Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My car has new 20 year old Armstrong strut inserts!! I bought them some time ago during the 30+ year restoration of the car I am now retired and have the time to complete it. 30+ years is a long time to keep track of whats been done and what parts are where. I have lost one of the strut castellated nuts. I have measured as best I can the thread on the strut and have determined that the overall OD is 0.683" and the TPI appears to be 16. Does any one know where I can obtain a suitable castellated or Nyloc nut to fit the strut insert thread?
Im sure that I will be confronted by many other issues, but this is the one that is preventing me progressing with the rolling chassis completion. I have owned the car for 40 years its a 71 FHC sprint that had covered 31k when taken off the road in 1975, its been stored and stripped in the intervening years.
Please help me see it roll before I move on to the great highway in the sky!
Thanks

My car has new 20 year old Armstrong strut inserts!! I bought them some time ago during the 30+ year restoration of the car I am now retired and have the time to complete it. 30+ years is a long time to keep track of whats been done and what parts are where. I have lost one of the strut castellated nuts. I have measured as best I can the thread on the strut and have determined that the overall OD is 0.683" and the TPI appears to be 16. Does any one know where I can obtain a suitable castellated or Nyloc nut to fit the strut insert thread?
Im sure that I will be confronted by many other issues, but this is the one that is preventing me progressing with the rolling chassis completion. I have owned the car for 40 years its a 71 FHC sprint that had covered 31k when taken off the road in 1975, its been stored and stripped in the intervening years.
Please help me see it roll before I move on to the great highway in the sky!
Thanks

Welcome! It's good to see someone that took the same route that I did and held on to the car that they knew would someday get restored. You've got me beat though. I've owned my +2 since '76. It's been off the road since '79 or '80. Now retired, I have the time to get it done.

I'll bet you have the same problem as I do. How many duplicate parts have you bought over the years not remembering that you already have new ones in a box somewhere? The good news that in most cases they now sell for more than you paid for them.

It will help, in your search for parts, if you add a location to your profile. If you're in the UK someone close by may be able to help. If you're in the middle of nowhere, like I am, that may not be so easy. I'll have a look through my extra fasteners but I don't think I had duplicates for the struts.

Hope to see some pictures of your progress. Good luck.

And any reason why you cannot use the nuts that were originally on the car? They will usually go again.

Leslie

Hi

I had a similar situation when I rebuilt my rear suspension. I damaged my nut for the top of the strut

Tony Thompson supplied a replacement nut. I simply called the explained the situation and they sold me a new nut and dispatched it dispatched it the day I called. I can't remember the cost but I did recall it was reasonable.

Give them a call

Regrads

Andy

Have a look here.......lotuselan-plus2-f51/castellated-nut-t21910.html

Apparently the thread is 11/16" - 16 UNF

As you have one of the nuts it will be easy for a small machine shop to replicate the other, it may be worth getting a couple made just in case. In my experience over the years the cost is insignificant when parts are not available, given the chasing around, phone calls and general frustration factor. Not sure where you are but I am lucky in having a guy locally who always is happy to help and even gives an input sometimes to help resolve a problem using his technical knowledge, if only there were more like him.

Best of luck

Hi,

I've just replaced my rear struts so I have the castellated nuts left over. Where are you?

Regards,

Pete

Golly, what an incredible response, thank you all. I'm new to this, so I appologise for my errors in giving information. I live just down the road from Tony Thomson Racing in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
I'm not sure that all strut inserts have the same top threadform, but think mine is 5/8 or 11/16 BSF 16 TPI.
I should explain that I have a nut which looks right size but does not fit. The dimensions I gave are measured as best I can from the thread on the insert. Ifanyone has an appropriate nut I will be happy to purchase it.
I will also publish photos (of which i have hundreds!)shortly. The car is in very good condition, it has never been pranged or even scratched, the worst its had is a wheel rim kerbed, and thats my next task, to have them checked, straightened and painted. I also have a problem with the drivers seat, part of the steel wire fram has broken at a weld and forced its way through the seat squab near my right thigh. I will want to get a sympathetic repair done on the seat which may involve a total recover, but it must match the existing trim exactly.
Thanks again folks for all your advice, I really appreciate it.

Hello again folks,
Just followed the link to the strut nut, this site is great, full of like minded people, seems like there could be a case for mass sectioning under the mental health act my warped mind works the same, a constant discussion/argument ongoing, it must be the nature of the beast!
My nuts have the described collar, what I dont understand is why one fit perfectly and the other just will nut turn. I have checked for thread swarf and burr but all looks well, and I would swear that the "bad" one has a slightly different TPI, although the OD looks about correct, in as fay as I can measure it internally. Could it be UNF?
I am determined to get this car as near perfect as possible, it has many happy, and some erotic memories for me and I would like to eventually pass it on to my son who is as much a petrol head as I.
Cheers
Bob
PS How do I post Pictures????

Bob wrote: My nuts have the described collar, what I dont understand is why one fit perfectly and the other just will nut turn

Probably because there were AT LEAST 2 different thread types on Armstrongs and Koni's to my knowledge, maybe more. Fooled me for a short time many years ago too.

Leslie

bloodknock wrote:PS How do I post Pictures????

This may help.......
announcements-f32/tutorial-how-upload-photos-t27816.html?hilit=how%20to%20post%20pictures#p186541

Bob,

Check that the nut that fits, will screw onto BOTH of your shock absorbers and that the nut that does not fit, does not fit on BOTH shock absorbers.

It will then be pretty damn definite that the nuts have a different pitch thread inside.

Thanks I'll do that but i'll have to dimantle the side I have actually fitted! I'll keep you informed.
Thanks again
Bob

Bloodknock,
I am in a similar situation to you. I bought my car as a non runner about 30 years before I retired. The intention was to restore it and use it whilst still young enough to drive it as intended. Life got in the way. I have been working on it now for six years and have no idea when I will finish.

The castellated nut you need is 11/16 UNF, an unusual size even in the 1960's. I have one, it is scruffy, but you are welcome to it.

Send me a private message with your address and I will post it to you.

Regards,
Richard Hawkins