Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

It seems the limited room in Elans might create some challenges for the rear seatbelt attachments while keeping with the FIA max/min strap angles. Are there belts and mounts available specific to the Elan that anyone can personally vouch for?

i use a standard six point Schroth belt with standard seats and HANS with no problems. The top belt attachment is either side of the rear roll bar brace about 100mm apart at its attachment point to the top of the rear suspension tower using the standard chassis bolt at this location. Top belt angle is within the recommended range.

Next time I renew my belts I will get the narrower 50mm shoulder straps that are allowede now and fit better in the HANS shoulder harness than the current 75mm belts

cheers
Rohan

Thanks Rohan. Could you post a picture of the shoulder strap chassis mount? I plan to use a Custom Cages rollcage and their rear legs attach to the top of the strut tower.

Hi Greg
A couple of photos





This photo is a few years old the roll cage now has FIA compliant high density foam padding installed on the top and side and diagonal braces in line with current regulations.

cheers
Rohan

Thanks. If the rollcage is mounted on the top of the strut leg then the bracket will have to be a 'stand-alone' part. I found this:

http://www.kelsport.net/parts/product_d ... ctionID=14

Hi Greg,
I have the TTR one in my car looks same as kelsport. The pain in the arse bit regarding fitting one of these is that you drill all the way through both sides of the strut tower so the the bolt is about 180 mm long and difficult to keep it all lining up. Obviously need a long aircraft type drill bit

Regards
Steve

patrics wrote:Hi Greg,
I have the TTR one in my car looks same as kelsport. The pain in the arse bit regarding fitting one of these is that you drill all the way through both sides of the strut tower so the the bolt is about 180 mm long and difficult to keep it all lining up. Obviously need a long aircraft type drill bit

Regards
Steve

Thanks for the tip. My body/chassis aren't bolted up yet so I'll make sure and get that done before the body is finally mounted. I'm guessing from the picture that the bracket is threaded for regular seatbelt eyelets?

Greg,
The long bolt goes through seat belt bracket, alloy spacer, cage, body bobbin, chassis tower then other chassis tower and finally through body in to boot.
Goes through body in boot area because you have fit nut to bolt.

So you can't fit it until body, chassis and cage are together.
Cage also has to line up with bobbins

I can take photos if you like

Regards
Steve

patrics wrote:Greg,


I can take photos if you like

Regards
Steve

That would be helpful.

Hi Greg
Hopefully there will be a few photos below.

Regards
Steve

Thanks, I understand.

The rollcage I'll be fitting attaches at the top of the strut tower, not the front so I'll have plenty of room to mount a bracket for the seatbelt.

Hi Greg, here's photo of the cage fitted to my 26R, being close to 6'5" tall I need to have the cage hoop as far back as possible.... I looked at a bar across from the front hoop in behind the dash with steering column bush, but the relative positions with my height and leg position stopped that bright idea.

I've spoken to Willans who make the belts for TTR, they will happily make a custom belt to your measurements at list prices.

I use an FIA spec Tillet seat as far back as possible



Who is making your cage?

Cheers

V

Thanks V.

I was going to have Custom Cages do it, we are planning seat frame extensions and 'V' diagonals in the roof so both occupants have head room. Who did yours?

Hi mine was done by a fabricator in Australia that builds modern rally and Dakar cars as his living, his work is terrific, all bends tight to body work to maximise space for me.

In January I spoke to the Custom Cage guys, they do nice work as well.

V

V, due to the limited space I plan to have Custom cages make V reinforcement bars in the roof like picture 253-14 here.

http://www.nasarallysport.com/rules-for ... ndix-B.pdf

The double diagonals would then go from the point of the V downwards to the rear supports on the strut tops to create the X. Since the seat belts aren't mounting to the rear cage this is easy.

Could you sit in your car and tell me whether this would leave enough of a space in the roof between the rollcage bars to be comfortable with a helmet on? I've seen some car with no roof triangulation and I'm guessing it is due to lack of space.