Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi

Just to throw another number into the mix to confuse you.

My Spyder Chassis on a 69 S4 is an older 'folded steel' type and I have just measured the centres and they are 580mm give or take a few mm as its difficult to hold both ends of the rule up in the limited space! (The other half refused to get under to hold one end steady!!)

Also the brace is an oval section and certainly not U shaped like oldelanman's.

I could take a photo and overall dimensions of the brace if it would help you.

Hope that helps as well as confuse you!

Best of luck

John

I was surprised finally bolting up the brace on my 26R sub-frame that it was indeed splayed. So the brace operates in tension. It took a couple of furniture clamps to bring the bolts back in line for attachment. John

Oh dear - typical Lotus !
With two significantly different dimensions you would be better to wait until you have removed the engine and do as Scott suggested earlier ..... set the siderail vertical faces parallel then measure between the bolt hole centres and make your brace to suit.
I wonder why Spyder changed their design from the oval tube to the U section similar to the original Lotus non-removable item ?

26R Chassis splayed good job it wasn't galvanised
Alan

alan.barker wrote:26R Chassis splayed good job it wasn't galvanised
Alan

Nice one!

Sketeamena

Just jacked up my ramps a bit for better access and confirm that the length of the brace is 580mm. The dimensions of the brace are 33mm x 18mm.

I've attached a couple of photos FYI. ( Please excuse the dirty underside!)

John

Thanks John and others,

I now have the engine out and will make a brace to suit using the instruction provided.

It occurs that since that member only works in tension, there was an opportunity to lose more weight using another bicycle spoke.

John

My 2019 Spyder “folded steel” chassis has hole centres at 535 mm. U shaped brace is 18 x 33 mm

It sprang apart about 10mm over 48 hours when removed with car static and body off.

A Spyder Chassis sprang apart but i thought they were the" Bees Knees"
Alan

The cross brace was missing from my +2 when I bought it. Galvanised sheet steel version of unknown origin. It took me a while to realise what the studs on the chassis were for! However, I brought a replacement and it fitted no problem. Sorry, cannot remember who I got it from. Maybe Sue Miller. I remember having to get countersunk Allen screws as well.

If it was galvanised it was Lotus.
For me there are no studs but Nuts welded on Chassis which the countersunk cross head screws are fitted to.
Alan