1974 Elite Rear Tailgate

[algirdas]

Dear All:

 

I am new to the forum just having taken delivery of a 1974 Lotus Elite yesterday.  The car is an abandoned restoration by a previous owner.  One of the problems I now face is that the tailgate operating cable is disconnected and the shippers closed the tailgate.  Any suggestions on getting it open without causing a bunch of new problems?

 

Sincerely,

 

Algirdas

[The Nut]

Algirdas,

I made up a hook from a wire coat hanger, there is a drain hole immediately below the hinge point where the cable attaches you should be able to see it through the back window, its a tricky bit of fishing, when you get it open tie wire to the back of the catch and leave it hanging down through the hole. I have left mine in place just in case the release breaks for any reason

Have fun with the car, be good to see some photos.

John

[mikeeech]

Welcome to the world of unfinished elite restorations. it's nice to know i'm not the only sap out there! Pics please! 

[algirdas]

Dear All:

The tailgate is now open. I could not get to the multiplication lever through the drain hole, so I popped the intermediate rear window.

When it goes back together, I promise you there will be a blanking grommet somewhere below the bumper and behind it a pullring and cable running to the latch.

NEVER again will I fold up myself like a beefy piece of origami to yank that window.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[pbharcourt]

Well done Algridas!

I found that feeding a small child into the boot after removing the glass partition and then shouting loudly at them had the desired effect!

[CharlieCroker]

Haha, some of the positions I have found myself in whilst working on my elite have almost been porn like! And getting to the boot catch was one of those moments!

[Herc]

Sorry I missed this post when it was submitted, but there is an easier way - you can drill-out the heads of  the two bolts holding the lip catch on.  SJ has (or at least had) some new ones at lowish cost. 

[mat grant]

Hi,

 

Glad you got that tailgate open.

 

Sorry if this is a slight thread drift..... but I have the same worry about the bonnet catches, they have never failed on my car, but if the cable snapped on either side at the catch end, or slips out of the clamp at the catch end, what option is there to get the bonnet open other than cutting holes in it?

 

Mat.

[algirdas]

Dear All:

 

Drilling the bolts at the catch was going to be my "Plan C."  But popping out the intermediate rear window seemed to be the best option.  Now I need to repair the seal and put it all back together.

 

Not to sound like a total and complete moron, but I cannot seem to find the hole through which the hatch release cable is routed from the rear seat to the boot.  My car has a hole fairly high up on the passenger side of the car, but I cannot find a similar hole on the driver's side.  By the way, my car is a LHD model.

 

Good catch on the bonnet catches.  A new definition for "despair" would be an engine fire and your catches fail.  I will have to think about a solution for that potential doomsday scenario.

 

Sincerely,

 

Algirdas

[cdfps]

The pull ring under the bumper is the route I took.

 

There is a "L" shaped bell crank at the left corner of the rear compartment.  Originally there was a cable fitted that was routed to the inexplicable stock location which I removed.

 

I drilled a hole through the body directly below the point at which the cable attached to the bell crank.  I then used a 3mm steel rod attached to the bell crank and extending below the car through the hole.

 

I just looked and I don't have any pictures, but I'll take some when I am back from vacation.  

 

Best,

 

Ross 

[algirdas]

Dear Friends:

I am doing less tearing apart these days and starting to put things back on the car. But I am completely baffled about routing the rear hatch release cable. I know where it originates and where it terminates, but the routing of the middle bit has me stumped. There is a hole down low near the fuel pump mounting which is roughly in line with the cable mounting plate in the rear corner, but it leads into the rear wheel well. The previous "restoration experts" smeared undercoating (I know, WTF!) all over the wheel wells. Could they have covered up a corresponding hole on the interior side of the wheel well? Could Lotus have designed the car to have this cable to go through an open wheel well? I find it hard to believe, but I am at a loss on how to get this cable from point A to point B. Any help?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[dixi4uk]

I think you need to have a look at the parts diagram which is available online at R D enterprises Ltd.

It is an unusual set up. I am unsure if LHD and RHD are the same.

[algirdas]

Dear Friends:

I have studied the diagram that Ray has on his website. Its the same one I have in the parts manual. Problem is it does not show where the cable gets routed from the interior to the boot. Plus, the multiplying lever on my car moves forward parallel to the ground and not downward.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[dixi4uk]

The pull handle is in the back of the rear right hand side pocket on my right hand drive car. The illustration I referred you to seems to fit on the left for LHD.

The multiplier may have been assembled incorrectly by a previous owner, is it possible?

[algirdas]

Dear Adrian:

My multiplier does not have a 90 degree braket that allows it to stand vertically. But that is not the issue. How does the cable makes its way from the interior to the boot?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[pbharcourt]

I am not sure about the S1 Elite but all cables on the S2 run up and over the rear wheel arch, there is a small gap at the top.

If you look at the wiring loom on the R/H side it does the same thing.

[Herc]

On my RHD S1,  which has the battery on the offside, the bowden cable from the latch runs around the back of the battery and up through a hole over the wheel arch, about 5 inches above the top of the battery, close the outside panel of the car. 

[dixi4uk]

Both Paul and Herc have beaten me to it.  My cable is fitted as they describe above the battery adjacent to the wiring loom.

The release handle hidden away in the side cubby hole behind the driver in a RHD car. It is mounted horizontally.

I would think the hole should be there to see in your trim panel and rear bulkhead as the cable attachment clamps the two together after inserting it from inside the car.

[algirdas]

Dear All:

 

Thanks for the help.  Just so I am clear, the bowden cable does not run outside in the wheel arch where it can be exposed to the elements-correct?

 

If I head up the wheel arch, there is no hole there and on the boot side of the wall between the passenger compartment and the boot is the evaporative system catch tank.

 

Next dumb question-I am assuming the jacket or sleeve of the bowden cable gets secured and the cable running through it moves the multiplying lever.  Could it be like the throttle on a baby Elan and the cable itself is secured and the sleeve of the bowden cable does the heavy lifting and moves the multiplying lever?

 

I'll try to take some pics tonight.

 

Sincerely,

 

Algirdas

[Herc]

No, nothing is exposed to the elements.