Door frame side panels (s3)

[davidj]

Good afternoon,

I am in the process of making the ply door frame panels for the baby Elan. The measurements in the Brian Buckland book would suggest the panel is parallel with the top of the hood tray. However, completed and trimmed pictures I have seen may indicate it finishes just underneath the tray. This would also allow the carpets to fit better.

Can someone please point me to the correct option?

Thanks in advance.

[Concrete-crusher]

I thought I knew the elan quite well but I don't recognise that part, have you any more shots?

[davidj]

It is the wooden panel which covers the lattice frame around the doors on the baby elan. They are covered with carpet.

I do not have the originals so have to make replacements. However, I don't know if they run to the top of the hood tray, or finish just below it.

Cheers.

[richardcox_lotus]

On my Sprint they come up to a few mm below the height of the top of the hood frame sprint. There are drilled holes for the screw slots. Makes it quite tight to assemble everything.

Regards
Richard

[davidj]

Thanks for your reply.

"Hood frame sprint" ? I assume you mean "hood frame tray"? So the top edge of the ply in the in the picture is approx in the correct position and they held in place with the fixing screws for the aluminium edging trim?

Cheers

[richardcox_lotus]

I’m going from a 4 year old memory from when mine was apart but yes that’s essentially it.

I think my panels were millboard rather than plywood so may be a little thinner. The carpet is glued on to it so increases the depth as that was also trapped within the joint.

I think it’s clamped by the screw fixing in this order (Looking from the rear) :

Rear screw part of fixing
Washer
Hood tray lip
Millboard
Carpet material
Aluminium strip
Washer (?)
Front screw part of fixing


Regards
Richard

[elanfan1]

I could be wrong as I’m relying on a very shaky memory. My recollection is the carpet fitted over that and the rear mill board finishes below the hood frame tray and the aluminium rail. The short tonneau fits behind the Ali rail and emerges under the rail then back over the hoodtray the way yours is fitted the tonneau would catch the top of the wood and probably end up being damaged. I’m sure you see all the Ali rail once installed.

[Lotusian]

On my car, I’ve cut the wood so that it finishes just below the bottom of the hood tray, but the carpet continues all the way up. That way, the edge trim only has to cover the thickness of the tray plus the carpet, and not the extra thickness of the wood as well.
Additionally, by folding the carpet back, and pulling the wood away a little, you can still get at the nuts which hold the hood frame in place, in case adjustment is required.
Ian

[davidj]

Having the panel finish below the tray does seam logical, hence my question. The confusion arose because the dimensions in the Brian Buckland book would take it higher, but he does say "trim to fit"!

Thanks for your help.

[Craven]

Also consider the height of the board from the floor to lip of door threshold, if your board extends to the top of the threshold you will have difficulty in fitting the door seal over the lip, board and carpet combination.