Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can anyone tell me what type of heads the screws that hold the roof gutter rails are. Also are these self tappers or through bolts?

Mine aren't original but are small wood style (flat top, angled sides) Phillips screws. I'd suggest this is good location for stainless screws.

Thanks, so they are countersunk?

It appears so, but heads aren't flush on my car.

Mine are round-head Phillips, stainless, not self-tappers.

I did wonder if countersunk may be a problem due to lack of thickness of the metal. Since my headlining is removed using nut and bolt also is not a problem, I?m always a little concerned about self tapping into GRP

The Service Parts List has the part number for these screws as KSTS 0406. Decoding the prefix means flat head, countersunk, self-tapping screw. However the screws on my +2S, which are original, are round head self-tappers. Having the Service Parts List show them as countersunk is a bit odd because the holes in the trim rail are not countersunk. I think the trim rail thickness is insufficient to countersink unless for a very miniature screw.

countersunk stainless self tappers . . but a bit of sealant in the holes first to ensure no water ingress

Round head
Philip's
Self tap
On both my +2

My originals were round head mild steel self tappers, presumably plated originally. They were all badly corroded and sheared off when I tried to undo them. I?ve gone for round head stainless self tappers as a replacement.

Mine had the original "We're out of rail screws. Pop out to the iron monger's and get some screws", flat head, Philips, mild steel, plated screws. In that size what's the difference between a wood screw and a self tapper? I'll use flat head, Philips, stainless when the rails go back on if I can find them in that size.

Another question I should have asked, how many screws per side?

One per hole? (The parts list says 14)

mikealdren wrote:One per hole? (The parts list says 14)

Thanks

NYK wrote:Another question I should have asked, how many screws per side?

There is room for confusion here. Mike is correct, the parts list states 14 total per vehicle, hence 7 per side.