Lotus Elise S1 Update - The £15 Upgrade You Must Get + Alternator Swap

The FrankEnlise is back! Today I fit a new cheap upgrade which tightens up the handling, I also replace the alternator, the old one had a bearing one the way out. I also replaced the windscreen wiper with an upgraded item and take it for a test drive!
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[@danielarmstrong5148]

Yes, must get some Yokohomo’s!

[@Captain_Scarlet_SIG]

I know it’s not in the Elise class but on my MGF VVC tyre choice, condition and pressures are absolutely critical to the way it handles it’s on song when they’re spot on and scary when not, don’t compromise it may cost you money but better than your life.

[@paulriggers1558]

ex MG Rover tech here, we had to do a WEEKS course on chassis setup, we started with tyres, the makes, pressures, date of manufacturer, + wear patterns were first on list before any geometry adjustments. you are right, MASSIVE difference on those little bitches

[@mgwaite10]

OH YES ! Tyre pressure on the Elise is everything, if they are absolutely spot on you can detect it. Experiment with some settings.

[@jeandibb4111]

Agreed. Had the exact same experience with my then new MR2 back in the day - VERY sensitive to tiny tyre pressure changes front to rear

[@Valisk]

I was totally expecting 'Shit quifter' there, before you caught yourself! Loved the vid.

[@xg5zm]

Michelin has made again the Pilot Exalto Pe2 in their classic catalog . They are avaliable in 185/55 R15, and other small sizes. They are expensive but really worth the money. I have them in my 90s hot hatch. Look in longstonetyres per example. As a curiosity, the size I have were manufactured in Russia in 2020, so I would be quick if you fancy getting a pair, who knows when Michelin might be able to make another run...

[@drew699]

Great to see the Elise back again. Toyo Proxes imho are great tyres for the S1 - not the ultimate perhaps for track use but for road use they’re a good compromise of performance & longevity & price. Your Rimstock wheels were correct for the later cars as yours is. It looks like you have aluminium front hubs which I’m intrigued by because again aluminium hubs were only on earlier cars! You also look like you’ve got a boot bag, again an early car spec. It truly is a frankenelise! Another absolute must upgrade is the door latch pin mounts. They stop the doors rattling & only £20 or so. Look forward to seeing more Elise content. Cheers.

[@Phiyedough]

For that alternator pivot sleeve, you don't need to hammer anything. Just tighten the bolt to the other hole with the end of the thread against the sleeve then use an extra nut as a pusher, tightened against the sleeve.

[@gethinjones9987]

Toyo proxies 👍 great tyres at a reasonable price been using them for years ide go for those 👌

[@BJHolloway1]

Highly recommend you use "RainX" on your windscreen - have been using this for 15 years now and it really good. Wipers last forever and never a judder..

[@grinnders]

Toyo Proxes T1-R are the default tyre choice for the Elise. Many people go a size width up on the fronts. Have a look on SELOC techwiki

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Looking forward to see if new tyres fix your issues. Great video and happy to see all the improvements being done to the car and how it improves quality of life for the car.

[@576103]

Pro tip: no need to resort to percussive engineering to shift that sleeve in the alternator mount. Get a suitably long fully threaded bolt. Slide it in through the first hole, then in the middle of the bracket, fit a washer, nut, second nut, then second washer. Slide the bolt further in so that it is fully engaged in both holes. Now tighten the nuts in opposite directions so that the washers are hard up against the respective sides. Continue to tighten, and the spacer will be gently pressed out. It’s a very gentlemanly way to do it. This technique is especially useful when trying to fit rear hub carriers in between the legs of a lower control arm. Occasionally people will get a bit rambunctious and overtighten the pin securing the hub carrier, slightly bending the A-arm. When you remove the hub carrier the legs pop inward and it’s a huge job trying to refit the hub carrier. A suitable length of allthread rod with associated nuts and washers can allow enough force to be brought to bear to open the gap back up again to where it needs to be. If high amounts of force are anticipated, be sure to oil the threads to prevent galling.

[@paulriggers1558]

thankyou, you saved me a lot of typing, good with hammers, crap with keyboards

[@catxls1835]

That's the way to do it!

[@john1703]

Effectively, to make a turnbuckle.

[@TheKRU251]

Jack. Great to see one of your fleet being worked on. I like these vids the best ! As an aside, I have used TAYNA batteries for a few years. You're sponsored by a fantastic company !!!!

[@h533feg]

Standard fitment on Elises now are Yoko Advan V105's. I've also put them on my S2 Exige and for pure road use they are excellent.

[@hakonhalldorsson6673]

Was going to recommend these as well as I love them on my S2, but they don't seem to be available in 15" for the S1 fronts.

[@miloudiben]

Only have experience of owning an S2, but Yokohamas were great on that. Make sure the tyre pressures are spot on, granted mine were way out but made a big difference to the ride once sorted.

[@rollieenavlogs7370]

Great to see the Elise again ! Please centralise that exhaust 😅 it’s doing my OCD no good at all 😊

[@henryrodier8024]

If you have a piece of threaded rod you could put the nuts up against both ears and cranked the sleeve back out of the way for a £ or 2 it will make for a useful tool and you can use again for other tasks a hammer is a great tool but only if there is room to swing it.

[@lesklower7281]

What a great little car the Lotus Elise is and these parts available for them that are better parts for the Elise thats good you can improve your Elise for not much cost

[@timscarnonsense319]

My alternator also just needed replacing. The old hand rover mechanic said it's a common problem being so close to the exhaust. I offered to get the Eliseparts alternator hear shield kit. He said hed just make one up from some old ally heat shielding. Apparently he made dozens whilst working at rover years ago.

[@penkypenk]

currently my Elise rides on Uniroyal Rainsport 5. Pretty much like this tire as it is a good road perfomer (in my opinion) and it´s available in the S1 standard sizes 185/55 R15 and 205/60 R16.

[@БранимирПетров]

I have Rainsport 3 185/55 on my old Alfa. On dry road they are pretty ok, nothing amazing. But on wet they grip like crazy, should be weel suited for the british climate.

[@tim.williams]

Likewise. Rainsport 5s in std size on my S1; and they seem to suit UK roads quite well.

[@Mattsts4]

When I did my alternator, I removed the rear clamshell. It’s so much easier. It’s only four bolts in the two door shut and a few underneath.

[@dominicwebb8000]

Toyo Proxies TR1’s for road use, only ever used this brand for 45k miles in the S1. Jack, you won’t see any play in the ball joints by using hand pressure. The guys a Lakeside used to use a massive bar to get leverage, not under the wheel but on the joint. The way the loads work the joints compress and hide any potential problems.

[@redsidebiker]

Hi jack, as for tyres, I would only go one of 2 ways. I used to have a SW20 MR2, which I mostly ran on Yokos (A022 as I recall). They never ever let go. I also tried a set of Eage F1s on it, they never let go, either. I also ran Yokos on my E53 4.4i X5, that never let go. From 36 yrs driving exeperience, I would never trust Pirrelli or Michelin (unless on motorbike or lorries). hth.

[@RandomGuyDan]

I looked on the site for US retailer Tire Rack and was surprised to see only 1 brand makes the skinny 175/55-16 size on the front of the Elise. The rears are the same as my Mk IV Jetta had all round, 225/45-17 and my favorite tires, Conti Extreme contact DWS 06 is available. It comes in a 195/50-16 that is only .3 inches wider and .2 inches taller. It's a great all condition tire I have used on 3 very different vehicles with great success.

[@LukeING4]

YOKOHAMA Advan semi-slick tires are great. I use them on my everyday Lancia Delta for three seasons. Great value for those huge grip tires. Fun to drive on dry roads and also has no problems on rainy days.

[@davedavey5]

Loving the double cable tie fixing holding the exhaust up,a proper old school repair.

[@nikbeale4624]

Nice to see you working on cars again. My 1 suggestion would be to invest in a quality head torch they just make everything easier.

[@legaltechinnovations1594]

Nankang NS-2R Race Street 180 (Semi-Slick) 195/50 R16 Nankang NS-2R Race Street 180 (Semi-Slick) 225/45 R17 Wet grip has actually been surprisingly ok on my Elise

[@lewis72]

Bridgestone Potenzas are a good quality tyre of choice for the Elise. I hated mine (an '02 S2) during the winter months; the heater wasn't capable of heating the cabin faster than it was escaping through the roof etc. Consequently, on cold days, you'd have to drive with a coat on and clear the condensation off the inside of the front screen periodically.

[@SuperMadpom]

Yokohama Advans work well till they go off. I had a set on mine with heaps of tread but about 7-8 years old. They let go on me when I put my clog down exiting a roundabout onto a straight stretch of road on a perfectly dry day. Huge tail wagging tank slapper until the car finally gripped and spun 180 putting drivers side wheels into the kerb. I had Toyos since then but back on Advans at the moment. I don't wait for the tyres to get too old before swapping them out. Quaife Torque biasing diff has been installed since which is one of the best investments in the car for those of us who aren't racing drivers.

[@TheMrrigma]

Jack pop over and I’ll let you try some Yokohama ad08rs and Nankang nsr2 tyres. Saves taking a leap of faith with something.

[@stefansworld3351]

After searching for decent tyres for my Saab 900 which has 195/60/15'', a lot on offer were mainly made for fuel economy, so were quite soft with little feedback from the road. I did a lot of research and decided upon TOYO Proxes CF2. There was very little choice for such a thin and small tyre size for a vehicle with 200bhp, so I've fitted them and they are fantastic! Plenty of feedback, grip and great in all weathers. Much less wheelspin than with the old tyres. They have a slightly firmer sidewall and better rubber compound.

[@johnireland1629]

Good to see you working on a car again. And the little Lotus is proving to be a good daily driver, something rarely if ever heard of in the US. When you have a moment, it would be great to recap the cars you have, the cars you've gotten rid of, and what your plans are for them.

[@adogmcdizzle]

I got the following response when I inquired about new tyres to a well known specialist a few months ago for my S1: ‘The original LTS spec AD05/06 tyres are no longer available. The best replacement for an Elise S1 is probably the AD08RS. These are available in the 195/50R15 & 225/45R16 sizes, as were used by Lotus on the AD05/06 LTS spec tyre. Price for a full set of AD08RS is currently £400+VAT’ The RS doesn’t seem to gee great reviews compared to its predecessor however - Like you say Jack, not much choice.

[@Number27]

Thanks Alex!

[@davebarron5939]

Enjoy your car reviews however, the detailed repair videos are becoming my favorite. Cheers!

[@joelvantwillert]

Very nice to see the Elise again!

[@davidhodgson7764]

I use yoko fleva here in west aus. I too have the Eliseparts wiper, a cheap upgrade

[@davidbrooks4791]

I use AD08RS on my daily driver S2 Toyota. A great tyre.

[@jehl1963]

6:19 pretty well sums up my experiences as a "backyard mechanic". 😆

[@stephenricketts7764]

A good set of tyres is a must. I get what you say about those that came with the wheels but how old they are could be a factor. Yokohama would be my choice and do check for correct PSI that makes all the difference. I know I am preaching to the converted but it is surprising how many cars you can spot in a carpark with underinflated tyres. Nice to see the Lotus being used, do take care in the wet Jack.👍👍

[@richardhunt809]

Terrific video once again. It’s always a pleasure to see the Frankenlise. Coincidentally I’ve got exactly the same “chirrup” noise from my MR2 at the moment and I’m pretty sure it’s the alternator.

[@andrewgurney6019]

Great upgrades to a fabulous little car, defiantly a keeper.

[@bhpturboboost]

tyers are so important on a car , Goodyear firehawk are excellent wet or dry and on the bends the car will roll but will stay on point .... worth every penny .... ....

[@gaccutler9526]

I changed my S2/K alternator a couple of years back. I found that the only way the alternator could come out was from above, not through the arch. I had to remove the plastic cam-cover to allow this to happen. Removing the boot-lid gives more room for working from above. FWIW - for the 3 bolts/nuts on the alternator, ISTRT I found best access to the required 3 separate modes: from the top, from the side, and from underneath; you'll soon figure which bolt/nut was available from each of the 3 positions.

[@ratcat7668]

Me too but mines a series 2.

[@MrTimstaaa]

Hi Jack. I had one in British racing green. Should not have sold it. At the time the tyres I had on my car were Falken Azenis RT 215. A semi slick tyre legal for road use. The car handled like it was on rails. I think those tires have since been replaced with the Falken RT 615. Awesome tyres.

[@catxls1835]

I assumed you had sold the Frankenelise, I'm pleased you still have it! It looks as if there have been other upgrades I have missed. Love it!

[@ascorbic123]

I've got Yokohama blue earths on my mx-5 mk2 and they definitely work very well on that. Great front end feel. Proxes feel a bit more squishy but have lots of grip.

[@catxls1835]

Yoko's are the ones to use I'm led to believe my friend. I'm about to start a blog on an immaculate S1 Elise with only 16,000 miles if you are interested. Also on the wheels, there are few and far between wheels, tyres and disc's available "off the shelf" even though it shares many parts with Vauxhall. There is a great video (I do have a copy), of the Elise during it's development that I'm sure you will enjoy that explains the reason behind the wheel, brake rotors and wheel designs. According to this video, the Elise saved the Lotus brand from extinction. Cool Video!!

[@simonansell3241]

Great Video Jack but you'd better check your tire supplier if they are calling them Yokohomo 😂

[@drewwagar]

AD08R and AD08RS are a liability in the wet. Only use them for high days and track days. :)

[@nickpage2949]

We had R888 Proxies on our 968 track car, we loved them but there was a very marked difference between their cold and hot performance. You may not get them up to temperature on the road. Different car of course.

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

On my Elise I run the Falken Ziex ZE-914A Ecorun, I find them to be really good value for money and a really good tyre in general!

[@eze8970]

Like seeing an old friend again, thanks for the update Jack! 🙏

[@barrybortnick7999]

Perhaps a small c-clamp could have been used to push that bushing back out?

[@christianbuczko1481]

Those are my favourite cars, virtually perfect except lacking power.

[@patrickhostler5939]

Ohhhh man, I’ve missed your beautiful Lotus…

[@AndyRRR0791]

I'm running Michelin PS3s and they're a great choice for road use. Probably not track day tyres but you should use your old wheels for some sticky rubber for that purpose.

[@truebluemiata]

Jack, love the view out the windshield! Sounds like you got a rebuilt alternator. Be prepared for another failure. At least here in the States rebuilders will not replace things like the diodes if they test Good but are already well-used. Hope yours lasts.

[@tonycamplin8607]

So glad that it's getting sorted. As some others have suggested you should have used a bolt or threatened rod and spacer to push that bush back. Its never a good idea to use a big hammer, a cheap garage bodge, there's nearly always a better alternative. Looking forward to future videos on the Lotus.

[@davec1942]

Great work, could watch you chat and tinker all day, check the steering rack and column incase it's not the tyres. More vids like this Jack, perfect.

[@vinnythevid]

Mine has had yoko advan ad07, a048, ad08r, toyo r1r, kumho ecsta ku31, and currently Nangkang NS-2R, in 195/50x15 at the front and 225/45x16 at the rear. One by one the tyre choice is narrowed down so you’re right finding decent tyres is not easy. my experience of going from ad08r to ns-2r was good. 99 percent of the feel and grip for about half the cost last time I bought. There is a lot of tyre snobbery around the Lotus scene and many will tell you that Nangkangs are ditchfinders and question why anyone would put budget tyres on a thoroughbred sports car. I only speak as I find and for the road they represent pretty good value for money.

[@christopherboyle1479]

The Yokohama ADO7s on my S2 have been an excellent compromise between daily driver utility and feel on the occasional track day. They are the OEM tyre. Hint: the people at a company such as Lotus are actually pretty good at chassis engineering and you fiddle with their specs at your peril. Noticed your drive was in the wet (surprise in UK). As somebody who had two X1/9s, I am very conscious that being too ambitious with tyre size or 'performance' on the front end of a light mid-engined car can easily produce sphincter-tightening loss of front-end grip in the wet or on loose surfaces (don't even mention Lotus Europa).

[@nickmoore2301]

Love the MG Rover oil filter 👍😊

[@mgwaite10]

AD08RS are really great, very refined. They don’t really seem so hardcore when you’ve got them on. Maybe worth changing the ARB drop links and tie rod ends, absolutely transformed my steering feel.

[@mgwaite10]

Not changed the ball joints, I imagine that will be obvious to as they are 18years old to my knowledge.

[@shauntvr4312]

I use toyos on my tvr great tyres

[@klauswassermann8054]

Brilliant advice on a lovely car. Rgd. the front axle issue, have you thought of checking toe-in? The track rod ends do look rather ancient...

[@Sleepy.Time.]

glad to see your Elise is still running strong, always liked the Elise and Exige

[@pdtomson]

If you want to stay with the (wrong) tyre sizes for the stock wheels (195/50/15+225/45/16) then the only choice is AD08RS. If you swap back to the correct sizes for the AWI rims (185/55/15 and 205/50/16) then there are a lot more choices - Toyo TR1, AVon Zv7, yokohama v701, PS3, goodyear EGS, contis PC6. Everyone only swapped to the larger tyres on the stock rims because lotus only made the yoke neova in that size. The car was delivered on the smaller pirelli P0s.

[@pdtomson]

the 111S and sport 160 came with wider rears, 225 but still 185 front (P0s). 195 fronts only came with the Neovas. My Neovas have plenty of tread but are years old so I'm going to try V701s next.

[@rustynut9uk897]

Try putting n the top of the front wheel with the on the floor .. That how to test top ball joints .

[@organiccold]

The Yokohama tyres are really good and a bit hard, the Toyo are a bit softer but they have grip like glue, as the UK asfalt doesn't get too hot the Toyo Proxes will be my choice as i used them a lot in my ex Punto GT and tjey were really cool. A couple of years ago you could get really uhh amazing tyres from Bridgestone but they don't do them anymore :(

[@autoavids]

It's amazing the effect what such a small part can have. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@ryanmccormick2150]

I forgot you owed an Elise Jack 😂.... I'm getting forgetful in my twilight years 😉

[@autobahnproven]

Regarding tyres: isn't the question how will you use the car? If it's a daily to drive in all weathers, (you told us in the video it's your daily) you'll choose different tyres from if you were using it selectively on sunny and dry days.

[@steffydog]

Fab, a repair video, thank you 🎉

[@AndyfromSurrey]

Tires make a huge difference to all cars, but especially on a car like the Elise.

[@dogpaw775]

unless the rubber bush on the gearbox mount was tapered it would seem all tht is being done is the taper is compressing the rubber bush more for a % of its depth. In which case good in short term but shall require sooner attention/ replacement due to wear. Rubber encased neoprene would be better solution. Thinking being, gradual transition of shear forces between rubber and neoprene. of complimentary densities. Go away and think about it, I'll think you'll find I'm right.

[@jamesharvey9426]

YOKOHOMO? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Jack, that made me laugh.

[@MalcolmPowder]

Toyo Proxes R1R were always supposed to be damned good on an S1, or maybe just the standard Yokohama Advan Neova AD08. Either way, I'm glad to see Frankie back on the channel.

[@tim205Mi]

Great Vid Jack, luv it when you work on the fleet!! 👍🍺👍🍺👍

[@Gridlynk]

Might also be worth checking to see if one of the wheels is bent or out of balance.

[@richardsmith9509]

Continental DWS are the best if you can get them in the right size

[@countduckula007]

A great guy and a really good channel, very easy to watch with a good presenting style. I think he’d be better off sub-contracting any re-build or repair work to others, this part of of the channel, although watchable, is more comedy than competence.

[@kevinmills5293]

Great to see the Elise again

[@adriancoppola3729]

Have you had the suspension geometry checked? From what I recall the Elise is very sensitive to having everything correct.

[@mgwaite10]

Have you corner weighted ? Get the 50/50 diagonal spot on, it has a huge difference. Weirdly getting the balance made my gear change feel better, I think the power train must be more stable in a more stable car, makes a bit of sense.

[@ethelred2648]

Definitely. Northampton Motorsport did my Caterham and they were excellent. Have some fancy Hawkeye machine and weighted it with me inside.

[@mgwaite10]

@@ethelred2648 I borrowed the kit from work and did it myself, do it with the driver in it is best. It’s possible to get it spot on.

[@ethelred2648]

@@mgwaite10 my Caterham has just been rebuilt and the wheels pointed in any direction so the use of Hawkeye at NM was invaluable for castor, camber etc.

[@10rGreenninja]

When you say 1 thing at a time you need to remember you are talking about a performance sports car so the first thing is tyres, then brakes these are the only 2 things that matter. My mate has just 'backed' his boxter into a crash barrier coming off a roundabout due to having 'ditch finders' fitted. Can you get Pilot Sport 4 or 5 in the correct sizes? I fitted the 5 to my MX 5 earleir this year and they are so much better than the Continental Sport 6's I had fitted and they weren't old or badly worn.

[@chopper602]

Have you hijacked Harry Metcalfes road test route - that bend and uphill looks very similar . . .

[@psircos]

Nice vid Jack. I really love the car raiser you bought, I remember you introducing it to us during the spring/summer months. Must make life so much easier. I'm hoping the Elise video was a coincidence, and not due to anything that plonker David C said on the 155 short clip you posted 😂

[@Number27]

Nope.. coincidence!

[@terryjames5109]

Great stream Jack. Great upgrades

[@framerateuk]

I think the Avon ZZS are available in Elise sizes? Been using them on my Caterham for years - mostly on the road and they've been brilliant, especially in the wet. They might be a little too grippy though, but I've found they work nicely on a Caterham with 140bhp.

[@oohmeconkers1968]

Jack’s back!! Getting his hands dirty!! Listen to your mum and stay away from Yokohomos!!😂😂😂

[@Lemma01]

All brill, Jack -BUT - have to say much more fun to have "old style #27" when you have a bold stab at fixing stuff. Always happy to hear your views on stuff you drive, but I reckon you're at your peak in PJs under an oily chassy (as Tav.'s fans would have it). Remember, on cars like these, which can be a pain in the neck: "Spanner As And When!"

[@naiart82]

Your posts always get a thumbs up from me.

[@harald.370]

Lol, until 1:20 I thought you were in front of a green screen 🤣

[@jacksyful]

use Rain x to keep screen clear / fantastic!!

[@MrCarrera28]

I have seen Kumho tyres discussed on some Elise forums, from personal experience I wouldn't recommend them as I found them vague on my Type R. I have had experience with Yokohamas Proxes and they were good but not great tyres (that is not a criticism of them as they were good value for money).

[@lp9280]

Assuming it is 16" wheels you have it is surprisingly bad choice for tyres. I would probably play around a little bit with different sizes and get just standard premium UHP, something Along the Lines of Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2 (available in 215). Prices are quite bad thought... seem like good tyres don't like R16s and smaller.

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Good to it back.

[@betacam235]

Are you sure your front wishbone bushes aren't a bit knackered? My 99 111Sgot to the point where it wouldn't hold a geo...would definitely affect front end cornering feel.

[@lokiiddqd]

maybe the best michelin pilot sports that fit the smaller lotus wheels? maybe ps5 if availanble?

[@andrewshelley410]

That four post lift is making me nervous, whatever you do don't take the front wheels off, you might want to google why.

[@Number27]

I checked pushing the back end down with it just off the floor and it was stable!

[@paulriggers1558]

it's a two-post lift, those two big red things sticking up are the posts... it's a stable platform used by thousands of mechanics every day, we literally trust our lives with them but there are idiots out there....

[@andrewshelley410]

@@paulriggers1558 Don't know why I said four post. What I was getting at is the habit of the Elise to fall backwards off the lift if you're not careful which lifting/jacking points you use.

[@paulriggers1558]

@@andrewshelley410 you have to ratchet-strap nissan navara's to the ramp legs at the front when taking the engine/box out, it's up to 3 tons of hurt if you don't use some common sense, 1/2 ton of elise pah! unfortunately, common sense is not that common.[hello utube] 25 ltr plastic drums full of water are good ballast, get them in the footwells + on the [fully covered] seats on the RWD lightweights, there's 100kg of insurance [it's instant dismissal if you loose a car off the lift, + rightly so]