Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

but it's okay. Turned it turtle to do some repair on the underside. Made a light framework that bolts into the car for support, then added a removable external framework to facilitate the flip process. The design was intended to allow two people to easily invert the car without any other equipment, but as I couldn't convince my wife to help, I used a rolling gantry crane which worked fine. Photos of the progression are below. I forgot to take a photo of the intermediate step with the car on it's side.

Well that is handy!

Very happy to see the flip was deliberate.

Steve,

I can’t really follow how you did that, some more photos when you turn it back would be helpful.

Richard Hawkins

Mine is constantly flipping at the moment

RichardHawkins wrote:Steve,

I can’t really follow how you did that, some more photos when you turn it back would be helpful.

Richard Hawkins

Richard,

I will endeavor to do a better job of documentation when reversing the flip. The basic process is once the car is setting on the ground, you grab the framework and tip it towards you while someone helps by lifting the other side. Then, as it tips, the other person comes around and helps you 'catch' it and lay the body on it's side (supported by the framework side rails and clear of the pavement by 6 inches or so). Then you repeat the process again to tip it over onto it's top, in this case supported by framework with wheels attached for mobility. This all works because the body with all attached supporting framework only weighs about 240 pounds according to a hunting scale borrowed from a friend. Btw-I have since drilled the external 'side' bars visible in the first couple of photos so the timbers with wheels can be repositioned and bolted to them, to allow the body to be mobile when resting on it's side. The side rails are removable for work clearance, and transferable to the opposite side to allow tipping on that side if desirable.

Certainly a rotisserie would be better with full 360 degree rotation instead of 90 degree increments, but they tend to be quite large, and, I didn't have one! So was looking for a quick, inexpensive, and compact method to give me full access to the bottom side. This solution was about $150 for the steel, wheels, and assorted hardware. The lumber was surplus from another project.

Looks good Steve but the helper moving from one side to the other to help "catch" sounds as if it could be problematic!

Kurt

Especially if (as envisaged by the original poster) that helper is one's wife - even a successful flip is likely to have lifelong consequences!
Gordon

Kurt,

Not as frantic as it sounds. I was able to do the catch by myself, with the gantry crane as a safety backup (and you know I'm not a big guy). Once it's lifted a bit there is a balance point that is can be maintained with one hand. Takes me both hands to lower it gently onto the the side rails. Really the only need for two people is so you don't have to do the initial lift to the balance point, then maintain the balance while you run around to the other side. That would indeed be problematic! But it would make a great video for Youtube.

I'm just joshing, Steve. I'm sure it will work great!

Kurt

Steve,

Thanks for the explanation, very impressive work.

Richard Hawkins

I've had use of sort of the "community" rotisserie now for several years where Steve's old S1 is residing now. Sort of inherited the rotisserie because no one else has room for it! Its a nice one with lots of adjustment. Especially handy is adjustment to allow for the center of gravity, if you will, of the body so that rolling it to any position isn't a battle.

Kurt
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bitsobrits wrote:Certainly a rotisserie would be better with full 360 degree rotation instead of 90 degree increments, but they tend to be quite large, and, I didn't have one! So was looking for a quick, inexpensive, and compact method to give me full access to the bottom side. This solution was about $150 for the steel, wheels, and assorted hardware. The lumber was surplus from another project.

pretty astute mounting, and certainly not as cumbersome to store between projects as even loop rollers... 90 degrees flips is a lot better than none, and significantly better than 180, esp. when the flipping can be done alone.
I'll keep that in mind...

Preview: Re: Flipped the Elan today....
Hi Guys, my friend has been working on my Elan and came up with the idea of using two engine stands.

It means you can still use the engine stands afterwards.

PC

Great job! By the way, the body of your Elan looks good.