Early Elan bonnet

[Pastapesto]

Hi all

I have searched the archives with no luck so I will ask here instead.

Would it be at all possible for someone to post two or three pictures (close-ups) of the bobbin
that goes on the side of the bonnet/hood pivot. This is where the early type bonnet springs attach (onto a bolt screwed into the bobbin). I need to fit these to my new bonnet and have nothing to copy. The original bonnet was destroyed in an accident and thrown away many moons ago (not by me).

Any dimensions/bolt size would be a great help too.

I am also trying to find a pair of springs, does anyone know if they have been re-produced recently?

Thanks very much.

I really need to push on with my S3 Coupe restoration as I'm on the 7th year now and I told my wife that it would only really take about a year, dohhh.

[garyeanderson]

Not something that I think about much and this is the only one I can find that is in inventory. Camera still broken so I hope this helps.

Gary

[paddy]

I'm looking for the springs as well

Paddy

[paddy]

I've got this photo so far - I can probably get more detail later.

Paddy

[cabc26b]

check with RD enterprises , i have gotten springs from them in the past.

[types26/36]

I fitted the alloy wheels so they are not original.

[Pastapesto]

Thanks for the pictures & comments, that's everything I need to do the job.

Will post some pictures when I have done it.


Many thanks as always

Adam

[Elan45]

Adam,

I realize the very early FHC continued to use the early S1& S2 radiator, but my FHC is early enough to have the window switches in the door, but used the normal S3 Stanpart wide radiator. There are no bobbins on the bonnet of that car and it uses the later style bonnet spring which attaches to the steering rack and to a central lift point at the front center of the bonnet. What chassis number are you dealing with?

The very good road test of the red coupe in "Sports Car Graphic" magazine is of a very early FHC with the S2 radiator and window switches in the doors. There is an engine bay photo. You might check that photo to see if you can see side springs holding the bonnet, but if you've lost all the stuff to do this, I'd seriously consider just going to the central spring that cars just a few numbers later would have used. No bobbins required and the central spring is available.

Roger

[types26/36]

[quote="Pastapesto"]Any dimensions/bolt size would be a great help too.quote]

Forgot to say the bobbins are threaded 1/4 unc.

[jmp]

Hi don't know if it is of any use but on e-bay at present is an s3 bonnet. Doesn't show the engine side though. Hope this helps,
John

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lotus-Elan-Bonnet ... 3365f66a70

[Pastapesto]

Hi Roger
My car has the same as yours with the window switches in the doors, it is c/no 36/4970 and was one of the very first Coupes (or so I beleive).
The reason I cannot use the central fixing spring is because the rad sits
right over the rack and so gets in the way of the spring. It seems I have no option but to use the two side mounted springs.
What is the chassis number of your car?

All the best

Adam

[Elan45]

I agree completely that you need to use a pair of side springs then. My chassis is 36-5526. I've often wondered when they changed over from the S2 rad to the wide Stanpart rad. Obviously, your car is prior to that changeover and there probably aren't too many cars FHC earlier than yours. What side of the pond are you?

Rger

[Pastapesto]

Hi Roger

Sorry, I should have said, I'm south of London, on the right hand side of the pond and the car is RHD.

I think from memory (Lotus Parts list) that the first 100 cars had the window switches in the doors and the early (3 part) top rad hose and the simpler 90 degree bottom hose, which I think means the first 100 had the large early type Marston rad as the later types all used the one piece top hose and curly wurly bottom hose. The Coupe (prototype) was c/n 4510 (I think) but there was a big jump (maybe 350/400 chassis numbers or so) before the Coupe started into production. Well that's the way I see it anyway.

Hope that helps & thank you for the reply

All the best

Adam

[Elan45]

Adam,

You are right about first 100 FHC in my S1-S2-Coupe parts book as to having the early radiator and 3-piece top hose assy. But, I'll bet this and the door mounted window switches count were about as accurate as the start of S3 SS production start. SS production was supposed to be from 7400 to 7895, but there are many off us who have Super Safety Elans prior to 7400 (My S3-Super Safety dhc is 45-7380.) and there are a number of Elans built during that group of numbers which are normal non-SS S3 Elans. It seems that the only trait they share w/ the SS is the plastic hinged door pull and deletion of the metal door pull which was part of the window frame.

So, who knows whether the 1st 100 units is accurate for either the S2 radiator in FHCs or the window switches in the doors, but I can tell you there are several of us FHC owners in the 55xx range who have switches in the doors but an original Stanpart wide radiator usually associated w/ the S3 production. So, at least one reference to the 1st 100 cars has to be wrong. Sounds like your car is a very early FHC though and should have both features. So how did your bonnet get separated from the car. Getting the bobbins to modify your bonnet may be the hardest part.

At least you're on the right side of the pond to be able to purchase the bonnet on ebay.

Roger