Hood Pivot Channel Question

[davidcroft]

Steve Heath wrote:


Exactly what 'sunny day' was that, Steve ? I am not familiar with the term,
although I do have vague recollections of a bright disc in the sky sometime
when I was a small child. I could be wrong, tho'

...yup, summer in the UK has been cancelled again this year (

Anyway, I've never noticed the bonnet flexing at all on my Plus 2...although
it did fly off just after I bought it. (incorrect nut worked loose)
miraculously no damage )


Regards


David

[B7wal]

I agree with Kevin. My S130/5 had a similar piece of sponge and I didn't
notice any movement.

Alan Walton
Now 67/S4

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Heath <***@***.***>

Sent: 27 July 2000 09:42
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Bonnet flexing (was Hood Pivot Channel)

[Stevie-Heathie]

Kevin & Alan,

My Plus2's piece of sponge is no longer there , hence the flexing I
suppose. Could you describe the density of the sponge, its size, and its
exact position please?

Thanks.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Walton [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 27 July 2000 14:38
To: ***@***.***
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] Bonnet flexing (was Hood Pivot Channel)


I agree with Kevin. My S130/5 had a similar piece of sponge and I didn't
notice any movement.

Alan Walton
Now 67/S4

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Heath <***@***.***>

Sent: 27 July 2000 09:42
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Bonnet flexing (was Hood Pivot Channel)

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

The sponge rubber should be acrossed the bonnet at a location that
allows it to fill the gap between the bonnet and the radiator. It should
be as wide as the radiator (or close to it) and tall enought to fill the
gap. Another possibility is that your bonnet is a lightweight. My
original bonnet (which the DPO hacked an air scoop into) has a metal
tube fiberglassed into the leading edge underside. This makes that
section stiffer. I bought a new non-factory bonnet and it dd not have
this stiffener.

Robert D. LaMoreaux
BT Electronics LLC
459 E. cady
Northville, MI 48167
Phone:(248)-449-8284
Fax:(248)-449-2577
Email:***@***.***
Alternate Email:***@***.***

[Stevie-Heathie]

Yes I think I have a lightweight bonnet. There is no metal tube in the
leading edge.

The PO had a bonnet disaster at some stage, so he sourced the current one
from Chris Neil years ago. It has a bulge, which isn't required with the
Webers, but I think it gives he car some "attitude" and I like it.

When I get the car back after the banging twink has been sorted, I'll fit
some hi density foam under the bonnet to see if it makes any difference.

Cheers
Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: Rob LaMoreaux [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 27 July 2000 21:30
To: '***@***.***'
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Bonnet flexing (was Hood Pivot Channel)


The sponge rubber should be acrossed the bonnet at a location that
allows it to fill the gap between the bonnet and the radiator. It should
be as wide as the radiator (or close to it) and tall enought to fill the
gap. Another possibility is that your bonnet is a lightweight. My
original bonnet (which the DPO hacked an air scoop into) has a metal
tube fiberglassed into the leading edge underside. This makes that
section stiffer. I bought a new non-factory bonnet and it dd not have
this stiffener.

Robert D. LaMoreaux
BT Electronics LLC
459 E. cady
Northville, MI 48167
Phone:(248)-449-8284
Fax:(248)-449-2577
Email:***@***.***
Alternate Email:***@***.***

[kstrutt1]

Steve, from memory the original sponge looked like normal furnishing sponge, I
lost mine when the bonnet also came off my car (advise to all drill and wire
lock hinge bolts!). I have replaced it with some self adhesive sponge strip
from one of the trim suppliers (I think it was East Kent trim supplies). The
position is right accross the bonnet lid in line with the top of the radiator
so that it presses down on the header tank(I marked mine from underneath with
a felt tip and long stick!
Kevin





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["Richard Hinds"]

Steve,
Its along time since I've actually driven a +2, but I don't think
the bonnet should flex in the way you described.

There should be an adjustable "stay" under the bonnet, intended to help the
bonnet line up with the front apron (when viewed from the side). The stay is
difficult to see. It is is attached to a bracket wielded midway along the
bar that runs under the bonnet, between the two pivots. The stay is "L"
shaped, and the long part of the "L" is slotted. The slotted side of the
"stay" bolts to the weilded bracket. The adjustment is by slackening the
bolt, which allows you to push the short end of the "stay" hard up against
the underneath of the bonnet. This allows you alter the profile of the
bonnet slightly ( to make it match the front apron) and should minimise any
flexing of the bonnet skin.
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Heath <***@***.***>

Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 9:42 AM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Bonnet flexing (was Hood Pivot Channel)


On my Plus 2 the leading edge of the bonnet (hood) - ie the hinged end -
flexes up and down in the middle as I'm driving along at 60mph+.

[gobw2]

Steve - thought you would like to know -my original bonnet on "just
Elan" has what looks like a stainless steel strip pop riveted to the
front vertical lip of the hood. It was installed before factory painting,
and is painted.This reinforcement is very light and makes hood (oops,
Bonnet) very stiff at front edge. They did not put foam inside my hood.
I am 6' 1", so can see hood.It never flutters, even at top speed of 115
mph. George '67 Elan.

On Fri, 28 Jul 2000 11:15:34 +0100 Steve Heath <***@***.***>
writes:

[lotocone]

All this discussion about bonnets and hinges got me to pull out my original '65 bonnet and the new one, sourced from Dave Bean. I assume it's a genuine Lotus replacement.

I placed photos in our "files" (www.egroups.com/files/lotuselan).

The metal slides do look like stainless, not aluminium as I originally thought. They're held on by three rivets.

There's no metal stiffening on either.

The original had paper fibre glassed over to provide additional stiffness. The replacement has none, but feels very stiff. I didn't weigh the two, to see if there's any difference, but I imagine the new one is heavier. I may do that today.

I've never noticed any flexing at speed.



Ken Claiborne
26/4396
So California


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[gobw2]

hi - what is that behind bonnets? garage door? Impressive. Anyhow -
your original is like mine - strange thing - the paper rope has a strong
wire inside of it. The missing front lip is where the thin strip of
metal would be vertically mounted with pop rivets. this gives front edge
enough strength so spring can be attached with out deflection. Actually,
undamaged it feels solid. George

On Sun, 30 Jul 2000 13:23:34 -0400 ***@***.***es:

[lotocone]

***@***.***e:

Yes, It was made by a real craftsman, the original owner/builder of the house. Strong & lightweight. I "re-skinned" it a few years ago because the plywood was bad (neglected) and I really appreciated the design.


I just came in from comparing them. The new one doesn't have the strength of the original. I was just thinking I would duplicate the original. Thanks George, I didn't know about the steel rods.


I really didn't think I had the metal strip before the truck backed up over me and removed the lip (pretty scary!). Maybe it was there and I never noticed it. I think that piece is long gone now, so I'll never know.

Ken Claiborne
26/4396
So California


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Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Webmail account today at http://home.netscape.com/webmail/

["malcolm.scott"]

It's been a few years simce |I was involved with this, but a "paper rope
with wire in it" product was often used in fibreglass moulding to help build
a stiff section. It was laid onto a flatish fibreglass panel and more
fibreglass laid over it. The wire was there to hold the rope in the shape,
ie to stop it flopping about.
Malcolm

----- Original Message -----



Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2000 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] Bonnet flexing (was Hood Pivot Channel)