Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

This subject is not infrequently aired from what I can see but some friendly advice on the GAPS would be appreciated.

Firstly, I have read the WSM, the yellow bible and seen Paul Haigh's wonderful video.

Secondly, the screen frame shown in the photos is a single bolt (per side) frame which was fitted to the S1 and S1 1/2. This particular one is in good condition with only minor crazing: thank you Jerry for supplying this.

Lastly, the new screen is a Pilkington screen sourced from Sue at Mick Miller.
[My first attempt from a heated screen manufacturer in the NW was a disaster. It was almost as if they sent me one from a Mini. Mea culpa, Sue Miller is always right...]

The photos below show the GAPs on the screen. Is this a case of "they're all like that sir" ?

Many thanks!

I have an original late S2 Frame. I could post some parallel views, to check if there is a difference between 2 Bobbin / 1 Bobbin frame.

Anna

Thank you Emma for that idea (and I may come back to you later).

I'm fairly certain that the frame I have will fit (the new shell that I will be ordering) in terms of width and it can be shimmed if it is too wide.

The photos show the screen clamped centrally. It is probably the best type around. The real question is whether the gaps are bridgeable with the seal !

Andrew

The short answer is , I don't know, get a rubber and try it. But, my screen ( the poor fitting one) took hours of re-fashioning the aperture to get right. I have left a much smaller gap than you have. Looking at most of the rubbers you can buy , a 6-8mm gap looks average
https://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/pdf/WR3650DR.pdf

Thank you Graeme.

The diagram is most useful.

Andrew

I attach some more photos of the Pilkington screen fit...

Any bright ideas ?

Andrew

HI, I've restored a number of S1 and 2's and I have found on a few the bottom rail of the screen was cut and toned with an aluminum strip where the windscreen the tensioner rod bolts through. An S1 and my S2 26R both had a small amount removed here I assumed to "adjust" the fit of screen.

Of course my assumption could be wrong and it was simply to provide additional support for the tensioner rod

Cheers

V

Hi Vaughan

The problem is not with the frame but with the repro screens which are too flat and too small.

TTR tell me that they are working on a new batch that so far seems promising.

Thanks for your idea as we are not out of the woods yet!

Andrew

Apologies

I've had same the with a pilkington screen supplied locally in past, I ended up swapping out the screen a number of times until we got the best fit.
Since that experience, I've had more luck recently with screens both heated and plain from Ricky Evans Motorsport.

Vaughan

vstibbard wrote:Since that experience, I've had more luck recently with screens both heated and plain from Ricky Evans Motorsport.

how do you like the heated screen? I keep changing my mind about this, would like to drive in the rain (or even snow) so need a good reliable solution from the start... my last train of thought was a modern but hidden blowing demister, possibly electrical, possibly driver side only or mostly.

I'll leave Vaughan to reply on the Ricky Evans heated screen in use but I have heard that they are quite fragile.

I have in mind historic rallying as well and a heater is useful in the Ardèche in winter...it would also reply to reducing cavitation as mentioned by Vaughan in another note. I have in mind a small Demon Tweeks heater as the standard heater is dimensioned for a truck!

Andrew

Mon amis,
I think I may have sent you pictures of the re-glassing that I did, but for completeness:




Having been told that no new windscreen shape was planned, it is slightly annoying, after hours of reshaping, , to hear now there is a new shape on the way.....

Alan Henderson (Racing) fitted a different shape in Ian/Ollie Ford's car. It may be worth calling him

Graeme

It is indeed infuriating that the two screens on the market were quite so bad (from Pilkington and Ricky Evans). This was the reason why I wanted to bring it up on the forum.

I have now bought both the original Ricky Evans (sold off to an fully informed buyer for half price) and the second (Pilkington) I may return to Sue so that she can tell Pilkington that they need to stop selling the screens if they cannot make them properly (you have reminded me to send her a note).

In addition,for me there have been two wasted journeys (I live 600km from my project) which is rather tedious.

I will wait until the situation has calmed down and that a few of the race prep firms can independantly confirm that the new screen can be fitted as I do not want to mess up my S1 1/2 frame that is older than I am!

Andrew

A quick question - from the pics on this tread an I correct in assuming there is steel reinforcement in the S1 and S2 screen frames?

Matt, there are thin steel rods in each side, buried somewhere in the fibreglass.

Andrew