Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

The other day, whilst giving the elan interior (S3 FHC) a good clean and tidy up, I noticed the following:

A bar/rod that looks very much like the stuff you put into concrete to add reinforcement to!

The bar is welded to the cris-cross structure that is to the left and right corners of the body below the rear parcel shelf. I wouldn't have spotted this, only that the panels that would cover this are missing....

Any advise to what this bar does or is it a bodge from a previous owner?

Hi there,

Its original and continues inside both sills to give the shell some strength

Cheers

Vaughan

From the photo gallery:

I think the reinforcing rod over the LHS wheel arch on my car has some corrosion. Not got any worse over the last 2 years. I suspect this is a big fibre glass cutting job when the body shell gets painted. One day. Until then it's just part of a 50 year old car.

The door opening lattice extends from the front bulkhead to above the rear wheel arch. It is made of mild steel, so is subject to corrosion.

My s2 was partially flooded years ago, destroying the lower apexes of the of the triangulation. The rod that extended over the rear wheel arches was also affected as shown in englishmaninwales photo. I replaced the wheel arch members with stainless rods.

I tried to get the manufacturer to make the truss out of stainless steel for my new 26r body shell. The manufacturer declined, explaining it would require special welding, which they were not set up to do.

Ultimately, the manufacturer agreed to fabricate the lattice out of aluminum, as they do on the light weight racing shells.

In my mind, the lattice should not be made out of mild steel because of the corrosion issue. Mild steel is a poor material to be embedded in fiberglass.

Bill

To be sure of no corrosion a carbon/kevlar/sglass monolithic bulkhead would be the go. Much easier to produce and fit for a fibreglass worker.

Can have access holes to get the wiring through and allow taping of the bulkhead from the rear.

billwill wrote:From the photo gallery:

Thanks for the pic Bill .... The bar I have is just to the top left of your photo which sadly you cant quite see.. Its a square bar Approx 5" x 1/2" and is twisted like a piece of wrought iron.. Its welded to the top piece of thin wire brace that is visible in your photo.

[quote="gmzez"][quote="billwill"]

Bill, just to add its welded to the rod with the '+' symbol in top L/H corner of your photo

Would you have a photo taken 6" higher and 6" to the left?

It is not my photo, I searched the photo gallery on this website to find a picture showing the re-inforcing rods.


So no I don't have any more such pictures and my panels are in place so I can't take a new photo.

Some good info here:-

lotus-chassis-f36/elan-door-surround-latice-yours-rotten-too-t15161.html

The handbook shows this but from an earlier post it is suggested that at the B post the latice extends over the rear wheel arch.

Hi,
I think the lattice extends beyond the fibreglass, extends over the rear wheel arch when feeling underneath.
Ron.

The above photo features one of Lotus's designs....BUT guess what on this very forum I've discovered these:

This renovation video clearly shows the twisted metal reinforcing bar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PnD7j1a8EQ

billwill wrote:This renovation video clearly shows the twisted metal reinforcing bar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PnD7j1a8EQ

Thanks Bill. Really good info.....