Lotus Elan basic tuning

Checking and adjusting the airflow through the carbs with an airflow meter and checking and adjusting the tick over mixture using a Colortune spark plug. Make sure the dwell angle and timing are correct before carrying out this tuning.

[@peterpowder8546]

Many many years ago and against the advice of some so-called experts I put a pair of Weber DCOE‘s on my modified TR6. I did an enormous amount of reading about these carburetors and purchased many many Jets emulsion Jets Excelerator pump jets Venturis etc. etc. I had this car running with the best of them! These carburetors are not only infinitely tunable but deeply satisfying once you get them right. That car is long gone and as part of my stable I now own a 1960 bugeye sprite however it is super charged and therefore does not have side draft webers. If I was ever to buy another classic British car I would most certainly ensure it would accept a pair of wonderful weber carburetors.

[@iaindoole4060]

Thank you for the video. Interesting use of flow meter and colortune. I have used these on my Plus 2 many times . Simple approach which is so effective . 👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@rogbrown1458]

Suck it. You know what I mean.rog. Pacific sunset records.

[@miatamichl]

Great Video...very useful!

[@GialloOcra105]

Thanks for sharing. I'll try it with the 2 Webers in my GTV 1750

[@Sentosaman]

Old school tuning and tweaking......! 😎

[@jamesmc1272]

The problem is people expect old cars to idle from cold like new ones, That's what chokes are for, in the 70s to get a fast enough idle on a cold engine you had to have the chock out just enough to be in contact with the fast idle ramp on the carb linkage, this didn't close the chock butterfly enough to richen the mixture but kept the engine running. Then after 4 miles you could push it in.

[@PaulH_S2_Elan]

Yes, no electronics and automatic choke to help here. My experience of the Elan with Weber carbs is to start from cold, push the accelerator fully down and release, then hold the accelerator halfway down and turn the key. Starts every time. Pushing the accelerator fully down causes fuel to squirt into inlets, enough to start the car. You don't need the choke to start. If you are in the car, you can keep it running with the accelerator.

[@alro2434]

Thanks. Watch out for that fuel line, if it's like the original, it hides poor quality single ply tubing. Also, just listening to the 'hiss' with a piece of tubing is quick & easy to me.

[@PaulH_S2_Elan]

Thanks for the warning about the fuel line. I'll keep a close watch and inspect regularly. I've seen people using the technique of listening to the hiss using a piece of rubber tube. I'll have to see if I can hear the hiss above my tinnitus :)

[@peterjudithfletcher3507]

I thought a slack timing chain would affect valve timing therefore affecting engine balace.

[@PaulH_S2_Elan]

I can't explain the science, but the Lotus manual explains there should be half an inch of chain movement between the two cam sprockets. Push it down as far as it will go then measure from a reference face, then pull it up as far as it will go. You're looking for half an inch of movement. My new built engine didn't have any timing chain rattle when set up like that. As the chain becomes used the tensioner may need to be adjusted slightly if you start to get any rattling of the chain against the inside of the cam cover.

[@trevorbailes4835]

Where can you get pressure test kit from please ......

[@PaulH_S2_Elan]

If you search for Carburettor Synchrometer online you'll find plenty of options.

[@frankhoward7645]

@@PaulH_S2_Elan The Uni-Syn is an older design but it gives you much more room between the carburetor and the body. Costs less too.

[@trevorbailes4835]

Paul H thank you I have the old type that you have to tap into the carb

[@GrouchoDis]

@@frankhoward7645 my understanding is that the Uni-Syn is not as accurate and blocks airflow during testing; the STK style is better and works across the rev range. Check Google for more detailed explanations.

[@geraldswain3259]

I wish you had adjust ed the t chain first ! .

[@PaulH_S2_Elan]

Sorry about that, it's adjust now though :)

[@kevinbrooks1607]

Sounds like a diesel

[@PaulH_S2_Elan]

😅No, not a diesel. You can hear the timing chain rattling against the aluminium casing. I should have adjusted it before I did the video. Otherwise this is how the old twincam sounds