• From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
  • Posts: 3,425

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

I think you need to get yourself a Hobbs Mecha-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elite

Those should be everywhere, right?

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  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 9,416

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Parkwod60 wrote:

Doesn't it use the same motor as the Jensen-Healey? Not saying those are a paragon of reliability, but they are more common then Lotii

Yep, the Jensen-Healey uses the Lotus engine. We've never had a Jensen-Healey.

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  • From: Van Nuys, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-11
  • Posts: 3,862

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Racin_G73 wrote:

I think you need to get yourself a Hobbs Mecha-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elite

Those should be everywhere, right?

No he's got the later 70s version, which a little googling reveals may have used a Getrag 235/5? That is at least what the Jensen-Healey used.  Or a 4 speed from a Sunbeam Rapier?  Might be easier just to find a whole Jensen-Healey as a parts car.

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  • From: Brandywine, MD
  • Registered: 2009-07-15
  • Posts: 4,528

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

I've got two Jensen-Healeys, and a Jensen GT. The first two I would part with cheaply. One of them may come to Lemons next year, but I read that someone else was also building a Jensen-Healey, and I don't wanna do what's been done already.

Captain: Speedycop & The Gang Of Outlaws -'94 Mark VIII (Least Horrible Yank Tank Stafford '09, NOLA '10) '61 Caddy (Org Choice-NL '09) '63 Tbird (EPIC Repair Failure-Gingerman '10, I Got Screwed-Summit Pt '10, I.O.E. WINNER Stafford '10!) '77 Lancia Scorpion (I.O.E. WINNER Joliet 2010!) '67 Galaxie 500 (Judges Choice-CMP '11)
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  • From: Lost in the Rockies
  • Registered: 2009-10-06
  • Posts: 1,008

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

KomodoDave is prepping a J-H but his job keeps getting in the way and sending him out of town. The nerve! You'd think they would understand priorities like this.

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cpchampion's Website

  • From: Houston, Tx
  • Registered: 2009-08-24
  • Posts: 490

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

cpchampion wrote:

KomodoDave is prepping a J-H but his job keeps getting in the way and sending him out of town. The nerve! You'd think they would understand priorities like this.

I swapped the bad engine out for a less bad engine before my last trip to Brazil.  It actually turned over!  Then something blew and the electronics went out.  Didn't lose any Lucas Smoke, so that's good, but it wasn't one of the three fuses.  Holiday weekends beckon....

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Main hoop, halo hoop, dash bar, and A-pillar bars fitted:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lbbz3RTTyKw/T3Un9c9AseI/AAAAAAAAAmo/IxIw1aGTfWY/s800/2012-03-29_19-42-40_856.jpg

We decide to keep the factory main hoop and eventually tie our main hoop into that as well. After all Lotus put it there for a reason when they made the car so why not leave it in as extra protection.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-maHfZzwuV7o/T3UoE20__gI/AAAAAAAAAm4/Pn6IASiNcBQ/s800/2012-03-29_19-42-52_956.jpg

The oringal rear strut/spring mounts looked a little weak. We are planning on tying in our back stays, a strut brace between the two towers, and also a rear frame to protect our fuel cell in a crash.  So they needed to be strengthened.

Before:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vhDEnrWULK4/T3Un1-7JWHI/AAAAAAAAAmY/iQfm0LQTeYs/s800/2012-03-29_18-48-45_489.jpg

After:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WJInNHXObh0/T3Un4a-hFYI/AAAAAAAAAmg/yPXpqK--x1M/s800/2012-03-29_19-42-24_645.jpg

The Elites odd steel backbone and fiberglass chassis:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yy3X0SKD23s/T3UoMKBKhEI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/KwHaPYZ8Yp8/s512/2012-03-29_19-58-37_745.jpg

The inboard drums that we are going to have to come up with a disc replacement for somehow:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xF85fVJ9o9E/T3UoOfAYyzI/AAAAAAAAAnY/AG3hsQGy3oU/s800/2012-03-29_19-58-50_83.jpg

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • From: Van Nuys, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-11
  • Posts: 3,862

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Unless there is an easy disc swap, I'd leave them alone. Sure it would be a bitch if you need to change out the shoes during the race, but since 75% of the braking is done with the front chances are you'll never need to change them.

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Parkwod60's Website

  • From: Columbus, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
  • Posts: 2,839

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Cherry bombs on a Lotus!  Nice.

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

We are using 4"X4" .250" thick steel angle iron to reinforce the fiberglass door sills on the Lotus.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W-9dcwLHknw/T3YMF5n6suI/AAAAAAAAAoI/REuDd2LhES8/s800/2012-03-30_10-04-12_97.jpg

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

More Progress:

Sorry for the fuzzy photos, apparently my cell phone camera was full of fiberglass as are my lungs....

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zTTy-iyniC0/T3pQagMlCvI/AAAAAAAAAog/Osi1FzgpxVU/s1152/2012-04-02_20-11-45_98.jpg

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CQs3 … 08_365.jpg[/IMG

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NjO-2RSTdqI/T3pQqcjBIXI/AAAAAAAAAo4/P1aFA_QNRkI/s1152/2012-04-02_20-12-17_11.jpg[/img]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kHQnSFIUfa0/T3pQu2aqPEI/AAAAAAAAApA/iif9Dg-xk30/s1152/2012-04-02_20-12-26_785.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Rh0gNVh34oA/T3pQybDdQYI/AAAAAAAAApI/z00dc_KfMZ8/s1152/2012-04-02_20-12-34_89.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zCPQC2p_qKU/T3pQ8fq76FI/AAAAAAAAApY/ndkV3CmFYRs/s1152/2012-04-02_20-12-46_411.jpg


Connection of the lower main hoop bar to the backbone is done.  First we welded in a large 6"X12" reinforcement plate. then added too large gussets and 1 tube connector.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WmrrUFq1oPU/T35R5vZTd_I/AAAAAAAAAuo/FCTe-3KriQA/s1152/2012-04-05_21-13-38_775.jpg

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • From: Brandywine, MD
  • Registered: 2009-07-15
  • Posts: 4,528

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Looks GREAT!

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  • From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
  • Posts: 3,425

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Just had a thought... what do you ground to when you're working on a fiberglass car...

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

X brace:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eh49f1DdIjo/T381p3_9V3I/AAAAAAAAAvI/bjiW_XQMZGE/s800/2012-04-06_13-25-49_545.jpg

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • From: Columbus, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
  • Posts: 2,839

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

I wonder what percentage of the finished car's weight will come from reinforcements and roll cage tubing.

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

The car weighed 2300lbs with a full interior. I estimate that with everything gutted and removed that we dont need the car got down to right around 1900-2000 lbs. I'm estimating that we are adding another 300-400 lbs or so in reinforcements.  So we should be right around the original curb weight of 2300 lbs.

Anyone have any ideas for some easy to retrofit front brake setup? The other Elite team had there solid 1 piece rotors warp almost instantly.  Obviously there isn't any bolt on upgrades for our Elite out there.

Front brake setup:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sfVof7w-cXg/T4M1eSAnB9I/AAAAAAAAAvU/iI3Iv10WxEI/s720/Lotus%2520Brakes.png

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • From: Alvin, TX
  • Registered: 2010-02-22
  • Posts: 2,143

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

She's BEAUTIFUL!   

Lotus and Jensen are high on my Do Want in Lemons List.

Other than Old School Rotaries of course.  smile

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

We are having a debate on how to safely and securely mount our seat in the Lotus.

Option 1 is to use the two bars that connect the side sills to the backbone of the car, and bend two tubes to connect them and then bolt the seat between those:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8ujHME6qr-c/T4RP1p5ezCI/AAAAAAAAAwU/rD2o2H4wmu0/s800/Seat%2520mount%2520option%25201.jpg



Option 2 is to weld a 1/4 plate to our 1/4 4X4 angle iron side sills, and then also a plate to the backbone.  Weld two tubes between those, and then mount the seat between those.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6tgd6RX3UDU/T4RP15SPpQI/AAAAAAAAAwg/tANBh3LfT6I/s800/Seat%2520mount%2520Option%25202.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lP4Vy8ycOLE/T4RP1o97atI/AAAAAAAAAwY/JpewKKbPuHw/s800/Seat%2520mount%2520option%25202-2.jpg



I'm open to ideas.

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Seat mount done!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NrrYIBpUyHU/T59RMn2ejSI/AAAAAAAAAyk/FaRj0FVulBo/s1152/2012-04-30_18-51-30_471.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PRvbaRsXDCM/T59Q-7isJXI/AAAAAAAAAyE/3BocfpB8K7U/s1152/2012-04-30_18-38-34_342.jpg

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • chaase
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  • From: East Meadow, NY
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Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Sweet!

Keep up the good work.

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Rear subframe that will support and also protect our fuel cell in the making:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N99cffvkJUA/T6CHsADAhJI/AAAAAAAAAy4/4QtkiNssXoE/s1152/2012-05-01_20-00-50_840.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z4_N3cFwZag/T6CILhCWXhI/AAAAAAAAAzY/dBiFF59FzJE/s1152/2012-05-01_20-01-35_36.jpg

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser
  • From: Doylestown PA
  • Registered: 2011-07-26
  • Posts: 67

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

THE "NO CRUSH RULE" will open the door for so many more much awesomeness like this...
In the true nature of Lemons, a Lotus Elite is Rock Star.
Not that any douche would ever vote to crush such a car, but the fear of bringing such a vehicle that could be crushed is a reason not to bring.
Hopefully the no crush rule will open the door to more of this, and the event will be so full, E30's will have to find a new event.

Yeah, I said it.

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  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 45

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

Just thought I would let everyone know that I finally go the car weighed with the rollacage and everything in it.

Even with the extremely extensive roll cage she came in at 2078 lbs!

1976 (or so) Lotus Elite - Powered by Lotus (for now) - 2012 - Chubby Chedda "Theoretically Fast" Winner
1998 Ford Escort - 2 time loser
1986 BMW E30 - 5 or 6 time loser

74 Reply by OhioMark (edited by OhioMark 2012-05-11 04:23 PM)

  • Registered: 2009-12-22
  • Posts: 170

Re: Lotus Elite Barn find, SwissRacing's next LeMon Car

You should try drum brakes at all four corners which will give you the equivelant of NO brakes and thus you'll
have no brake pads to worry about! smile

Good luck!

Ciao'

Mark