UniBrain Trust

Progress since the last update

• The first batch of chrome pieces came back from the chrome shop
  and all look great. I wish I had taken some before and after
  pictures to show how well some of the items came out. I will
  take some good pictures when I take the window frames in to be
  straightened and chromed.
• The bottom of the fuel tank looked like a fine sieve. I had a
  local shop replace the bottom and seal the tank.
• I’ve found another of the most frustrating jobs on an Elan,
  the installation of the dreaded black donuts. All I can say is
  be patient and read the archives on
  LotusElan.net.
• Installed the lights on the front of the car. I was missing a
  lens for the small white turn signals and was dreading the
  search. While at a friends shop, a TR4 came in for service. Low
  and behold the turn signal on the TR4 is the same as the Elan! A
  quick call to Moss
  Motors and I had new lenses on the way. At the same time I
  ordered a bunch of things to rebuild the steering column
• I finally took the time to finish the rollbar installation. I
  needed to rig a small bottle jack to spread the uprights about
  1/2″ so all the holes would line up. I’m wondering how
  I’ll be able to do this when the carpet goes in.

I came home from a drive and found a small pool of oil under the
differential. I crawled under the car and didn't see an obvious
leak so added some dye from my
leak detection kit, went
for a short drive, crawled back under the car with a black light
and behold a leak from the pinion seal. I spent about 2 hours on
the phone trying to find a compatable seal. It looks like the diff
carrier for the Marina axle is the same as an early TR7. I ordered
a new seal from The
Roadster Factory.

According to the Weale book, I should be able to replace the seal
without removing the differential. Of course the brand new
differential bushings are soaked in oil and will need to be
replaced.

I need to look this up every now and then so I might as well put it
on my web page. For track days I run BOSCH W5DC plugs, the coldest
plug the make. For around town driving I switch to the W6DC. With
the W5DC, I've fouled a plug while doing a long sedate drive.