The final stages of preparation for the big split!
Final items on the checklist checked off, then dropped the wheels on to some Go Jacks, just so I could get a bit of wiggling on the go if needed when lifting the body.
Took the front and rear screens out as well, just incase the body experienced any twisting during the lift, don’t want to crack them. Also took the bootlid off because it weights a ton!
At this point I decided to give vlogging a go…
Final prep and the split:
Success!
Start of July 2021 now.
Removed the lower trim panels on the dash, only 3 out of 4 or 5 holes had screws, all 3 completely different of course!
Anyways, enough talk, more action. Time to get her back on the ramp and crack on with the body split checklist.
New toys from Amazon in the form of imperial impact sockets, 9mm hex for the rollcage (still haven’t used this right enough) and AF brake fitting spanner.
Now the jacking points on the Elan are at the ends of the sills. I have no reason to doubt their integrity on this car but they are a bit known for the metal lattice inside corroding. So, since I can make it work getting the pads on the backbone of the chassis, I decided that was preferable.
Exhaust clamp was the lowest part under the car, not guilty on this destruction, was like that when I got there!
Think I have identified why the fitting on the fuel tank was seeping…
Rear carb needs the studs removed as they foul on the footwell structure when lifting the body. The checklist said rearmost 2 but I decided to remove all 4 to be safe as the front ones were also going clash, suspect the list was authored for Weber/Dellorto equipped cars which has a different manifold casting on the head.
At the time this picture was taken, some divot had just dropped a nut down an intake runner.
This brings us up to 9th July.
Time stamp: 21st May 2021
Next up on the check list, getting the cooling system drained and removed to create some easier working conditions in the engine bay.
Radiator brackets may or may not be re-used. The system needs an upgrade to prevent overheating issues, something definitely needs done about the radiator sitting at a jaunty angle. Don’t think you can see it in the pics but I’m also not a fan of the self tapper I found rammed through the bracket almost in to the radiator core, presumably to stop it rattling around!
Not the easiest to drain it has to be said. The drain tap is above the front of the bodyshell, but with a silicon funnel feeding in to a plastic funnel and finally in to a drain bucket, it was emptied. The coolant was surprisingly fresh looking giving it was 20+ years old!
Big difference in working space with the radiator and associated plumbing removed
That being said, pulling the radiator doesnt make the access to the carb nuts any better. The rear one was a delight. Roughly 2 hours of cursing & swearing and half a dozen burst knuckles managed to finally get them off.
Getting there…
Few days running ghetto fabulous / drift bunnet style miss-matched wheels, due to diamond cut wheels needing 2 days at the refurbishing place.
Better pic of the damage before refinishing:
Refitting time
Took the opportunity to have a go at giving the front brakes a better clean than they get during a normal Sunday wash
Back to matching wheels
Now to get the winter refurbished, just in time for summer…
Got the front tyres swapped over after the MOT advisory. Really annoying that one, should have pulled my finger out and sorted the alignment before given i knew it was out. The tyres both still had an easy 5-6mm of centre tread but the drivers outer shoulder was utterly pumped.
Went like for like with Potenza S001s and got an alignment done at the same time.
Unfortunately, washing the car the next day to get all the tyres fitting compound off, I found both rims had copped some lacquer damage. To be fair to them, they checked out pics taken before work commenced and acknowledged fault, cars booked in next Thursday for the wheels to be refurbed on their account.
Recent arrival of a new niece meant the year started with a chance for a decent run. Straight north up the A9 in freezing cold conditions and mostly in to a headwind to boot. Still good round trip to blow the cobwebs off.
