Kansas City Area Thread

[MikeRoberts44]

Welcome to EliseTalk and we look forward to meeting you at one of our informal, infrequent gatherings.

Originally Posted by jlj3394

That is good news, I live about 2 minutes from George's.

I will let you know when we pull the trigger, right now we're looking for the right one. Any advice?

I have no doubts that we will provide plenty of advice. What is your intended use(s)? Mine is a daily driver and sometimes track and autoX car. Today I had the top off. That's a high priority for me.

Are you looking new or used? Color? Have you driven one? Will your wife be a regular driver?

[babak]

What Mike said. And adding one more, when you find a used car ask around here about it, chances are great that somebody knows the car fairly well on the board or lives nearby to check it out.

[turbophil]

There's also a mechanic in Stilwell (South of Overland Park) that works primarly on Ferrari's that would be happy to work on our cars. He seems to be a real good guy and has been in the area for years... I also think he would be cheaper than George's... Interesting thing about the Lotus Elise is that it's SUPER simple. I think just about any mechanic could work on it. I do all my own work and so far my experience has been that it's simpler to work on than any other car I've worked on before. There's no hidden bolts or chineese fingers required like there are on German cars (or just about any other car anymore ).

So my advice is to simply take it to a place that doesn't mind working on something that's a little one-off. I can't imagine taking the car to Mid-Rivers ever again --unless it's for warranty work--which I don't anticipate needing to have done...

Good luck in your search!

Best,

Phil

[babak]

Originally Posted by turbophil

So my advice is to simply take it to a place that doesn't mind working on something that's a little one-off. I can't imagine taking the car to Mid-Rivers ever again --unless it's for warranty work--which I don't anticipate needing to have done...

Indeed, when I had my clam repaired I reprinted the removal instructions from Sandmans site and took it with the car, the shop guys were happy to have a recepie to follow and it went without a hitch.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by babak

Indeed, when I had my clam repaired I reprinted the removal instructions from Sandmans site and took it with the car, the shop guys were happy to have a recepie to follow and it went without a hitch.

Yip +1

When I Turbo my car, I'll do that myself... As soon as I pull the trigger on a lift (undecided on model right now), I'll be splitting the tranny from the engine to replace the clutch and flywheel... Now if Sol get's anxious and does his first I may pay him with some beer to do mine too

Cheers,

Phil

[babak]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Now if Sol get's anxious and does his first I may pay him with some beer to do mine too

I'm bribing him with a pot of curry to help me put on Ekologic's HID. I've got a tubular sitting in the garage that needs to be put on that I'll tackle easter weekend, along with the air filter.
If lift is holding you back I've got access to a large garage with a pit.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by babak

I'm bribing him with a pot of curry to help me put on Ekologic's HID. I've got a tubular sitting in the garage that needs to be put on that I'll tackle easter weekend, along with the air filter.
If lift is holding you back I've got access to a large garage with a pit.

Thanks. Sounds like you're going to have a fun Easter!

I've been eye-balling lifts for quite some time. I've pulled a lot--and I do mean a lot-- of engines and trannies without a lift when I was younger. Back then, dropping a tranny on my belly and sliding out from underneath a car, tranny on belly, didn't both me. Now I just assume use a jack and sit on a chair... What's happening to me anyway

If I don't come to a conclusion on this at some point this summer, I might just take you up on the pit............or I may break out the back-hoe and dig a pit in my shop

Since Sol is building a new house, he'd be a complete and total FOOL not to incorporate a pit or lift in his new garage... We'll just need to invite ourselves over to use it

[darkSol]

Jesus guys - you're killing me over here

With a 32' x 28' x 12' garage oh yeah there's room for a lift - I'm not getting anything for the first couple of months though. I'm even going to hold off on the slatwall / epoxy floor for a bit. It's going to be hard enough to get all the house details in. I'm not that concerned about the garage at this point. Will it hold cars and stuff? Yep. Ok. I may even hold off on an opener if I have to.

Phil - if you want to get together to get that tranny dropped - I'm doing it too. I've had a Fidanza flywheel and ACT XTSS clutch sitting on a garage shelf for almost 6 months now (I thought that MidRivers would change out my tranny under warranty... nope!) I'm positive that two guys can figure this beastie out. I've dropped/reinstalled at least a dozen Civic trannies - it can't be THAT different (really!) A transaxle is a transaxle...

I'm not jumping the FI gun until Charlie gets the ECU software fully operational (cough one month cough) - and even then it'll JUST be the TriPoint kit. 260hp sounds like the perfect deal now that I know what a +28hp/+27ftlb/+180lb Exige S feels like. It was a complete RUSH! I was going to get S111's ecuFlash mod but considering the imminent timeline I'll just wait for the gusto...

Bobby - we just have to get the moons in proper alignment to get together. I've got a whole slew of track prep to do before my first April 7th MAM FTL event, including wiring up the RPM and TPS lines to the DL1. I have a nice set of Sparco driving gloves coming too.

[MikeRoberts44]

Well, taxes are done and mailed, so I can get back to the important things in life.

I just had my two year service done! I took it to Eudell's Auto Service at 8801 W. 51st (just east of Meriam Drive) in Meriam, KS. Eudell took care of my DeLorean for almost 25 years. He also worked on my Elan occasionally. I consider him one of the best mechanics around. His phone number is 913-677-4777.

He does not have the Elise manuals, so I took him the maintenance schedule. In addition to changing the oil and filter, Lotus wants the clutch and brake fluid changed each year, which Eudell did. The rest of the service consists of about 24 "inspect" or "check" items on the Lotus list. Eudell's price was $279.48. That compares to about $180 a year ago for esentially the same service at Mid-Rivers, and $450 six months ago at George's Imports without the clutch and brake fluid change.

I am quite pleased with everyone who has so far serviced my car. Except for the drive to Mid-Rivers, that is.

Incidentally, the weather is getting nice again. Is it time for a Saturday or Sunday brunch?

[turbophil]

Time for GTG for sure.

We had a great night of driving at HPT last night!!! It was my first track session and I'm hooked. Babak was a HUGE help. THANKS BABAK!
He was nice enough to let me ride with him for each of his sessions and then he rode with me for each of mine. Needless to say, we were both pretty tired at the end of the night, and it was an awesome experience.

Dave was also there and helping to keep our times since we don't have a DL-1. He was running the advanced session where I would have been ran off the road

Should we be looking at a GTG as early as this weekend with the nice weather or put it off until next weekend?

There's a First Watch in Lawrence and another in Shawnee that would probably be decent if we wanted to change things up from the last place... Makes no difference to me...

Best,

Phil

[babak]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Time for GTG for sure.

We had a great night of driving at HPT last night!!! It was my first track session and I'm hooked. Babak was a HUGE help. THANKS BABAK!

No problem, any time. Not to mention the 'fun' spin
I'm all for a GTG but a wine and wrench session is also in order. I think we could all benefit from a day of doing simple mods like the key fob antenna extension thing, smallish things like that. Although I personally have a set of headlight rings, HIDs and a 2Bular that needs installing. Would be willing to trade food for help.

BTW Phil, how hard was the shiftlight install?

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by babak

No problem, any time. Not to mention the 'fun' spin
I'm all for a GTG but a wine and wrench session is also in order. I think we could all benefit from a day of doing simple mods like the key fob antenna extension thing, smallish things like that. Although I personally have a set of headlight rings, HIDs and a 2Bular that needs installing. Would be willing to trade food for help.

BTW Phil, how hard was the shiftlight install?

Shift light is cake. Takes just a little bit of time to cleanly route the wires, but the mechanical expertise is minimal. I like having it at the base of the windscreen because I can pick it up without taking my eyes off the road. You can order it on the shift-I website.

The antenna trick is a good one. Helps a ton. Happy to work on the exhaust too.

Wrenching is my one of my favorite pass times. I'm more than happy to volunteer my shop. Weekends are best for me.

I think David has done the HIDS on his car. I haven't.

Anyone else up for some tinkering?

Best,

Phil

[MikeRoberts44]

I would love to do a shop day! Or a wench day, but I might have to bring two wenches if we don't have a baby sitter handy.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by MikeRoberts44

I would love to do a shop day! Or a wench day, but I might have to bring two wenches if we don't have a baby sitter handy.

I like kids....I'm not too knowledgable about them but I've got 10 acres they could play on. Tie a 100 foot long line to each of them anchored to a big tree and they should be able to play for hours. I do it with my buddy's dog all the time. Just have to go out and untangle them from time -to-time is all

Phil

[turbophil]

Ok, so I didn't get very many pics--and they're not great of shots--- of the track session we had at Heartland park, but I thought I would post what I have on my little webpage.

Check the link below and you'll be able to follow to Heartland Park Pics.

http://boefabrication.com


Best,

Phil

[MikeRoberts44]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Ok, so I didn't get very many pics--and they're not great of shots--- of the track session we had at Heartland park, but I thought I would post what I have on my little webpage.

Decent pictures! Thanks! And I can't believe I missed another one! When is the next one and will any Elises be going?

Not much response on the shop day. Want to schedule one and see if anyone decides to come? I can bring pizza or sandwiches or donuts or something.

[MikeRoberts44]

Hey, Babak and Darksol, either of you got video to post?

[babak]

I've got video but crap sound. About 1G each, trying to figure out how to reduce it in size so I can post it.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by babak

I've got video but crap sound. About 1G each, trying to figure out how to reduce it in size so I can post it.

I'm glad to hear the sound didn't come out. I would hate to hear all my stupid comments and questions


Mike- I'm with ya. I know Babak has a list of stuff he was wanting to get in. Let's get something on the calendar. Weekends are best. Preferably best to start mid morning or so and then we can start horsing down the pizza for lunch. I believe I'm open this coming weekend... Takers?

Best,

Phil

[darkSol]

Originally Posted by MikeRoberts44

Hey, Babak and Darksol, either of you got video to post?

Here's one of my better laps: right-click-save-as (13mb)

I find that the ChaseCam bullet cams seem to wash out when transitioning into sunlight - so I've been running with the top off to keep a fairly constant level of light.