Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi Steve
Keep me posted on the CF stuff
I've just ordered some from easy composites and am going to try making cam covers and other parts next week!
Cheers
Dave

I don't know if I can say anything relevant to the thread, yet I enjoy your posts...

Nic

Steve, I think most of us are in awe of your build and the level of engineering and fabrication. I for one am very intrigued to see every step along the way until the day you are driving on the road.

Don't stop posting!

If there was a like button, I would be hitting it for every post. There is just not much I can add, other than I can't wait to see a video of it on the track! Keep posting
Dan

Gosh!

What can I say, but thanks.

OK, I will keep you updated until told to F off

The glove box door (behind which will be the battery, fuses and ECU) is finally finished. First attempt went tits up when it lifted very slightly from the bed. Second attempt came out all right, just needs a little more polishing to remove some faint tool marks. Weighs 306gms. The large size also allows access to the wiper motor.

bigvalvehead wrote:Hi Steve
Keep me posted on the CF stuff
I've just ordered some from easy composites and am going to try making cam covers and other parts next week!
Cheers
Dave

Now this I will be very interested to see how they turn out! Keep me posted. What method are you planning to use, wet lay only, standard vacuum, vacuum infusion or prepreg?

stevebroad wrote:As there have been no comments since March, I guess there is little interest on this site for my extreme modifications (I admit that there is very little Elan left apart from chassis/some of the body/steering column/rack/wiper motor) and so I will refrain from posting any more updates.

Are you kidding! I am still loving it, like others I feel that anything I would have to say would only detract from a great thread, that is to say I am not worthy!!!!

Chancer wrote:

stevebroad wrote:As there have been no comments since March, I guess there is little interest on this site for my extreme modifications (I admit that there is very little Elan left apart from chassis/some of the body/steering column/rack/wiper motor) and so I will refrain from posting any more updates.

Are you kidding! I am still loving it, like others I feel that anything I would have to say would only detract from a great thread, that is to say I am not worthy!!!!

Don't be daft! I am not doing anything special or unique, just rather a lot of simple things that, hopefully, will result in a rather special (and unique) vehicle.

+1 To keep it coming Steve!

Titanium M8 seat fixing bolts arrived today. The 8 bolts weigh 48gms, saving 32gms compared to steel bolts.



I can hear some of you saying, is it worth spending 20 pounds to save 32gms, which works out at 625 pounds a kilo ! ?

On its own, no. Pointless. Waste of money.

The Statement for the Defence:

This isn't being done in isolation. It is part of a strategy to reduce the car's weight to the lowest figure I can manage with my budget constraints. Weight reduction started off as a simple removal of unnecessary items but quickly grew into an obsession. It is also challenging and fun.

Once you have removed all of the easy weight the only way to remove another Kg is to remove 10gm from a hundred places Keep dong this and suddenly you have removed 10Kg, then 100kg.

The car is my only expensive hobby/vice.

I don't smoke. 20 B&H fags a day = 10 pounds x 7 days = 70 pounds x 52 weeks = 3640 British Pounds a year and there is a good chance that you will die earlier.
My lifestyle is simple. For example, I go to the pub every other Tuesday to discuss cars with my petrolhead buddies. A couple of J2Os and a hot chocolate equals around 10 pounds = 260 pounds a year. Friends spend 40-50 pounds every Friday = around 2300 pounds a year.

So far, I have removed just over 3.5kg of bolt weight. Doesn't seem a lot, I grant you, but try tying 3 1/2 bags of sugar around your waist and see how much it doesn't weigh

In total I have removed just over 140kg, so far. Bearing in mind that the original car weighed 700kg a 20% reduction isn't too shabby. The car will still be over 650kg due to the extra weight of engine, diff and rear drivetrain, but it would be around 800kg without being put on a diet.

Steve,
Colin would be proud of your weight saving efforts but appalled at your business sense. He would have convinced the supplier to sell the fixings by weight rather than quantity, therefore your Titanium bolts would have cost less than high tensile steel and the supplier would have given a rebate for the privilege of dealing with him

Going back to an earlier post, I too enjoy reading this topic, but even at my relatively advanced level of modifying I don't feel qualified to comment or criticise on your build other than to say I like it a lot and look forward to the end result.

Steve
You're going to have to work harder on the down-force issue...to stop it floating away....

Keep up the good work.

John

Spyder fan wrote:Steve,
Colin would be proud of your weight saving efforts but appalled at your business sense. He would have convinced the supplier to sell the fixings by weight rather than quantity, therefore your Titanium bolts would have cost less than high tensile steel and the supplier would have given a rebate for the privilege of dealing with him

Going back to an earlier post, I too enjoy reading this topic, but even at my relatively advanced level of modifying I don't feel qualified to comment or criticise on your build other than to say I like it a lot and look forward to the end result.

Fortunately it isn't a business Also, Colin would have probably done a deal for the bolts with John DeLorean so they would have shown up as a tax deduction only with the money spent on a new plane.

Of course you are qualified to comment or criticise.

john.p.clegg wrote:Steve
You're going to have to work harder on the down-force issue...to stop it floating away....

Keep up the good work.

John

I think the engine and diff have the floaty bit covered