Pete-M Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 A pal of mine has a field full of Elites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 The Lancia is parked outside my house awaiting inspiration. The FTP was diagnosed as ignition module, but I've replaced that to no avail. Green Flag was supposed to take it 5 miles to Gonnella Bros in Catford for fixing but helpfully* dragged it 200 miles to mine instead. Next move will be to trailer it to my shed where I can have a look at the cambelts and/or get an autoelectrician on to it. Luckily I've found one with bravery and skills. Between Lotus and Lancia he'll need both. I was wondering how you were getting on with your Gamma, not much progress on mine either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted August 6, 2017 Share Posted August 6, 2017 You're building up a fine stable of '70s classics there. I wouldn't be brave enough to own one, but I'm glad I know someone who does. Like I suspect many of us who were young when these were launched, my introduction to the Elite was the Corgi model. I still have mine. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted August 6, 2017 Share Posted August 6, 2017 Excellent work, the next time I'm visiting family in Neath I'm inviting you out for a pint and we can make an origami Elite from the pub dripmats. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inconsistant Posted August 6, 2017 Share Posted August 6, 2017 Elite: 70s sports car and rubber johnny of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 Micro-update: yesterday I finally managed to take a day off work to go and haul the Elite across Oxon and Northants from Chateau Breadvan to LotusBits between Leamington and Rugby. Breadvan's excellent mobile mechanic, Mark, had traced and fixed the electrical fault that caused it to leave our former in-house lawyer stranded (an inappropriately sited earth, unsurprisingly for a plastic car) but the belts are ancient and I was flying solo so it was a trailer trip again. 1976 Lotus Elite 503 by Skizzer, on Flickr The collection capers went well so it's now at LotusBits awaiting its turn for attention and proper recommissioning: full service, belts, new bonnet frame, brakes seem to be binding a bit (another Elite favourite), plus a general check over to create the to-do list. They are booked out into next year so it'll probably be months before I get it back but I'm excited already. LB had a mint-looking S1 Elite in Lagoon Blue, the metallic colour mine was originally. It looked stunning but the chassis is very rotten. Mine looks a bit shit with its horrid flat paint, but is all shiny and galvanised underneath so yah boo to that. LabRat, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer, Supernaut and 31 others 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 At last year's NEC classic car show there was one of these on display that was so mint it must have been far better than new. It's pure '70s brilliance and I'm glad to see yours is getting closer to driveable. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Nice. I owned an early Excel which I found to be a most reliable car and one of the most involving cars I've driven. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 one of the most involving cars I've driven. What does that even mean? Rusty_Rocket 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 And the news on the Gamma please? Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 Nice. I owned an early Excel which I found to be a most reliable car and one of the most involving cars I've driven. Excels are fairly indestructible thanks to extensive use of 1980s Toyota bits in the running gear rather than 1960s Maxi and Herald bits. An S1 Elite will probably only ever score 50% max in a reliable+involving exam... wins on brave 70s weirdness though, so more my thing. And the news on the Gamma please?The news is there’s no news, sadly. I do now have my trailer back though (it was with the Lotus) and have just acquired a second Big Shed next door to the first, so this weekend I’ll be hauling it off to dry storage where I can get it properly looked at by an auto electrician I’ve had recommended. RobT, They_all_do_that_sir, chaseracer and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 How's my old Granny wagon going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 How's my old Granny wagon going?Ah. It arrived with a failed water pump, which we’ve now replaced along with the aux belts, but it’s failing a compression test. I’m hoping it’s only HGF, but it could be a cracked head or even block. It will have the heads skimmed and new gaskets in the next few weeks and we’ll see what that does, otherwise I’m probably looking for a donor engine. Not super-happy about it, tbh, but shit happens. (Edit: for newcomers or anyone who's forgotten/missed the story, it was fine when Dan had it - the Granada has been through a number of adventures since then.) It's currently still stored at BV's, looking handsome but not going anywhere; Mark the mobile mech is doing the work for me as it's now mine-all-mine. holbeck, trigger, danthecapriman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Fingers crossed it'll just be a head gasket...Shame really as it always ran and drove brilliantly. I didn't think it'd gotten that hot when the pump failed. Obviously it did.Even so, a good used engine shouldn't be too hard to pick up. Keep us posted how it gets on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 Will do. Looking forward to getting it back, it’s such a lovely cruiser. Rest assured it WILL be back! trigger, danthecapriman and Angrydicky 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 I'd say several months wait for the Lotus is ideal Skizzer, you'll get it back for 'summer' and not be tempted to use it on the salty roads, plus I bet they have proper storage on site for customers cars? Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 I'd say several months wait for the Lotus is ideal Skizzer, you'll get it back for 'summer' and not be tempted to use it on the salty roads, plus I bet they have proper storage on site for customers cars?Proper-ish: it’ll be on hard standing but outdoors. But the the body’s not exactly rust-prone in these, and it doesn’t leak (much), so that should be ok. If needs be I can go and fetch it home on the trailer. You’re right about getting it back for summer (spring?) though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad D. Conelrad Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 I'm mortified at the thought that we cooked the Granada engine while delivering it. We never allowed the temperature needle to get near the red zone, and called a recovery truck as soon as it was losing too much water. The car still ran perfectly at that point. Skizzer and Junkman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 If it's like most engines then the temp sensor is near the water pump and the bits that run the hottest are furthest from the pump, so you can cook the back of the engine while the front is still appearing ok. I expect it's fixable, it's an old skool ford designed with hammers to be fixed with hammers. DeeJay, Skizzer and danthecapriman 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Think about how much abuse and damage these engines routinely take out on the banger track. Then once the cars finished out comes the engine to be slotted into the next Granny/Jag/Rolls/Yank etc etc!They aren't sophisticated delicate engines, they're tough as old boots like Pinto's are.I'm sure it'll be fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Ah. It arrived with a failed water pump, which we’ve now replaced along with the aux belts, but it’s failing a compression test. I’m hoping it’s only HGF, but it could be a cracked head or even block. It will have the heads skimmed and new gaskets in the next few weeks and we’ll see what that does, otherwise I’m probably looking for a donor engine. WHAT??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 In that case I’m sure it’ll just be a head gasket blown, which is no big deal. I’m relaxed about it, as you say the Cologne V6 is made of indestructium, plus if the worst comes to the worst this one isn’t in the first flush of youth and it shouldn’t be that hard to find a refurbed replacement. I’ll update in its own thread when there’s news. chaseracer and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Check the cam while it's apart, from memory you can see it once the inlet manifold is off (as it'll have to be to remove the heads). I've known a few of these wear the lobes off the rear cylinders. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Ah. It arrived with a failed water pump, which we’ve now replaced along with the aux belts, but it’s failing a compression test. I’m hoping it’s only HGF, but it could be a cracked head or even block. It will have the heads skimmed and new gaskets in the next few weeks and we’ll see what that does, otherwise I’m probably looking for a donor engine.Sounds like the ideal opportunity to fit a 302 V8 if you ask me... Skizzer and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Good to see the Skizzmeister back. Skizzer and trigger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 Sounds like the ideal opportunity to fit a 302 V8 if you ask me...Mmm, Granny of Doom. There’s a thought. RobT, chaseracer, danthecapriman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Yeah. Forget everything I said. It's definitely without a doubt fucked and it's impossible to get these engines now. The best idea is to V8 it... DeeJay, Skizzer, PhilA and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TripleRich Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 I hope the Granny is ok. The Cologne engines are quite fragile and the temp sender is right at the front above the water pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Think about how much abuse and damage these engines routinely take out on the banger track. Then once the cars finished out comes the engine to be slotted into the next Granny/Jag/Rolls/Yank etc etc!They aren't sophisticated delicate engines, they're tough as old boots like Pinto's are.I'm sure it'll be fine... You're thinking of the Essex V6, a very different kettle of camshafts. Talbot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Mmm, Granny of Doom. There’s a thought. Stagename Granny Savage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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