The flowlock is threaded each side with female?M14 1.5 pitch threads bottoming in a flare. On the tank side this receives an olive which is compressed around the steel end tube incorporated into the "U" shaped composite pipe from the fuel tank banjo. The olive is sealed to the flowlock by an M14 compression nut. According to the various parts diagrams for the pre-86 cars, on the pump side the flowlock is sealed to teflon pipe using an olive as well. However in the flowlock I bought, on this side the M14 thread is converted to 1/4 BSP by means of a double male adapter: The M14 1.5 side of which has a terminal male flare to seal into the olive space inside the flowlock without an olive and converts to a male 1/4 BSP male thread, again with internal olive compression flare. This privides the same thread as that on the pump where the internal (female) 3/8 bsp thread is converted to 1/4 BSP male, by means of an adapter which seals by compressing the O ring on the pump against the flange of the 3/8 to 1/4 BSP adapter, again terminating the a 1/4 BSP male thread with an internal flare to take an olive. This presumably allows a simple pipe with bsp 1/4 compression joints at each end to be fitted. Although necessary to convert to Lotus compression unions this although this . If replacing the M14 adapter in the flowlock with a sealing washer, the length of the flange to thread end cannot be more than 8mm or the thread will bottom out in the flowlock before it compresses the sealung washer. Similarly, if doing the same in the pump the 3/8 BSP thread should be no longer than 0.7 mm and the flange should be larger than normal to compress the O ring evenly.
I sold the car before I solved this fitting conundrum!
Finding my way around a Lotus Excel in need of restoration. This is my record of the project A870UBX. I'm not a mechanic and the processes described are not necessarily recommended. I will accept no responsibility for any losses or damage resulting from following in my footsteps: BUT if you know a better way or can see anything obviously wrong please feel free to send a comment. Its a learning process after all!
I just found this blog after impulse buying a 74 Elite at auction. For a complete beginner mechanic like me this is an amazing resource.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time.
Hello and congratulations. I'm trying to restore an excel from 1984. It was all taken apart. Can you tell me the assembly sequence of the injection cables? I think the shortest is that of the first spark plug. The others which are all the same? Thanks if you can answer me.
ReplyDeleteHi there, To be honest I think the ignition leads are pretty much universal in that, if they fit they will work. Just select the leads for the most obvious application. The shortest will be pot 4 and the longest pot 1 but just fit the others as works best.
DeleteHello. Do you have a diagram of the position of the fuses in the fuse box? Excel 1984. thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Mike - having just bought an Excel, am going through your nicely detailed blog posts - thanks very much for taking the time and putting in the effort! Having this kind of detail available is going to be very helpful in the coming months/years.
ReplyDeleteNeil.