I am viewing a potential purchase (RHD S4 FHC ) on line at the moment (squinting at photos) and just looking for potential issues. One obvious one is that it has no firebox on the carbs (just those foam style filters), so I know that needs sorting. But here’s an odd one. I thought the fuel gauge should be to the left and temperature / oil gauge to the right. On this one its reversed. Is that just something that is down to some Lotus variation? If not does it raise any concerns / issues ; like if someone swapped out the dash and got that wrong, what else did they mess up?!
You are correct, fuel to left and oil/temp to the right. Do you know much about the car’s history? It could have been rebuilt like that through either preference or error, or it could be that a previous owner fitted a replacement gauge with a much shorter capillary tube. Between the sender in the cylinder head and where the tube enters the bulkhead the excess tube should be loosely coiled up two or three times. If not you possibly have a shortened tube, if there’s lots of spare tube then a previous owner has fitted it like that. I would be more concerned if the oil/temp gauge isn’t working rather than its location and I would walk away from a “road worthy” car that doesn’t have both working.
What else did they mess up? Usually it’s the wiring, so ask if there’s any add on’s, modifications, etc. that the vendor is aware of. There’s nothing wrong with improving an Elan’s electrics, just so long as it’s all recorded.
Mike
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Thanks Mike, Very helpful. I will know what to ask and what to look for if I decide to view in person. So many quirks in cars that come up for sale!
I assume that it’s the blue S4 in Aberdeen that you’re interested in. A few things that I picked up looking at the video.
The oil pressure needle at idle appears to be right over on its stop, just past 60psi. I would want to see the engine run up to correct temperature.
The passenger window frame is from an S3, you can tell because it has the chrome pull on the frame.
It appears that the windscreen pillar trim on the drivers side is missing. There should be a round fresh air vent in the trim, and i can’t see it.
The rocker switches are all buried too deep in the dash. Possibly because they are replacements and are slightly different to the originals.
The chrome front bumper trim is missing, although that’s not uncommon.
Otherwise there’s a lot of money in that car; I’d just want some reassurance regarding the oil pressure and engine temperature, the other things are relatively minor.
Mike
Wow … Thanks. I did see the door pull on the passenger side but had no idea that it was an S3 frame. So that answers one mystery. The missing trim - thats good to know. I have since seen a video of it up and running and the gauges seem to be working except oil pressure does seem high. Its around 40psi at tickover and goes over 60 when revved. So not sure about that except that it could be a calibration issue. Temperature is sitting at 95 after time at idle, but doesn’t seem to go above that. He measured with an infra red gun (not perfect I know) at the otter switch on the radiator and gets 85.5 there (when the gauge - reading off the head sender) is 95. That at least seems consistent. From what I can hear on the video the engine seems to be running evenly and sounds sweet enough.
Take a look at this topic regarding pillar trims What is this missing piece of interior trim next to dash?
If the trim and fresh air nozzle (and tubing) is missing then either fresh air is being blown in to the footwells, or more likely the outlets on the heater box have also been blanked off.
Search on here for “oil pressure” but normally it’s 40psi when running and 15 to 20 at idle (hot). It could have an high pressure pump fitted, which is not really desirable for a road engine. Once again, search “high pressure pump”, there’s plenty of discussion on that topic.
Mike
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Ha … Yes I have now read a lot (more than is good for my health) about high pressure oil pumps! It reminds me of my previous Elan ownership (40 years ago now) - so many things to worry and obsess about!
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