My friend is currently doing an MT75 into an elan S4 and is stuck on the correct starter motor. He has tried a few different Sierra/Scorpio etc and has the right ones regarding ring gear position but cannot find one with the solenoid on the top. the side-mounted solenoids dont clear the chassis and the solenoid under the starter is not ideal, I know he can cut off the third mounting hole and turn one upside down but there must be one that fits off the shelf. He has had someone in a spares shop trying to find something but no success. I will bet someone on here has the answer; cheers, John.
He may have to live with the Solenoid underneath. My Elan with Zetec Engine but Elan G/box has the Solenoid positioned
underneath the Starter Motor.
Yes it is open to the Elements a bit & the Handbrake inner Cable runs quite close to the Plus connection on the Solenoid
The Starter has 3 Bolt fixing but the Elan Bellhousing only 2 & has survived without any problems.
I don’t think there are too many alternatives out there & you seem to have found most if not all.
I think I’d have a go at removing that 3rd Lug if that will work; 1/2 an hours work at the most.
Cheers
John
I have run with the solenoid on my Elan and Plus 2 under the starter ( a 3 bolt Bosch one from a 70’s escort ) for many years without problem just using the 2 Lotus mounting bolts. I had to space down the handbrake cable on the plus 2 as it is located higher on the spyder chassis. It is no problem on a standard chassis.
I never thought of cutting off the third lug and rotating it 180 degrees - I must look more closely at it 
On second thought the alloy nose that carries the starter shaft has an opening in it and that opening would be facing away from the fly wheel - but maybe that can be turned 180 degrees on the starter body ?
cheers
Rohan
I just spoke to another Elan.net member who reminded me of the difficulty to access the top mounting bolt with a top-mounted solenoid; I will pass this info. on, thanks guys, what a great resource this site is, cheers, John.
Aha, a good point there. I think you mean the relief in the Nose of the Starter, which I think is there to provide clearance for the Flywheel.
If the Starter is rotated through 180? another relief may be needed & that could possibly weaken the front Bearing of the Starter.
The original relief would also be pointing away from the Flywheel & thus provide less support for the Bearing.
Pure theory of course, as I don’t have a Starter in front of me to study.
Cheers
John