501 returns to Norfolk for fun and frustration??!!

[Angus553]

Hi All

Due to popular request and general interest I will add this story to the list of 70's wedges under reconstruction.

Having spent the first half of last year looking at a classic car to do up, physically looking at 4 scimitars (hours on ebay car and classic etc.) nothing really fitted the bill so my second choice of Elite/Eclat got more attention.(third choice Interceptor BTW)  This particular car was talking to me though!! and I quote "save me save me"  A cheeky bid was submitted via the classified ad price and the car was mine.  It came with a full Mot, engine gearbox rear brakes propshaft radiator rebuild all documented(7k spent recently by a member on here) and also a new chassis and S/S exhaust not documented or mentioned in the advert. So the car was basically sound and needed a respray, interior and electrics looking at. So you are a Lotus Man now, as confirmed by the pics and conversations had at the 2 stops on the way home. 165 miles no problem's at all. 

Started the resto by sorting out the electrics and interior out for zero expense but many hours and it is about halfway complete LOL.

Had a starting issue firstly just couldn't start it, this was my fault and now have the technique sorted. However removing the dizzy to replace the leads was a mistake as I must've disturbed something and it just wouldn't start. Lots of whirring popping and banging (you all know what I mean) Many hours of frustration later and new  coil elec ignition cap rotor trigger wheel along with previously purchased battery plugs and leads. All combinations tried and not much luck , only a misfiring engine but atleast it was starting( along with a crazy rev counter whilst misfiring.)Stripped and cleaned the carb, new fuel filter and only a minor improvement.  My instinct was the rotor/trigger wheel was misaligned somehow so having decided to swap back the electronic ignition, what a job that is!! when replacing the rotor and trigger wheel some how it seemed to fit better and hey presto it doesn't misfire/crazy rev any longer. "Perfection" I say to myself and take my Son out for a drive in the 'posh car' as he calls it. He sits in the front as their are no rear seat belts. 2 days later and the accelerator cable snaps but Iam being very philosophical about it, ordering a new one from SJ along with some other bits as well. The upside is the car starts without the use of the accelerator now!!  Similar luck with bleeding and flushing of the brakes, all done great, take it for a short drive to  check the work err no I don't think so, it wouldn't start for 2 days!! Do1job and create 2 more seems the order of the day.  

 The resto which will be minor compared to some I have seen on here. My plan is to have it has a use and improve 2nd car.  The jobs that have been done so far are refurb brake master cylinder and servo which were working perfectly when bought.  The rear suspension will be replaced/refurbed as necessary along with a respray or half a respray to keep it in period with the rest of the car. Needless to say it has headlights which only stay down for 5-10 mins,heater not working properly and the rear wiper doesn't work(washer all good though) ……...as things progress will add info and pics and hopefully not too many pleas for help etc!!

thanks for reading Angus

 

 

 

[tom kilner]

Post us a pic Angus- sounds like you're having fun already. 😀

[Angus553]

Having  lots of fun going to the supermarket doing the weekly shop!! The boot is big enough for this as you can see. Not much to show as to works in progress though.

[Clive59]

clearly the rear wiper doesn't work...it's missing!  😁

[ChrisJ]

I was very surprised at how many suitcases go in the boot of my Excel - 5 cabin cases plus room for more squashy bags.

[mikeeech]

Very nice. Post regular updates of progress since it's always good to see an elite being improved and cared for. Welcome to the forums. I had two scimitars and they were great cars but they ruined the brand with the robin!

[tom kilner]

22 hours ago, Clive59 said:

clearly the rear wiper doesn't work...it's missing!  😁

No need for a wiper with a boot that full - never mind the visibility, the mechanism would get tangled in the tagliatelli.😀

Great to see car in practical use

[Angus553]

This resto is more of a conservation job it would seem having thought I may replace the vacuum pods with electric motors.

So having fixed many minor  issues, tackled the headlight problem.(MJK was not impressed when he saw it at the Bird in hand lol)

The near light stayed down for 4.5 mins and the offside one for 7 mins and both fully up in ten mins. Not good, only just enough time to get out of the petrol station "looking cool"

Having stripped out the whole system the problem was inevitably the 2 vacuum pods in the front below the light. Managed to break both bolts off in the removal but replaced with new ones and filled the large holes with fibreglass strands and mesh along with lots of resin. Then painted black with waterproof paint.

Hey presto.....nearside stays down for 12 hours and offside for 22 hours and fully up in 26 hours. So it is now factory spec again plus a bit extra.......well pleased.

Managed to break the actuator which is now araldited back together (working though) so if anyone has a spare one Iam definitely interested.

 

[Tony D]

Nice solution. I've done the same, but along way from being able to test currently.

Not sure what you mean by "Actuator". I'd describe these pods as actuators, so clearly you don't mean that.  Can you give another clue to what you're looking for..

Tony

[Angus553]

1 hour ago, Tony D said:

Nice solution. I've done the same, but along way from being able to test currently.

Not sure what you mean by "Actuator". I'd describe these pods as actuators, so clearly you don't mean that.  Can you give another clue to what you're looking for..

Tony

 

1 hour ago, Tony D said:

Nice solution. I've done the same, but along way from being able to test currently.

Not sure what you mean by "Actuator". I'd describe these pods as actuators, so clearly you don't mean that.  Can you give another clue to what you're looking for..

Tony

 

1 hour ago, Tony D said:

Nice solution. I've done the same, but along way from being able to test currently.

Not sure what you mean by "Actuator". I'd describe these pods as actuators, so clearly you don't mean that.  Can you give another clue to what you're looking for..

Tony

My mistake........ Should've been electrically operated headlight vacuum solenoid.

[Doris the dog]

I might have one of them here in Norfolk. As I’m converting to Mazda electric motors although never had the vacuum one up and running.  

[Doris the dog]

Is this what you’re after? 

[Angus553]

Yes the top picture is what i've broken and the second one is what got the fibre glass treatment. Mine are more brass coloured and have an ali bar at the end to stop the needle pinging out but basically its the same part. 

[Doris the dog]

10 minutes ago, Angus553 said:

Yes the top picture is what i've broken and the second one is what got the fibre glass treatment. Mine are more brass coloured and have an ali bar at the end to stop the needle pinging out but basically its the same part. 

Yours if you need one. 

[Angus553]

On 04/05/2020 at 12:55, Tony D said:

Nice solution. I've done the same, but along way from being able to test currently.

Not sure what you mean by "Actuator". I'd describe these pods as actuators, so clearly you don't mean that.  Can you give another clue to what you're looking for..

Tony

Apologies seems like I didnt reply to this..... Well it was the solenoid valve that got broken and fixed but alas more messing about has meant the vacuum cylinder no longer is air tight having previously been fibreglassed over and was working really well. The rubber inside now doesnt hold any air so unfortunately along with the unsynched headlights now needs to be replaced with MX5 motors. 

Edited May 19, 2021 by Angus553
info

[Angus553]

Apart from not fixing the headlights have done plenty of other jobs recently. 

New spark plugs again....BP6ES, otter switch seal and red hemetite to cure small leak,  gearbox reversing switch and replaced oil,replaced differential oil, repaired o/s mirror, made new headlining front and rear but not fitted yet, all interior lights working, adjusted both doors and rear hatch to fit much better than previously, have fixed the rear wiper motor by replacing the the broken brushes and springs and rewired it all with basically components from an old shower unit, but the worm drive and tube are bound solid and wont budge and the 8 pin wiper switch is not working at all, handbrake cable unceased and working well, got the heater working by replacing the relays and unjamming the motor.......I know their is more but cant remember atm.                                                       

 

[EXCEL V8]

This is how I've mounted mine, if it helps.  Obviously the bolts are too long in this photo - this was just a test fit (item on left is electric vacuum pump for brake servo/HVAC).  Bit at the bottom is the "down stop".

 

And this is the hole to allow manual raising:

 

Pete

[Angus553]

Looks pretty good to me.

[Straker]

That’s a very neat solution using the crash panels

[EXCEL V8]

Thanks guys!  The later Excel doesn't push/pull the headlight pods from the middle of the cross-bar so locating the motor off to the side a bit should not cause any probs.  I'm using the bits from an old pair of Excel pods as well, with a bit of extra reinforcing.

Pete

[Angus553]

Hi All, especially Doris the dog and Black eclat for the bespoke bracket and the tech info and photos. Have just fitted my MX5 headlight motors and after several fittings they both work in sync sitting correctly when raised and lowered. Having no welder had to adapt the motor arm and bracket accordingly. 

The motor arm was elongated by 1.9mm using 22mm copper pipe flattened in a vice,and the M6 Rod was eventually working correctly at 20.5mm between the centre of each joint. Parts used were 6mm rod 6mm ball joint m6-m10 adaptor  and a m10 rose joint. Wiring was completed using 2 30amp fuses and 2 relays plus many hours of refitting and adjusting until it all worked correctly. Total cost around £100.

[Doris the dog]

Well done Angus. Did you have to mod the brackets much ? Will be after your help on the wiring at some stage. 

[Doris the dog]

Angus did you wire light motors through original dash switch?

[Angus553]

Yes it all works as per the original set up on the dash switch and the column main beam. Ran 2 permanent lives off the starter junction under the air filter box, with 2 30amp fuses running to each headlight recess. Connected the live and the original wiring to a relay switch as per one of the black eclat wiring diagrams. (3 possible options to choose from on here.)  The bracket did have to be adjusted by bending the down buffer back around 1 cm, but fitted well to floor and back of the recess. Have got the relays and fuses to get your lights wired up and can help with that. The Mx5 motors work really fast compared to old vacuum system. 

Edited December 17, 2021 by Angus553
Extra info

[Angus553]

Just a quick update.

The headlining is in front and back and the 4 side panels.  The beige material which matched the original quite closely was glued to 2 pieces of 2mm proplex sheet. Using the original screws but not the original circular fittings as missing/rusty. The use of tile edge trim and 40mm mini trunking and some new clips seems to have worked nicely(for now anyway). Hopefully sorted the exhaust with a new manifold gasket and nuts to suit.  A new servo check valve has cured the intermittent ticking and when the old one was removed it had an intermiitent rattle.