One Of Those Days.........

[ELAN+2]

I'm restoring/modifying a 1970 Elan, I've spent months,in between doing the body work and a full time job, working out a five speed conversion, popular opinion is that it cant be done. I've sussed out the gearbox, the clutch, the gearbox out put flange, the starter motor, the clutch actuation, the speedo drive, the gearbox mount and the gear shift, even the one off propshaft from reco prop in Luton (topest of top blokes!!)

So yesterday, I bolted engine to box, fitted the cylinder head and timed up the cams (original twink), put the prop into the chassis and craned the engine/box into place, everything lined up, spot on for the first time
then I discover my nifty shifter fouls the chassis by 3mm one side , then i banged my head on the engine crane, tore my trousers and goughed my leg on the top shock mounting and dropped the startermotor on my foot
this couldnt get much worse could it?
had a fag, a cup of tea and chilled, basking in the glow of throbbing wounds and planned the next bit,


bloody prop is too short by 2 inches!! (my mistake not recoprops, I changed the output flange after measuring)
starter solenoid fouls the chassis(just)
the exhaust(standard tubular)manifold fouls the bell housing.

Nothing for it but its all got to come out and have some minor adjustments. This I'll do later in the week,
so to finish off, i thought I'd fit the distributor, this I extracted from the plastic bow where it has resided for the last 20 odd years to find it has siezed solid!!

to add insult to injury "er indoors" mutt bit one of her sons friends and I had to take it to the vets and have it put down . . . . .wonder if they'd have done a deal for me and the mutt .

Upon returning home to a house full of 'happy souls' (I'm the villain here for doing the dirty deed) I thought I'd finish cleaning up my cam cover (wire brush in electric drill), yup! I slipped and have taken the skin off of my left hand 1st knuckle to wrist

I should have stayed in bed

[Fat Richie]

Mark, sounds like the garage gremlins were having their annual jamboree! Go, on then, what gearbox / clutch etc are you using behind the twink?

[ELAN+2]

Its a 95 on scorpio MT75 with a sierra centre plate. I'll post up the full details and pics when I've ironed out the "issues". Its just details now, bit of grinding on non stressed areas of the chassis and bellhousing and fabricating of mounts needed . The output flange is a very modified transit one. If you want the full SP call me on 07767 302800. I did most of the measuring and development using an early MT75 with the 3 pronged output flange, hence the prop problems (my old man used to say 'slow down, measure twice, cut once' , never did listen!!!)either box will fit but the late type is essential on the Elan as the exhaust occupies the starter location on the early box. there are a few other issues as well!!
Regards

Mark