Restoring my Elite 503

[SimonOmeara]

I am new to the forum and asked if anyone had fitted the body of an Elite to the chassis with the engine fitted, I thought I would show some pictures so far as Barry luvs pictures..

I bought the car a couple of years ago and have been restoring it at weekends, I have the chassis finished with engine and gear box installed.

Also rebuilt the heater/air-con unit as it was rotten and just didn't work.

Just working on the body which is nearly done hence the question about

fitting it.

 

 

[oilmagnet477]

Impressive stuff Simon - looking great.

I think you need to keep the engine mountings loose and the ancillaries off but pretty sure it does fit over the top.

Well done Sir

[Testdriver]

looks fantastic so far, congrats!

[Berend72]

Fantastic!!! Great colour by the way. 

[silverfrost]

Well done Simon,  looks like a top job so far on the restoration 

[Elite 4.9]

Great job there...and great example of what restoration means. lots of work rewards one for like new condition. love it !

[Steve V8]

Fantastic job @SimonOmeara I was reading a thread last night regarding this, apparently removal of the lower cam cover will allow the body to fit over the engine whilst installed.

Good luck. Steve 

[SimonOmeara]

21 hours ago, Steve V8 said:

Fantastic job @SimonOmeara I was reading a thread last night regarding this, apparently removal of the lower cam cover will allow the body to fit over the engine whilst installed.

Good luck. Steve 

Hi Steve, saw a video of them putting the body on in the factory and the dropped the body over at angle, taking the cam over off is good idea.

[SimonOmeara]

Designed a bracket for MX5 lift motors for the head lights if anyone wants the CAD/drawings. It fixes through the original vacuum mounting hole, had a set laser cut.

Body is finished and is off to be sprayed in the next week or so. I stripped it back to the gelcoat filled any holes etc. with epoxy filler and finished with a dusting of acid etch primer, it had a new nose at some point so took a while to get that looking correct.

Edited March 14, 2017 by SimonOmeara
grammer

[oilmagnet477]

Simon, Looking great. I have the MX5 motors so would love the details for the bracket - to make the conversion as easy as possible.

Would be most grateful

Regards

Ant

[silverfrost]

Great idea Simon on the MX5 lights,  I know it has been done before, but top bloke for taking the time to produce a proper bracket and offer the CAD drawings up to the folks on here   

[Testdriver]

I'm interested as well as I'm planning to do a conversion. Would be a great help to have the CAD files. Thanks!

 

[silverfrost]

Just looking at the first picture of the car in its blue paint, and the bodyshell stripped down which looks spot on prep wise btw,  Have you de seamed the elite, i.e got rid of the waistband plastic trim bit as the pictures look seamless ?

[oilmagnet477]

Dan - look at photo 2 - front wing - seam is still visible?

[SimonOmeara]

Here is the drawing for the MX5 lift motor bracket in PDF format, it wont or doesn't seem to let upload the DWG file so I think that would need to be emailed

maybe.

 

CONVERSION for LOTUS PIVOTING HEAD LAMP PODS.pdf

[Clive59]

I am doing a similar thing with Honda Accord motors, and so far so good. Your drawings compare with my seat of the pants measurements, namely the 100mm rise length. Do the Mazda motors go full circle or half forward/reverse? I need to get something working urgently, so it is not fully developed for easy installation(Lotus tradition?). The motors point down too, so can add a hole with a cover easily like on the S2 in case of failure for manual lift. Just screwed them straight into the wood with existing bracket.

[silverfrost]

56 minutes ago, oilmagnet477 said:

Dan - look at photo 2 - front wing - seam is still visible?

Ah must be hidden in the white as it looked as if they had been sanded back,  My mistake 

[Testdriver]

Thanks for the pdf!

Yes, it should be 100mm but 96mm effectively, there is a thread in the german forum http://www.lotus-forum.de/WBB/index.php/Thread/15366-Ein-neuer-Elite-75-sagt-Guten-Tag/ scroll about 2/3 down for the drawings

He also points out that the speed of the electric motor is important: most motors are 5mm/sec. which would be 20 seconds for 100mm. He installed faster ones with 20mm/sec which then is 5 seconds to lift the lights. 

Not sure about the Mazda, but if I'm not completely mistaken my MX-5 NA could rise the lights within 1 second or so...

[Clive59]

5mm/sec would be for some linear motors? My motors seem to lift in less than 2 secs.

Saw an interesting article about a guy using linear motors for a Corvette, but he seemed to have much better access underneath which we don't have.

[Testdriver]

yes, he's talking about linear motors with 20mm/sec.

[Farmer Bob]

Hats off Simon, you have taken your restoration to another level ! With everything so perfect why use the MX5 motors, surely the vacuum system would work? 

Bob

[SimonOmeara]

46 minutes ago, Farmer Bob said:

Hats off Simon, you have taken your restoration to another level ! With everything so perfect why use the MX5 motors, surely the vacuum system would work? 

Bob

Hi Bob, I just don't like them popping up after a while however well your pipes are sealed, plus the vacuum pod things are very tired. Your car looks great not looking forward to the windows or doors to be honest.

Edited March 15, 2017 by SimonOmeara

[SimonOmeara]

Here is a few more pictures of the progress so far, lost a month or so due to re-spray issues...

I just don't like the plastic grill on the bonnet so I have made one from aluminium which polished will

look like the rest of the trim. Quite like it but 100% sure?

[TAR]

Loving your restoration. I've just aquired a 1978 503 which needs lots of love. I'll use your thread as inspiration.

 

[silverfrost]

Stunning work on that engine bay and front suspension.   This really is going to be probably the nicest elite on the roads.