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Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:57 am
by bengalcharlie
Hi

I am looking for a trunion with the smaller diameter of 5/8 instead of the 7/8 as used on the elan. It is for a series 1 elite.

If no one knows I will modify the suspension so I can use the later 7/8 which is readily available. Keen to find out if someone has already been down that road.

Cheers Robin

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 6:10 am
by 1owner69Elan
You need to contact Mike Ostrov, the Elite guru:

[email protected]" target="_blank

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 6:48 am
by bengalcharlie
thanks for your reply. Mike supplied me with a used one but he has no answer for my search/ modifying request.

The reason I put it out here, and I have also put up a posting in the elite yahoo group.


Cheers Robin

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 9:44 am
by Chancer
Are they the same as the TR2 ones?

They take a steel pivot pin so are likely to be a smaller diameter than the plastic bush/steel liner type, probably the correct era.

My initial thought was Standard 8 but they look to be the bushed trunnions.

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:15 pm
by bengalcharlie
thanks for your reply and yes the early triumph ones have caught my eye as well, and I just found out the hole is .560, which could be drilled out to fit the shaft as used on the elite series 1. just have to make sure castor angles are similar. definitely worthwhile keeping this as an option together with the one used on the elan and changing to a bolt and nut set up instead of the shaft.

cheers Robin

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:41 am
by nigelrbfurness
Are the threads on the vertical links the same as the Triumph ones on the Elan? If so I can't see any reason to not use the later type as they are stronger, providing that the centre of the trunnion hole is in the same place so your wishbone length remains the same. You can vary the size of the steel sleeve easily enough.

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 1:57 pm
by denicholls2
Early Herald, perhaps? I believe there were minor differences from later Herald which became early Spitfire, don't know if this is one.

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 6:49 pm
by Elan45
Hi Robin,

I don't have an Elite, but do have a very original Eleven Ser 2. The front suspension/ trunnions are based on Standard 10 or what was sold in North America as a TR10. The trunnions do not have a hole in them as sold, but have a male threaded shaft, threaded on each end. I'm trying to remember, I think about 3/8"diameter. The lower wishbone is threaded female, about an inch in diameter. Then there are double threaded nuts, threaded both inside and out that are threaded onto the trunnion's shaft and into the wishbone at the same time to assemble. I've never had an Elite, but I can't imagine Lotus doing this on the Eleven and not doing the same on at least the early Elites. I have some spares I can dig out, butt I would think at this point, that I would update to the nylon bushed tunnions used on Heralds and Elans. PM me if you want some further info and I'll photograph some of my spares for you.

Roger Sieling

Re: Trunnion 5/8

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 2:43 am
by bengalcharlie
Hi Roger

You are spot on with your description of the suspension layout of the elite. I do.have all the parts now, I did manage to find one used Trunnion in order to put all back together. But to find new ones seems impossible. Your suggestion to fit later ones is a possibility, especially there I found out early wishbones that can accomodate these trunnions are available.kind regards,robin