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75 lotus elite

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robert speed

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i just bought a 75 elite,the car has been sitting for about 3 years. does anyone know where i can find information on this model? parts,specs,etc. thanks.
 
If you need something specific in the way of info, just ask! We may actually know. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
attached are a couple of pictures and also its cousin the jensen healey.
 

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Read that and viewed the first photo....:"HEY! That's a Benz, not a Healey!" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And I see you've one of those stainless Volvos, too! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

"WhatsThatNoise" has one'a them. Nice rollin' stock ya got. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Nice mix of LBC's, Robert. Don't let Tony see that Morris pickup! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mickey
 
WhatsThatNoise said:
DrEntropy said:
And I see you've one of those stainless Volvos
Click to expand...
Sounds much better than a stainless Renault!
picaso.gif
Click to expand...

I deny the existence of any such animal as a "Stainless REE-Nough"! <plugs ears, hums to self: "Lalalalalaaaa, Means I love you...">
 
robert speed said:
i just bought a 75 elite,the car has been sitting for about 3 years. does anyone know where i can find information on this model? parts,specs,etc. thanks.
Click to expand...
I own two Eclats (the Elite's fastback sibling), I do all my own work and I'm familiar with what makes them tick. Feel free to contact me offline when you run into questions.

You probably know this from your Jensen-Healey experience, but...

The 907's timing belt is a critical maintenance item. The engine isn't a clearance design and the valves can be wiped out if the belt breaks of jumps timing.

Belt tension is important, check it regularly. Any time you buy a used Lotus/ J-H with a 9XX 4-cylinder engine, check the timing belt before putting the car into service. It's best to replace the belt regardless of the service history... that way you know for sure what you have.

Lotus played with (experimented with) various tension spec through the years and the newer specs are more reliable. I would suggest that you ignore what you Jensen-Healey says about tension and go with the later Lotus spec.

The Lotus-specified Burroughs tension gauge is no longer in production, but they can still be found if you're persistant. Otherwise, pick-up a Krikit KR1 gauge (model 91107) at NAPA. The counter guy won't know what you're talking about, but work with him. They have it. It's even listed on NAPAonline.com.

The Krikit has two tension scales... read the POUNDS scale.

Check the tension on a cold engine before it's been started for the first time that day (66 - 77 degrees F ambient). Set the crank to TDC. Take readings half way between the intake cam pulley and the auxiliary shaft pulley (next pulley to the right of the intake cam).

Krikit reading:
.. 45 too loose, don't start the engine (80 Burroughs)
50-52 acceptable range, routine check (90-95 Burroughs)
.. 52 re-tensioning a used belt (Lotus spec/95 Burroughs)
.. 55 new belt to allow for some stretch (100 Burroughs)

Later 910 & 912 engines switched to a round-tooth HTD timing belt and it's common to update 907's to that config. If the engine still has the old trapezoidal tooth belt, then replace the belt every 12k miles or 2 years. The book says 24k miles, but there are bent valves out there supporting the shorter interval.

Inspect and replace the tensioner bearing as required, but generally every 3rd trapezoidal belt or every 2nd HTD belt. Bearing failure is just as damaging to the valves as timing belt failure (wipes them out).

There are timing dots on the rim of the cam pulleys, and IN (Intake) and EX (Exhaust) marks cast into the spokes near the dots. Some OEM stock pulleys have two sets of dots and marks (Red & Blue dots) while others have only one set of dots and marks. Red signifies 110 MOP (110 degrees Maximum Opening Point... aka lobe centers), while blue indicates 100 MOP. Finally, there are dots and marks both front and back. Time the cams using the dots & marks visible from the front side only... ignore those on the back side.

For pulleys with one set of markings, the dot next to the IN mark should face forward on the intake cam pulley, and the dot next to the EX mark should face forward on the exhaust cam pulley.

For pulleys with two sets of markings (red 110/ blue 100), look for a raised bump cast onto one spoke. The bump faces forward on the Exhaust pulley and faces backward on the intake pulley. Once the pulleys are facing the right way, time the cams using the RED dot next to the IN mark on the intake pulley and the RED dot next to the EX mark on the exhaust pulley.

With the crank at TDC, the dots should be adjacent/align with one another and be on the imaginary centerline between the two camshafts. Timing can only be adjusted in whole-tooth increments, so if the dots mis-align by just a little bit, mark it up to tolerances. If a dot is displaced from the centerline by a whole tooth pitch, then the timing is incorrect and must be corrected.

Valve clearances:
.005 - .007 Cold, Intake
.010 - .012 Colc, Exhaust


Ignore the emissions spec and set the static ignitiion advance to 12-14 BTDC. Set idle speed to 1100 rpm.


Besides those parts-tech resources already mentioned...

JAE is another good source for parts and information. They are my first choice.
JAE (Jeff Robinson & Jay Makwana)
375 Pine Ave, Unit 26
Goleta Ca 93117
USA
Jeff@JAEparts.com
(805) 967-5767 Phone
(805) 967-6183 FAX

The Lotus Workshop and Parts manuals are still available, and used copies show up on eBay with some regularity. The Workshop manual is a must, but sometimes the exploded assembly drawings in the Parts manual can be just as informative... even more so. Get both manuals. Any independent Lotus parts supplier can get them for you.

Also pick up a copy of Section TDA (Technical Data - A) from the service manual for the 83-87 Turbo & S3 Esprits. There's additional data in there that doesn't appear in the orignial Elite/Eclat manuals. I've posted a PDF that you can download here:
https://www.tc.umn.edu/~enge0214/lotus/
TDA.pdf = Technical Data Section, 907 & 912
TDB.pdf = Technical Data Section, Turbo 910

With all due respect to this forum, there is a YahooGroup dedicated to the 4-seat Lotus cars, primarily the Elite/Eclat. Go here and subscribe:
https://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lotus4seaters/.

You could also get general Lotus help at:
https://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lotus-cars/

And the group for the naturally aspirated Esprits is probably more technically adept when it comes to the 907/912 engines shared with the Elite/ Eclat.
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/S1S2S3owners/

LotusBits is a Lotus salvage company in the UK. They started out specializing in the Elite & Eclat, but have spread to most later models (907 onward). They have also started reproducing a few unobtainium parts. Sometimes when new parts are just not available any more, it's nice to have a back-up resource for used parts.
https://www.lotuseliteparts.bravepages.com/

Join a Lotus club near you. Or sign up for one of the national clubs like Golden Gate Lotus Club or Lotus Ltd. Golden Gate's website has a great data base of parts cross references and tech tips. You don't have to be a member to check it out... so check it out.

A good local club is the way to go. There's nothing like being able to talk face to face with someone who has been there before.

Enjoy your Elite,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
 
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