Tip O' the hat +

Went to President Dave's place today to pick up my new Super Sport top. Dave set aside what he was working on to go over installation of the top in detail. What a gracious gentleman. We are truely blessed to

have him as our leader.

I hope you didn't drive a Crosley to his house, he is known to steal hubcaps!

We are definitely blessed...In fact, he's dang near fine enough to have been a Southern boy! (Dave, are you sure you wern't born down here in Memphis?)

Thanks for the compliments, however, As I always say, it is a 2 way street. You can't have a good relationship with a bad person. I find that most of the people who hand out compliments are really the ones who deserve them. I have the priveledge of dealing with the finest group of auto enthusiasts in the world. I thank the Good Lord every day for the opportunity to do so. Now if Barry and Bill will just park their cars in secluded areas at Wauseon......

No I never lived in the South....Born on the West Coast on Coronado Island in San Deigo. Grew up in rural Lancaster County , Pa. in the Amish country. Like most Crosley people, very friendly and very frugal. I was actually a very shy person until my sophmore year in high school when one of my teachers took me aside and told me that I had a great voice and the ability to pursuade people using it. That little bit of a comment changed my life. Never underestimate the power of a positive comment to a person!!! It may change them forever!!!

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Cleaning the inside of the motor ??

Well, the Plastigage shows all rod and mains to be well within range. I've taken the oil pump apart and sanded the plate. (I may opt out for a new pump or rebuilt, just want to be sure I have a good one ). The oil pan had a small hole in it, it's been welded up.Just curious, is there something I can pour in the top of the motor to hout any junk and out the bottom ? Kerosene maybe or something ? Or something I can spray around the bottom end to make sure any little pieces of crap are run out ? Some spray cleaner of some sort ? I'd just like to do some housekeeping in there before putting the pan back on. You can us Brakleen the chlorinated, non flamable type.

I'm not the one you should take as "the preacher (as in "my word is gospel")" but if you do wash out the motor, be sure to prelube it before you start it. Rig up some kind of pressure feed to get oil into all the passages and bearings before you turn it over. You could pump oil up the pump output gallery as long as the pan's off. I modified an old dead pressure-pot type paint gun with a hose on the nozzle and use it to feed oil up the pump output gallery. You could even use a hypodermic type transmission filler (http://www.badenscarpages.ca/e36-transmission-differential-fluid-change/).

Better safe than sorry!

I use engine assembly grease on all bearimgs, and put some in the pump gears so it will suck up the oil right away. Crank the engine with the coil wire off till it gets oil pressure, then start it.

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Autocop for MJD?

I have been running my MJD on manual key so far because I read there were issues with keyless entry or autocop security system with Palio's electricals. Has anyone been using those successfully without any problems'? which brand works best? And if available approx cost please.

I have been using the Autocop security system for my both 1.2 and 1.3. It is working fine. But fit the equipment only in FIAT ASC to get the warranty. In any FIAT ASC the cost of the equipment is Rs.2000/- more thancompare to the same Autocop's model in outside market. Autocop is authorized by FIAT.

During May 2009 when I purchased Palio 1.1 stile slx from Concorde Motors Prabhadevi Bombay - I was told ANY additions/including keyless entry, etc fitted will lead to electrical warranty being unavailable ! I faintly remember the elec.warranty is ONE YEAR? What is the total cost of autocop fitout by Fiat ASC? You provided 2K as the difference in disfavor of Fiat ASC as compared to outside fitters

DON'T DO IT!

If at all you wish to install autocop, first remove the security system provided by FIAT (mechanical+electrical+electronic) Then install autocop or whatever security system deemed feasible. I would like to know in what ways the electricals/mechanicals of an MJD different from the 1.1? for the 1.1 which i owned for 3 years, there was absolutely no issues with the autocop which was installed by the dealer as a freebie! right now, my MJD also does not have any autocop installed, so i am also interested to know more about what might go wrong(if at all) and any one who had such experience, please share them with all of us here.

I never knew that there could be complications by installing a keyless entry. I always thought you just install it like any other car. Can some one detail the pro's and cons as well as what brands go well and what procedures to follow while installing one. Whats the brand of keyless entry that Fiat provides that doesnt null the warranty? and how much does ti cost.

Mine is 1.2 Nv Sport 2004 and had the auto-cop installed from day 1 from TVS dealer Bangalore, just to compliment the stock security system with a remote. If I remember correct, it costed me around Rs 3000. Never had a problem until almost 1.5 year of non-use it gave up. And I finally disconnected (DIY) when the alarm went off at random times.

There is no override or bypass done. So with or without the auto-cop (remote), the Palio's system still functioning. If Auto-cop is for security system, then such a thing is not requried. But if you want the convenience of remote, you could select something of basic feature and save $$$ for yourself. And most importantly, do this fitting only at FASS, who is trained enough to understand the sophistications.

Some facts towards the security systems for FIAT Vehicles.

1) If the vehicle by defaut have the full key lock kit (which means that if you lock the driver side door automatically all the doors are locked), fixing the "Thirdparty" kit easily. This type of "Thirdparty" kits are called "HalfKits". Price also half compare to the full kits. Simply says the "ELX", "SLX", "SDX" versions are easily adopt this kits compare to other vehicle variants(EL, ELPS etc).

2) Autocop is authorized by FIAT. If you fit the autocop in any FIAT ASC, the electrical lines and other warranty terms does not void.

3) Autocop is manufactured the security system in two aspects. One is completely issued for  FIAT ASC centres. Another is completely used in outside market. Both the variants are differ based on the procedure. The 2K price difference lies down here.

           

I am using the Autocop 9970 system with 100% satisfaction. It has Immbolizer, Altrasonic sensors, ICE sensors and it has 14 different tones for alerts. One year back it was Rs.5400/. I had fitted this in TAFE Access Limited.  No ISSUES. VERY HAPPY ABOUT ITS PERFORMANCE.Mine is 1.2 Nv Sport 2004 and had the auto-cop installed from day 1 from TVS  dealer Bangalore, just to compliment the stock security system with a remote. If  I remember correct, it costed me around Rs 3000. Never had a problem until almost 1.5 year of non-use it gave up. And I finally disconnected (DIY) when the alarm went off at random times.

There is no override or bypass done. So with or without the auto-cop (remote),  the Palio's system still functioning. If Auto-cop is for security system, then such a thing is not requried. But if  you want the convenience of remote, you could select something of basic feature and save $$$ for yourself. And most importantly, do this fitting only at FASS, who is trained enough to understand the sophistications.

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new M100 owner

I recently purchased a Norfolk mustard 1991 Lotus Elan SE. It arrived by trunk Friday night. So far I am thrilled with the car but I have one minor problem. It appears the dashboard light is out, so at night I cannot see any instruments. Does anyone know how to replace the bulb? I looked in the owner's manual but it says "entrust this task to the dealer". 

Where do M100 owners hang out? Is there an M100 list similar to the TurboEsprit list?

I'm also planning to change my insurance since State Farm wants over $100/month to add the Elan to my existing policy. I have obtained quotes from Hagarty and Heacock for insuring all 3 of my Lotus cars for an entire year for about what SF wants to insure the Elan for 6 months. I would appreciate opinions on the relative merits of these two companies and any other insurers who specialize in sports cars. Does anyone know how many yellow Elan M100s exist in the USA?

I believe only about 300 were brought into the USA and yellow and BRG seem to be the most rare colors. Now I have to get busy building a larger garage.

I have owned 5 or 6 of the M100s. Great car and really much undeservedly maligned. The car is just fantastic with one drawback. The front brakes. But more on that later. The top of the dash has an access panel and comes right out. I have never replaced a dash bulb, but I don't think it should be hard. There is a Lotus M100 list called www.lotuselancentral.com<http://www.lotuselancentral.com/> Lots of stuff on there, but the average Elan owner is not as mechanic savvy as most older Lotus owners are.

 

I use Hagarty and they are great. I insure my early Elan and Caterham with them. Now the front brakes. Do you yourself a favor and put a big brake kit on  them. I can give you the name of a guy in the UK that sells a very nice kit.  About $800. Worth every penny and transforms the car. The front brakes are just terrible. I would love to meet the guy that approved that setup and ask him what the hell he was thinking. None of my cars would ever lock the brakes up and at times they are downright dangerous.

The only reason I sold my car/cars was because of the brakes. Back in 2000 or so there was no kit. Had there been a kit, I would still have a M100. Watch for gas tank leaks. They leak at the top where it cracks. Be careful of the rear spindles. They are unobtainable as are fenders, windshields and bumpers.

There is a great and easy way to get about 50 more HP. There is a waste gate arm that actuates the waste gate. You need to put a sleeved turnbuckle on it after reducing the length by about ¾ of and inch. The ¾ of an inch gets you into the ball park of about .7 or .8 boost, but you need to fine tune it with the turnbuckle. Engine will take the extra HP no problem. The guys at Lotus way back when that car came out told me that it was designed with the turnbuckle (in fact the lotus manual shows it being a turnbuckle) and you can go to .9 bar on the boost. Motor will shut down anything over that so there is no risk. If you need more clarification, let me know off list.

The most rare Elans are black. Then the Yellow, Silver and Blue as I recall. Most were the Red, Official line is that they imported 600, but I think the number is actually 450 or so. If you need any help with the car, let me know. Enjoy the car. It is a great Lotus.

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