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Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:33 am
by rgh0
I still have a scratch in the paint next to the windscreen from when I fitted it in my Elan 35 years ago after it was last repainted. The pain eases over the years as you collect thousands of more scratches and stone chips but you never forget the first one :lol:

cheers
Rohan

Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:21 pm
by Sea Ranch
You guys are too funny! ("you never forget the first one")!!! But I'm sure I understand.

As for your paint choice, Robert, that I definitely get. "Neighbor friendly" is right. I cringe thinking about the next project I inflict on my neighbors (most recently was a demolition and rebuild of deck and new shop/garage around back, followed by complete landscape and driveway front and back). Last time I painted a car I did not do the colour at home, but all the acrylic lacquer primer coats from an airless sprayer used in the open air . . . :shock: !

Single pack Acrylic, no clear: simple, and a major advantage is the ability to touch up all the inevitable nicks, chips and stratches we get. Great plan. And having the product put in spray cans, too: great idea!!. What about this product's ability to be "colour sanded" to get rid of orange peel?

Interesting about the crack while installing the fuel tank. You put weight on the valance from inside the boot during installation? Must have frosted you royally. But at least you now have your first post-paint damage behind you (literally and figuratively :mrgreen: )

Thanks for sharing . . . keep up the good work. Will be ready for (your) summer driving!!!

Randy

Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:05 pm
by RedS4
Robert,
What suburb do you live in? Vg Auto is literally just up the road (and across the railway) from me....

Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:29 pm
by robertverhey
G'day Evan. Five Dock. Drop by some time. Lotus of all types are more than welcome in my street!

Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:36 pm
by robertverhey
A minor mod along the way....
After fitting the bootlid I was alarmed at the amount of flex in the panel when closing it against the tension of the spring thing that (sort of) holds it open. Searching the forum I came across a post from an owner who had sent his ?lan back to lotus for a warranty repair to stress cracks around the right hand boot hinge early in its life. That gave me the idea for this minor mod. Solid piece of angle steel from bunnings, and no more flex. No need for triangulation, the steel is of sufficient gauge that it's now rock solid. A bit of lightness sacrificed but oh well.

Of course in removing and replacing the bootlid to do the mod I put a small scratch in the bodywork next to the hinge....there's another job to do! Ah well, one step forward.....

Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:01 am
by robertverhey
First start in three years, just had to record this momentous event!

http://youtu.be/LW_mzLJHFiQ

Re: Australia now has one more Elan

PostPosted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 2:13 am
by robertverhey
Driveshafts in....another job ticked off the list.