assembly modification where you could use something more flexible than the bundy tube Here it is in more detail.

These are the components.

L-R Convoluted stainless steel gas pipe (very flexible. I got my Gas tube from here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325145468146  )  The fixing nut (motor end) and the ends off your original (bent out of shape?) budy tube. 

 

Bit fuzzy, sorry. Shorten your bundy end to match the end length of the Gas tube, ish.  Using a round file, file the internal diameter of the gas pipe end until the you can gently hammer/tap in the cut bundy end.  Patience is you friend here, needs to be an interferance fit, not lose.

Like so

 

At the wheel box end once fitted it will look like this. Nice and secure

 

Now for the motor end you do the same. BUT before you tap in your cut bundy end make sure you attach the fixing nut!  You will need to file the internal small end of the nut to get it over the gas pipe end. If you come in from the small end of the nut while filing you wont interfere with the threads.  Once done it will look like this.

 

Attach one end of your newly modified assembly to the wheel box and the other end to you motor assembly, like so.  Not forgetting, of course, to grease everything thoroughly

What you now have is an assembly with a tube that is extremely easy to route round the rear of the car.

Now give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done and go and go get a cup of tea.

Roland

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Hi Doris,

Having looked at the Elite launch photo's you have it on the correct side.  I have an early '74 model and if memory serves my wheel box has a 32 tooth gear in it.  Might be worth checking yours, see what it's got?

Roland 

[1976 Elite restoration.]

You're welcome.

🤔 should be possible to make a copy from an existing one...

Roland

[1976 Elite restoration.]

You are correct Doris. No19

[502M]

26 minutes ago, EXCEL V8 said:

Your battery cable looks much thicker than mine - or is it in an extra cover?  I'm thinking of using a heavier cable too.

Pete

No extra cover Pete, it's the original one that I took off the car. Not sure what amperage it is but it's thick, held in with 1/2" P clips  The Earth lead I'll be using will be 170 amps, that arrived today will be fitted this week.

[502M]

Starting to look busier in the engine bay.  Pedal box in and pedals connected to relevant cables. Engine wiring loom laid in.  Next job is to make front brake lines.

 

Main power cable fitted along with the seatbelt strengthening plate. I will also be putting in an auxilliary earth cable (battery to commom earth on the pedal box) along there as well.

Steady progress.

Roland

[1976 Elite restoration.]

SJ £260 for an early one £239 for a later one (?) plus the usual. On these he operates a exchange policy.

[1976 Elite restoration.]

I'm putting back my refurbished servo (sjs) as we speak. Nightmare fitting the upper nuts! 

Sorry can't be of more help. Just thought I'd share 😁

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Well done on another win.

 

56 minutes ago, Doris the dog said:

Success today , I now have a working alternator.  
Stripping out my original one to see why it wasn’t put out full charging voltage , the front bearing was grumbling.  So the friends who’s building (garage) I’m using, had a spare new one but had a direct short.  
Managed to find the fault and fixed it.  
So the car has gone from an alternator dated 1974 to a new one that came with an American engine to be fitted in a customers car. 

 

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Mine isn't wired at the moment. I'm in the process of wiring everything thing up. I do have all the required components for it though.  I'll have a look when I'm down at the workshop later this week. If memory serves I think two of the rectangular holes have terminals in, but let me check.

I would be interested in seeing a photo of yours wired when done. Save me having to work it out, lol.

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Replacement Chrysler ones are available off eBay if you're interested I'll post the details.

I bought one December last year.

Roland

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364757206699

 

[1976 Elite restoration.]

Hi Doris,

Engine bay?

If so then it looks like no11 in pic

"A075M6088Z - ALTERNATOR WARNING LAMP CONTROL UNIT
Used with Chrysler 60A alternator.

Hints and Tips: This is the replacement for the Lucas warning lamp control unit. The Chrysler 60A alternators were used on the early models. They are identified by being large and having lots of cooling fins."

 

 

 

If you need a new one and order it from SJS it will not look like this.  You will get a modern equivilant which is square and looks like a relay (ask me how I know) I have a spare one...