Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I need new bolts for the front and rear bumpers and was thinking of obtaining some stainless coach bolts and polishing the heads.

Has anyone else done this and how did it turn out? What size do I need and where is the best source.

Chrome plated are available from the usual suspect but I have a feeling these will rust in fairly short order.

Cheers

Jon

Hi Jon,
What year is your +2 because on the rear Bumpers they changed on the last +2S130 cars.
Alan

Mine is a '68 so coach bolts heads are in order.

Yes,
My first +2 was a 1968 car also.
Just a detail with coach bolts under the head it's a square but with original bumper bolts they have 2 flats and 2 rounded bits.
The coach bolts will not stop turning as well when you tighten the nuts.
A personal choice of course.
Alan

Hi Alan,

that's true however two flats under the coach bolt heads will engage against two flats on the bumper hole and so I am happy they will hold sufficiently whilst being tightened up

...I've just ordered some from Kays in stainless that I will polish up on the lathe.

Hi Jono,
Have you fitted stainless bumpers also.
On my last +2 it was 1973 +2S130/4 so on the rear bumper original screws were crosshead button . So when i replaced them i could find stainless easily.
Alan

Hi Alan,

The bumpers have been re plated by Derby Plating to a very high standard but I want to use stainless coach screws as I'm not confident the chrome plated ones available for SJS etc. will last very long before they begin to rust.

So I will polish up the stainless coach bolt heads to a mirror finish.

When I did my last Plus 2 (a later one) it had the cross heads which if I recall correctly are the same as the dash screws - I obtained stainless ones and polished them which worked really well.

Just repeating a tip I was given.it’s suggested you wax polish the bumpers generously, then polish off. The polish will be deposited in the tiny cavities and help preserve from the onset of rust.

I added rubber above washer and nut, i know the bolt head still makes metal to metal. The moisture sits below