Rear Strut Brace

PostPost by: danielmo » Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:30 pm

Hi,

Does anyone have the dimensions of the rear strut brace for a Series 3? My car came with a 1/4" steel plate instead of the factory one. Looking to replace it with one that is much lighter. Thanks.
danielmo
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 97
Joined: 05 Nov 2003

PostPost by: RAJ2628 » Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:19 am

SJ Sportscars have the brace if it's any help. I'm sure other suppliers stock it too.
RAJ2628
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 74
Joined: 24 Oct 2019

PostPost by: bitsobrits » Thu Aug 03, 2023 6:04 pm

Give me a couple hours to find mine (which is off the car at present). BTW, the factory item is very thin flanged sheetmetal, and is really just a backing piece for the vertical rear panel in an S3-S4. Can't imagine it adds much strength to shock towers, though it can't hurt.
Steve

Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow

Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
bitsobrits
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 417
Joined: 27 Apr 2011

PostPost by: danielmo » Thu Aug 03, 2023 6:39 pm

Thanks Steve.
danielmo
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 97
Joined: 05 Nov 2003

PostPost by: bitsobrits » Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:49 pm

Took me a few hours to get to this.

So the 'strut brace' as you call it is 27 1/4" long, 4" wide, and with the flanges is 7/16" thick. As you can see in the photos it's still attached to vertical interior panel. It certainly appears to me that this car was very original, so this should give you an idea of how it was mounted.
Attachments
IMG_1633.jpeg and
IMG_1632.jpeg and
Steve

Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow

Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
bitsobrits
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 417
Joined: 27 Apr 2011

PostPost by: danielmo » Fri Aug 04, 2023 2:16 am

Thank you for the pictures. That helps a lot. Does the side with the brace go towards the trunk or interior?

Thanks again.
danielmo
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 97
Joined: 05 Nov 2003

PostPost by: bitsobrits » Fri Aug 04, 2023 2:20 am

danielmo wrote:Thank you for the pictures. That helps a lot. Does the side with the brace go towards the trunk or interior?.


Towards the trunk. The other side of that fiberboard is carpeted.
Steve

Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow

Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
bitsobrits
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 417
Joined: 27 Apr 2011

PostPost by: MACCA.GLM » Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:25 pm

Hi do all Elans have this rear strut brace as I've not seen one on my sprint

Thanks G
MACCA.GLM
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 182
Joined: 06 Apr 2023

PostPost by: danielmo » Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:34 pm

The parts list does not show one for the sprint.
danielmo
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 97
Joined: 05 Nov 2003

PostPost by: MACCA.GLM » Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:45 pm

Phew
Thanks for that
G
MACCA.GLM
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 182
Joined: 06 Apr 2023

PostPost by: danielmo » Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:55 pm

Adding lightness in the later models. :)
danielmo
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 97
Joined: 05 Nov 2003

PostPost by: alan71 » Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:00 pm

I'm sure all S3, S4 and Sprints had the strut brace.
My Sprint does.

Alan.
alan71
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 219
Joined: 15 Jul 2007

PostPost by: gjz30075 » Sat Aug 12, 2023 4:02 pm

As does my Federal Sprint. My parts manual shows all S3 and S4s, and variants, have the
brace.
Greg Z
45/0243K Sprint
45/7286 S3 SE DHC
User avatar
gjz30075
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3020
Joined: 12 Sep 2003

PostPost by: pharriso » Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:50 am

All Sprints & S4s should have a brace…
Phil Harrison
1972 Elan Sprint 0260K
User avatar
pharriso
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3186
Joined: 15 Sep 2010

PostPost by: MACCA.GLM » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:35 am

I presume this brace is for the lotus chassis not the spider chassis

Regards

G
MACCA.GLM
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 182
Joined: 06 Apr 2023
Next

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests