New 503 Elite Owner!!

[CK86]

Evening all,
i've just come back from picking up my new pride and joy; a Lotus Elite!

I huge daunting list of things to do exists and i will be gradually over the next coming year be working through them all. the first thing to be done, i'm thinking is a full oil change, followed by removing the rear seats which are utterly useless!! the last thing to be done will be the paint job

here's some articticyish looking photos, go ahead and comment away!!!





btw, it's a V8

[Simond11]

Hi,

There is a Cheshire meet at the Swettenham Arms, 1st Sunday of the month.

Usually the Seloc Cheshire group (Seloc/Regions) and the Clog run out.

Not sure where you are but it might be worth a look in, usually only a tire kicking and chatting session

Simon

[CK86]

Hi Simon,
do you have specific details of the meet to hand? i figure it will be on the 5th of July. where exactly and what time etc?

Chris

[330p4]

Chris good luck with the car may i suggest you do the cam belt if you have no record of it being changed recently mine had a big lump hanging out of it. Rear driveshafts take a caning as they act as the top link & in board drums are fun. If chassis not galvanised check front turrets,all for suspension tops & around diff mountings & enjoy it.
Ian

[Sam_68]

330p4 said:

...may i suggest you do the cam belt...

Personally, I'd chance leaving it as it is. It's a bd of a job changing the cambelt on a Rover V8.

[Simond11]

CK86 said:

Hi Simon,
do you have specific details of the meet to hand? i figure it will be on the 5th of July. where exactly and what time etc?

Chris

Hi Chris,

The place
http://www.swettenhamarms.co.uk/

Time usually about 1pm onwards, can be small numbers depends on the weather. Cars, generally elises, elans.
If your a menber on Seloc it in regions/cheshire staffs. I think the next will be 5th July, I wont be there because Im down at Silverstone.
For other meets etc you can also look on Norlog, youve just missed out on tickets for the Chomondely Pageant of Power where Norlog have a pitch this year.

Simon

[CK86]

330p4 said:

i suggest you do the cam belt if you have no record of it being changed

Hi Ian! thanks for the tip. How would i go about changing it? i've never done one before so it's all new to me!

Simond11 said:

Hi Chris,

The place
http://www.swettenhamarms.co.uk/

Time usually about 1pm onwards, can be small numbers depends on the weather. Cars, generally elises, elans.
If your a menber on Seloc it in regions/cheshire staffs. I think the next will be 5th July, I wont be there because Im down at Silverstone.
For other meets etc you can also look on Norlog, youve just missed out on tickets for the Chomondely Pageant of Power where Norlog have a pitch this year.

Simon

HI Simon! thanks for that, i finish work at 11am that day so i should be able to make this one, assuming everything is hunkeydorey with the Elite

can anyone reconmend some lotus owners clubs/Enthusiasts clubs or anything like that?
so far i have:
http://norlog.org.uk/
http://www.seloc.org/
http://ccgi.arcnet.force9.co.uk/

any advancements on these ones, anyone?

[Sam_68]

CK86 said:

330p4 said:

i suggest you do the cam belt if you have no record of it being changed

Hi Ian! thanks for the tip. How would i go about changing it? i've never done one before so it's all new to me!

Sorry CK... I was being facetious with my post above, hence the 'wink' smiley at the end.

If your car has a Rover V8 fitted, then you really don't need to worry about the cambelt as it doesn't have one - the Rover uses a timing chain. 330p4's advice applies to the original Lotus 900-series Twin Cam engines normally fitted to these cars.

Nice project, by the way, and a bargain price - I'm envious! I always liked the 500-series Elite, but I've never been brave enough to buy one. Please don't rip out the rear seats, though - I think it's one of the cleverer bits of the design using deeply sculpted bucket rear seats to give (almost) useable rear seating in such a compact coupe!

eta... on the subject of clubs, I'd be inclined to stick with Club Lotus if you own an Elite. SELOC in particular is heavily dominated by Elise owners, so won't be much use to you. Club Lotus is a traditional meetings-and-magazines type of club, rather than an internet forum, but has a much higher proportion of memebers with an interest in the older cars.

Edited by Sam_68 on Saturday 27th June 09:20

[CK86]

Thanks for the advice Sam!
i've been a bit put off thus far paying subs but now i know a little more i can not worry so much about if it's worth it i guess!

I'm open to suggestions so i'll take yours about the rear bucketish seats into account. i have to admitt, i do like them alot
perhaps if i replaced the front seats with thinner more modern seats for better comfort and body-holding ability that could be my comprimise

[Comadis]

b4 i would do any mechanical repair or service i would give the car a detailed check of the rear crossmember:

i havent seen ANY original chassis which wasnt rotten in this area.

lotus used a noise absorbing foamy material between the body and the crossmember. even when the crossmember looks "only" a bit rusty from underneath its "gone" on top. the MOT isnt a prove in this case at all.

if you buy such basket case, more or less you will not get around fitting a new chassis sooner or later...rather sooner.

as the value of these cars is low it never makes economically sence to do such a job, as you will find a better example for less money you need to invest

thats why these cars are so cheap!!!

also your car needs a respray and wrong mirrors are fitted.


plus the typical problems:

wobbling stearing under braking: damaged anti roll bar rubbers/which may have already worked themselves into the lower link.

play in door hinges

rusty door window frames

vacuum operated headlapms tend to make problems.

dubious modifications to wiring

UJ´s on rear driveshafts worn.

headliner loose

worn interior

slow operating door windows

front springs tend to brake

front trunions tend to seize if service has been neglected (and these cars are normally neglected)

water leaks to footwhell

corroded fuse box

non working gauges

tyres in original size with correct speed index arent existing anymore!!




this is what came in mind spontaniously.

Edited by Comadis on Tuesday 7th July 00:10

Edited by Comadis on Tuesday 7th July 00:11

[CK86]

Comadis said:

b4 i would do any mechanical repair or service ...............

wobbling stearing under braking: damaged anti roll bar rubbers/which may have already worked themselves into the lower link ............... Yes

play in door hinges ............... Yes

rusty door window frames ............... ish

vacuum operated headlapms tend to make problems.

dubious modifications to wiring ............... very much so!

UJ´s on rear driveshafts worn ............... Don't know

headliner loose ............... Seems ok

worn interior ............... Yes

slow operating door windows ............... Yes

front springs tend to brake

front trunions tend to seize if service has been neglected (and these cars are normally neglected)

water leaks to footwell

corroded fuse box ............... Yes. Two new 4-way fuse holder boxes ordered. Requiring fitting

non working gauges ............... Yes - speedo, Fuel, maybe Oil

tyres in original size with correct speed index arent existing anymore!! ............... Cock! err i mean, oh dear! they are 205 60 14 - black circles have some yoko's for around £60 fitted. are these not the correct tyre size then? (would explain the scratching noise when full lock is reached)

Thanks Comadis!
I've modified the above to show what's up from your list.
Can you recommend anyone near Manchester who knows their way round these cars who can give me some advice? like what needs doing etc?

Edited by CK86 on Tuesday 7th July 03:32

[black eclat]

Falken tyres are available in the correct size and speed rating.
The scratching noise is normal. The steering is non Ackerman, i.e. It turns both wheels an equal amount so tyres scrubs on full lock.

[CK86]

black eclat said:

Falken tyres are available in the correct size and speed rating.
The scratching noise is normal. The steering is non Ackerman, i.e. It turns both wheels an equal amount so tyres scrubs on full lock.

Thanks Black Eclat!
so to confirm, the current 205 60 14's are the correct size and the scrubbing is normal! that's ace, oen less thing to worry about! thanks dude!

[Twincam16]

Blimey - you live just up the road from me - your Elite caught my eye as I was driving back from Styal country park the other day. I'd say keep the interior as is. I love the concept of the Elite - very similar to the Lamborghini Espada but with more weight-saving touches. The interior is the icing on a particularly futuristic cake. Beautiful.

Mine's the silvery-gold Alfa 155, give me a wave if you see me.

[simonelite501]

This will give you a look into your future as an Elite owner............be afraid, be very afraid!
The first time you get it running right and out on a good A or B oad it'll be worth all the hassle thought.

http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showServiceHist...