plastic console repair

[rdssdi]

I have a console for my early Elan +2 (non "S") with many cracks. It is
complete but is on the verge of literally falling to pieces.

I would like to repair it. Has anyone experience in repairing plastic
cracks. What type of plastic was used. I assume a thermoform ABS?

The console is quite large. It runs from the rear seat back to the dash
board. It is 51" long and the widest point is 21".

Does anyone have a knowledge of thermoforming plastics? How difficult and
costly would reproducing a short run of these consoles.

If anyone has a plastic +2 console with no cracks I would be interested in
purchasing it.

Thanks.

Bob
1968 Elan +2

[Dave-M]

What part of the World are you from?
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: ***@***.***
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 2:18 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] plastic console repair


I have a console for my early Elan +2 (non "S") with many cracks. It is
complete but is on the verge of literally falling to pieces.

I would like to repair it. Has anyone experience in repairing plastic
cracks. What type of plastic was used. I assume a thermoform ABS?

The console is quite large. It runs from the rear seat back to the dash
board. It is 51" long and the widest point is 21".

Does anyone have a knowledge of thermoforming plastics? How difficult and
costly would reproducing a short run of these consoles.

If anyone has a plastic +2 console with no cracks I would be interested in
purchasing it.

Thanks.

Bob
1968 Elan +2








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[Briggs1]

Bob,



Is your console covered in vinyl or straight plastic?



I was thinking about making a mold to recreate them in fiberglass which
would work great for my car since it gets covered.



I'd need a fairly decent one to start with though, mine is pretty mangled.



Briggs Pletcher



_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 9:18 AM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] plastic console repair



I have a console for my early Elan +2 (non "S") with many cracks. It is
complete but is on the verge of literally falling to pieces.

I would like to repair it. Has anyone experience in repairing plastic
cracks. What type of plastic was used. I assume a thermoform ABS?

The console is quite large. It runs from the rear seat back to the dash
board. It is 51" long and the widest point is 21".

Does anyone have a knowledge of thermoforming plastics? How difficult and
costly would reproducing a short run of these consoles.

If anyone has a plastic +2 console with no cracks I would be interested in
purchasing it.

Thanks.

Bob
1968 Elan +2

[rdssdi]

All plastic one piece.

[stupidemail5 at lycos.com]

Mine has cracks only at the corners, and RTV, Sikflex or 3m 5200 applied to the backside will hold it well for some time

[rdssdi]

My console has many, many cracks. Several many inches ling.

I will attempt to repair the console. Depending upon the quality of the
repairs and refinishing, I will use the repaired console in the car or as a
pattern for replication.

The +2S has a covered two piece console. I wonder if Lotus bifurcated the
earlier +2 one piece console and covered it. Possibly the new transmission
required a new console pattern. Does anyone know.

I would be interested in a perfect used console if anyone has one.

Bob
1969 Elan +2

[gwnorth68]

My console was all cracked and I repaired it by applying fibreglass to the back surface, cleaning up the cracked area a little and then spraying it with a black vinyl paint from a spray can. By putting masking tape on the up side the fibreglass resin was kept trapped on the unseen back surface. The back can be quickly cleaned up with a die grinder to remove excess fibreglass and resin.
Tom Moore