Early +2 steering column.

PostPost by: wotsisname » Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:05 am

Here's a couple of photos.. these are a '68 +2 .
I had forgotten that the bulkhead plate also includes the handbrake cable.

steering_column_thru_bulkhead.jpg and


Hopefully you can make out the column mounting bracket Ok, despite the shadow.
steering_column_clamp.jpg and


In case you are wondering, the cables (from front, central interior light, aerial & the yellow/red is to allow me to change the RHS reverse light to a red LED fog light at a later date if desired.) are just temporarily wrapped around the bracket
1968 Elan plus 2 - project
2007 Elise S2 [modified with a Hethel 70th sticker (yellow)]
2000 Elise S1 - Sold
wotsisname
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 452
Joined: 24 Jun 2015

PostPost by: Bigbaldybloke » Tue Jul 04, 2017 12:41 pm

Interesting to see the different methods of mounting parts in this area. I've taken a different route as my brake pedal box and handbrake mounting brackets were completely missing. My car is a very early one that has a much bigger pedal box and I could only get a later narrower one. My solution was to make up a 3mm thick alloy plate that covered most of this area on the engine bay side. This was secured in place with the existing pedal box bolt holes and additional ones. On the inside I mounted a 1" square tube running front to back that the handbrake was secured to using a triangular alloy plate at the bottom end. What I haven't done is extend this to the top steering column mounting bracket. I'll revisit it having seen this and check out the logistics of this additional bracing. I had already bought a second steering column mounting bracket from a later car with the idea of adding it part way down the column bolted through to my alloy strengthening plate, as just the sealing plate and rubber seal at the bottom of the column did not seem good to me. My one piece column had groves worn well into it where it rested and rubbed on this plate.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine!
Bigbaldybloke
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 889
Joined: 16 May 2017

PostPost by: Bigbaldybloke » Tue Jul 04, 2017 12:49 pm

Just seen the additional photos above. My column bottom plate only goes around the steering column and not the handbrake cable as well. Not sure how the seal was originally around my handbrake cable, I'd been looking for a suitable grommet to seal it, or failing that some of the dreaded black silicon.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine!
Bigbaldybloke
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 889
Joined: 16 May 2017

PostPost by: TeeJay » Tue Jul 04, 2017 4:42 pm

Bigbaldbloke.

This link has the correct info for the Steering Column Bulkhead Seal.

lotuselan-plus2-f51/replace-steering-flexible-joint-early-t39742.html

See the first photo by ?robbi? and the Parts Manual by ?billwill? ref items 25 & 26 Seal and Plate

These are as my early 1968 +2.
Trevor
1968 Elan +2 50/0173
User avatar
TeeJay
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 540
Joined: 30 May 2007

PostPost by: Bigbaldybloke » Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:09 pm

Thanks for the info and link, some photos of mine attached.
Attachments
img_1516.jpg and
img_1513.jpg and
img_1512.jpg and
img_1511.jpg and
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine!
Bigbaldybloke
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 889
Joined: 16 May 2017

PostPost by: TeeJay » Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:48 pm

Making good progress, but I note that the Frame is missing for the Pedal Box.

pedal-box.jpg and


Some forum members have made their own stronger frame.
Trevor
1968 Elan +2 50/0173
User avatar
TeeJay
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 540
Joined: 30 May 2007

PostPost by: Bigbaldybloke » Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:58 pm

I have a brand new reinforcing frame I bought from Spyder that I don't want, open to offers. My car is very early and had a wider pedal box so it didn't fit. It doesn't have the extra brackets on it for the handbrake mounting, but it's very solid, approx 3mm thick plate so easy to weld to if you wanted to add additional brackets. Similar ones are on eBay if you search for lotus elan parts. I can provide photos if required.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine!
Bigbaldybloke
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 889
Joined: 16 May 2017

PostPost by: Bigbaldybloke » Wed Jul 05, 2017 10:08 pm

Probably took the previous comment the wrong way, thinking you were looking for a reinforcing bracket. As I could only get a later type pedal box for my early car I have a 3mm alloy plate right across the engine bay side where the pedal box fits so don't need the frame on the inside. The early versions such as mine didn't have it fitted originally and as mentioned, the later type pedal box is much narrower, if you look at my photos you can see the bolts in the original holes are further out than the studs on the newer pedal box now fitted. The alloy plate is also bolted right through the 1" square tube I have used for the handbrake mounting so adds strength to the area too.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine!
Bigbaldybloke
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 889
Joined: 16 May 2017
Previous

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests