Mystery Bolt

[chicagojeff]

First, let me say how glad I am to have found this great web support group. You guys are fantastic. None of the bull I have experienced on some other classic car sites from my other car days, where the talk is often guided by collectors rather than drivers. (I am writing a check to support this site right now!) Anyway, I got my shop manual yesterday, so hopefully I will have fewer and fewer rudimentary questions. But here's one.

Got out of the driveway yesterday and heard a clink. A black bolt, about 3/8" and about 3.5 inches long had plopped on the ground. I have a feeling it might have something to do with the handbrake. here is the interesting clue: It's got a plain washer on it that is shaped like a half moon. The circle is flat on one side, as though it was meant to fit in tight next to something. Any clues? Thanks again everyone! Jeff

Also, any good suggestions about where to raise the car with jacks? Are the suggested jacking points really okay?

[john.p.clegg]

The washers with a flat remind me of the A frame to rear upright (filed flat to clear the wheel rim?) the ones with a small head,does anyone off hand know the sizes of them?
John

[types26/36]

John,
I'll go with your diagnosis, if I remember correctly one is 3.75" and the other is 3.5" long.
Brian

[twincamman]

jeff--after a while you will get used to bits falling off :rolleyes: ed

[elans3]

Jeff, you'll need a towbar, then the trailer, to put the bits in.

These are all old jokes, and the truth is that I'm on my second long term ownership of an S3, and they've both been the most reliable classic cars I've had, (including a Porsche 911).
I dare jump in mine and go anywhere.
Enjoy it
elans3

[chicagojeff]

It was the air filter bolt. thanks all. I did learn of some interesting other bolts while under there for an hour.

[elansprint71]

I would never jack the car using the glass-fibre points suggested in the now (min 30 year old) manual, I have made a large timber load-spreader for the front crossmember (never jack here without a load-spreader and a similar timber "bridge" for the rear. This straddles the exhaust pupe and bears upon the chassis at the inboard wishbones mounting point. also you can easily raise one front wheel by locating a jack with suitable depression in the top plate, under the nut at the bottom of the shocker.

Lets now hear from a load of folks who always jack on the glass-fibre... well one day boys, there will be this horrible cracking sound......

Cheers,
Pete.

[M100]

One of the scariest things i've ever seen was my Elan, just prior to purchase seven feet in the air on a 2 post lift with all four pads supported by the fibreglass. I was assured it was ok but was quite frankly (and to put it sort of politely) loosing control of my bowels as I went under the engine.

Mine very occasionally gets lifted on the fibreglass as i've a mid lift drive over scissor lift but usually only once or twice a year. If the chassis does decide to part with the body then it would hopefully only drop as far as the centre structure of the lift. For all other work that can be easily done at low level its timber spreader blocks and a trolley jack under the chassis.

[Matt7c]

I can't get my trolly jack under the front chassis crossmember with a timber spreader in place. Do you guys have especially low jacks, or am I just dull?

[elansprint71]

.... stick a scissor jack under the front shock to gat the thing up in the air sufficient to get the trolley jack (with timber spreader) under the cross-member!

Cheers,
Pete

[1964 S1]

I use ramps of varying height, my two small wooden plank ones bring the car up just enough for timber and the jack. Up it goes, remove the ramps and slide in the jackstands.... I never put the jack under the fiberglass.

[hatman]

Jacking under the sills is fine, especially so if you put a length of timber between the jack and the sill to spread the load - it's useful for getting just one side of the car airborne and is, after all, the 'official' way to jack.

[DrEntropy]

Anyone have a line on where to get the old bumper sticker: "Parts falling from this vehicle are of the FINEST English manufacture!" ???

[M100]

>Anyone have a line on where to get the old bumper sticker: "Parts falling from this vehicle are of the FINEST English manufacture!"

Not for a Lotus please - it adds weight