Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Rear bumper 2

I was planning to install them this weekend and take pictures for you guys. My problem: Tdarn bolts
QUESTION

Any HELP on correct bolts would ne greatly appreciated (sizes) for front and back bumpers.

Best

Carlos

I got the SS bolts with Dave Bean. VERY EXPENSIVE: US $110.

I also got the bumpers. Have not installed yet either; took to the body dude this weelend. Do not expect to be ready for final install until April/May, so do post results of your fitment.

Agree finish looks very good, and really like the light weight of them

For the bolts, I purchased two separate sets on eBay. Not sure if the following links will work as they are for finished auctions that I won.

At any rate seller/store name is bk_engineering, so you could search or enquire if not listed. All a bit cryptic, but quoted in Au $, but I think I found them on eBay UK. All shipped fine and no problems. I have to fitted yet, but expect with the two sets I have enough bolts for install. Note they are ss, so should be good with the bumpers. Do not include rubber washers called up for front install.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0284899668

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0112579141

Here is description of items I bought in case link doesn't work:

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Lotus Cortina Mk 1 and 2 Ford Bumper Bolts.

Set of 8 Including nuts and Spring Washers.

They are 5/16" Unified Thread x 3/4" Long

The Diameter of the head is 9/16"

And the Depth of the Head is a Little under 3/16" (0.175" Exact Dimension)

The Shank is 5/16" Square and 3/16" deep.

Some cars have bolts that only have 2 flats on them, These bolts will also fit this type fitting and still pull in tight.

===========

Due to the high demand from Australia I have decided to offer these items for sale direct to you.

Made from top Quality Solid Stainless Steel. (18% Chrome / 8% Nickel).

They will never rust or corrode and will stay looking good for as long as you have your car.

Will also fit Escort Mk 1 and 2, 105E Anglia, 109E Classic and Capri, Many other Lotus (elan, europa, seven) TVR, Morgan, etc.

These are the Genuine article NOT those latter reproduction metric threaded bolts that the chrome peels off after a week or two.

These bolts DO have the square shank just under the head to locate them in your bumper, these are NOT shop fitting bolts!

Put a spare set on the shelf for that forth coming restoration you know it makes sense. Will ship world wide prlease contact me for shipping costs

If you have and questions please ask.

International customers please contact me for shipping costs


================


Set of 4 Replacement Bumper Bolts. Extremley High Quality Supplied with nuts and washers.

They are made from High quality stainless steel, 18% Chrome & 12% Nickel.

They will never rust or corrode and will blend perfectley to your bumpers.

All the domes are hand polished and checked for quality of finish.

They are so highly polished you can see your face in them.

The finish of each bolt in the set is also matched so they will look perfect on you pride and joy.

These have been imported from America and are the GENUINE article and are supplied with very highly polished domes "You can see your face in them"

They have a length from under the head of 3" and are fully threaded upto the square under the head. This will allow or adjustment of bumpers, fitting light brackets behind the bumper etc. They can also easily be shortened if you dont require the full length.

The square has a very slight taper on them to aid fitting and to make the bumper pull in tight. It also aids alignment.



Lotus Cortina Mk 1 and 2 , Will also fit Escort Mk 1 and 2, 105E Anglia, 109E Classic and Capri, They are the long bolts on the bumper sides

Many other Lotus (elan, europa, seven) TVR, Morgan, etc.

These bolts have the square shank just under the head to locate them in your bumper, and are supplied with nuts and spring washers.

these are NOT shop fitting bolts! Put a spare set on the shelf for that forth coming restoration you have been planning.

Will ship world wide no problem, please contact me for postage costs to your country.

Dear Stu: So you bought two different sets (sizes)?

Yes, I bought two sizes as I was getting all screwed up with the parts listings in the book and did not have the bumpers when I ordered the bolts.

You can look over the parts book at rdent.com if you don't have one handy. Looking over the book again and what I ordered, I may be completely out to lunch. Unfortunately the bolts and bumpers are at the body shop now, so can't just measure them up for you and trial fit to the bumper for you.

For what it is worth, here is a pile of info from re-looking at the parts book and the eBay listings this evening.

I am not too sure of the fitment of the two blanking bolts, p/n 50_B_ 6075. I think these go top of the rear bumper, and are required because of extra holes in the top of the bumper. I think we will just replace with conventional bolt sets and be done with it, or cut down the supplied bolts. Will know better when I do the job I guess.

One thing for sure on my car is the fibreglass around the rear bumper where the boot latch is secured was all cracked, so I figured the 5/16" bolts could be used there.

I am not sure of the rear bolt set sizes. I am thinking the 5/16" x 3/4" length ones from the set of eight will fit, but have not tried them yet. Doh! Perhaps measure the square holes on the top of your new rear bumper and confirm the shank (5/16" Square and 3/16" deep in the eBay listing) will fit the rear before you order. Anyway, I figured they are sold in a set of eight and I need four for the front so worth getting them and seeing if they fit the rear.


What I bought:

EBAY ITEM 1

four only 3" long by (I think) 1/4" diameter '"long bolts". I think only two are actually required for the sides of the rear bumper. The front bumper does not use these (from memory when I took it apart).

This is in the one listing from bk_engineering with quantity of four. The eBay listing does not provide bolt diameter, but he says they are for the sides of the bumper, so good enough for me.

I don't think these ones show up correctly in the parts listings illustration, but they were on both sides of the rear bumper on my car. I may be just misreading the parts book, but I figured for $AU 20 I might as well just get them as the book is calling up 1/4" diameter bolts for the rear anyway. Pretty sure 3" is too long for the side bolts, and they will require cutting down, but there is lots of room as they just protrude into the boot wall. 3" is definitely way too long for the top bolts., but I figure those are 5/16" anyway.

EBAY ITEM 2

eight only 3/4" long by 5/16" diameter "bumper bolts". I believe we require four for the front, and up to four for the back. I say "up to four" because two of the rear bumper ones call up in the parts book as "blanking bolts", but have nuts associated with them. Someone else may have a better idea of what the deal is on these. Again, may be misreading the diameters, but figured this was worth a try.

From the parts book I have (a bit different than Ray's listings at rdent.com):

The sizes required as per the parts manual appear to be as follows. I think I partially posted these earlier in this thread. Just re looking at them on illustration page BA and trying to compare with what I got. I suppose it is worth it to fuss the details a bit because the SS bolt sets are pretty spendy.


For reference my parts book lists:

FRONT BUMPER
BA.24 to BA.26
p/n's 50_B6011, LUFN 040F, 50_B_6076, W069
Four only front bolts at 5/16" x 3/4" c/w self locking nut 1/4"???, washer special, rubber block.

Not sure about the 1/4" lock washer with the 5/16" bolt & nut, hence the question marks. Probably not a big issue; the ones I bought all fit together anyway.

I believe the rubber blocks are just to space the bumper off of the fibreglass at the bolt holes to prevent cracking, and are probably "fit as required" in your own situation with some sort of rubber or closed cell foam.


REAR BUMPER
BA.28 to BA.30
p/n's XUFS_0414, LUFN_040F, AO4W_090F, 50_B_6075, 50_B_6110
Two only rear bolts 1/4" x 7/8" c/w self locking nut 1/4", washer plain,
Two only rear bolts "blanking", no size specified in description.
Four only rear bolts, no size or type specified in description.

Assume these are going to be 'replaced' the 5/16" x 3/4" bumper bolts, but I might be incorrect.

Thank you so much for your kind and complete answer. It helps me a lot! I will install the bumpers this comming week and post pictures.

Carlos

Stu: I think that the 3/4" long by 5/16" bumper bolts are too big for the rear bumper! I am talking about the diameter and the square shank (it simply does not fit in the bumpers)... I tried them on the originals and the new bumpers.

Carlos A

SORRY TO REPORT: FRONT BUMPER DOES NOT FIT

THE FRONT bumper is not as the original, the measurements are different, the curvature is not the same and they simply do not fit. I am afraid this product is not aceptable.

I will post some pics.

I do not know about the rear bumper yet. I will not atempt to install it.

I am trying to contact Harrington Group.

Well. What else can I report: ... I will have to rechrome!


Best

Carlos A

The differences are not small. Original bumper on top of the new one. Notice the dissimilar shape and curvature.

Carlos

Sorry to hear that....really bad news....but I am glad someone took the plunge and reported back....saves us all a lot of time and money....and it was such a good idea...
Hope you have lots of joy on your refund...

John

Hi Carlos

This is very disappointing news, more so for you I expect as you've had to pay for them

Is there any chance you could just have a look at the rear though, just to see if it's any better. I was just about to place an order for one of these but now I'm very much having second thoughts.

I appreciate that you will really just want to return both of them and get your mony back without wasting any more time (that's how I'd feel), however, if you could give some feedback on the rear as well as the front, it would be a big help

Regards
Andy

Dear Andy:

I am not concern with the money. Harrington Group is a legitimate business and they are nice people (plus, they want to get this bumper right; they told me they will start working on this problem ASAP). I am sad that their front bumper has serious problems and hope they fix it!

Andy: regarding the REAR BUMPER: .... I will try to install it this afternoon: a bit of masochism and a bit of hope. We will see.


Best


Carlos

Thanks for the update Carlos, and sorry to here the news. I will ask the body man to trial fit mine as well and report back.

Hi Carlos,
It may be a silly question but do they have a good pattern to work from?
It seems odd that a reputable firm should be so far out.

Mike