Restoring my Elite 503

[soldave]

13 hours ago, SimonOmeara said:

Engine tuned and carbs balanced today by a local company Wolves Tuning, running sweet as a nut.

Damn that sounds silky smooth. Carb balancing and carb tuning you say? Maybe I need someone to take a look at mine too.

[johnpwalsh]

Just done mine on the 501, not too bad either.

 

[SimonOmeara]

Drove the car first time today well I say that 15 yards out the garage then to find it wouldn't  go into reverse.

I adjusted the clutch but no reverse, so after 4 hours of sweat tears & panic I called Ken the bloke who rebuilt  the gearbox

and he came and had a look thank god. Turns out I had screwed the reversing light switch in too far!! I would of taken 

the engine out before of thinking of that, I hadn't put in gear properly before adjusting the switch... 🤢

[johnpwalsh]

Been there done that.

[Elite 4.9]

Really nice to see all your progress Simon. An amazing amount of work for sure but then you have something really nice and a worthwhile project. 

I could almost smell the grey primer when I saw your pictures in that stage even though I painted mine many years ago. The Elite even looks good in primer.

It is obvious you are having a good time here. Way cool and the color is also looking mighty nice!

Getting back to changing out the vacuum powered headlamp pods: I changed mine out for the same reasons you mentioned and I used some electric lifts from a Triumph TR8. Worked for me   and I had them on hand from a wreck TR8 I restored back to health. lol

nice to see such loving care you are taking. keep it going.

Thanks for all your pics and for posting your project here. enjoying it a lot from the other side of the pond.

Richard

[SimonOmeara]

Finally the last of the fluids/gas today  the Air-conditioning was tested and filled, no leaks

so pleased. Really does blow cold in fact colder than my modern car. I just wish the blowers

blew more, the rear hatch, bumpers and interior to finish.

 

[Testdriver]

again - your attention to details is just amazing 🙂

[SimonOmeara]

A while back I made an aluminium bonnet grill to replace the original plastic one, I sent it off to be hard anodized and 

polished to match the rest of the trim. I assembled it today and this is the result, I think its better. I have the drawings if any one wants a copy.

Also has any one got a return spring fitted to there clutch? I need to fit one as mine is rattling if someone could post a picture

of how this addition was done or a sketch I would be grateful.

 

 

[Don't Be Foolish]

Hi Simon,

Your new aluminium grill should give your car a real upmarket look!

Do you have the name of the company that carried out the anodising for you?

Some of the window trim on my car is looking rather scratched and ‘cloudy’ and I have been looking in vain for ages for a firm that might be able to carry out some restoration.

Do you think that it might be something that they would be able to undertake?

[SimonOmeara]

Hi this firm will did my trim, they took out the dents reanodised and polished it for me.

http://www.heritagemotorworks.co.uk

Ask for Drew.

 

[Don't Be Foolish]

Thanks for that, Simon, I’ll give them a call tomorrow.

[SimonOmeara]

Fitted the front bumper today. Gone for a gloss finish rather than satin. 

[SimonOmeara]

Love this colour really think it suits the car. Bonnet on with aluminium grill still a bit to do.

[mikeeech]

don't they look nice when they come back together again! it's rare to see them in this condition and you have a nice shine on it as well!

[SimonOmeara]

Windscreen trim on, which I have to say was hard work getting it to line up and stick down. Hope I never, never have to take it off.

[esprit s2]

That trim looks great!

[SimonOmeara]

57 minutes ago, esprit s2 said:

That trim looks great!

Thanks 😁

[mikeeech]

That's a really good fit. How did you get the a post trims to sit flat against the windscreen bottom trim?

[Testdriver]

exactly what I thought 😉 On most Elite you see the edges a bit loose because they were not capable of fitting perfectly

What a beauty this car is already 👍

[EXCEL V8]

Hope mine looks as good when it's finished!  Great work!  Looks fantastic.

Pete

[Chillidoggy]

Love the attention to detail, all the wiring and pipework properly run, clipped, and supported. The kind of work that ensures you're not sat by the side of the road with the bonnet up all the time!

[SimonOmeara]

17 hours ago, mikeeech said:

That's a really good fit. How did you get the a post trims to sit flat against the windscreen bottom trim?

I took the A post brackets of the car then fitted the A post to bracket. I fitted it as a unit bending the post bracket bit by bit until I got it as I wanted it. I also had ease some of the mounting holes. I got it all to fit so when I glued it no pressure was needed other than to hold it still. The top& bottom trims are on clips I got from LB and SJ. 

[TAR]

Looking good.

Were they the original trim bits or did you manage to buy new?  

[SimonOmeara]

The post covers are new old stock i bought a couple years back. The rest is used straighten and polished all from LB.

I can't post any more pictures as I reached my upload limit can you delete some pictures?

[TAR]

I don't think you can delete anything as its hosted. I think you'll only get a higher limit of you become a member. @Bibs could confirm.

It'll be a real shame if we wern't able to see the final push to completion.