The mystery of the part that never was...

PostPost by: paul_adamson » Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:43 pm

I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
paul_adamson
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PostPost by: stupidemail5 at lycos.com » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:54 pm

Yes, it is exactly as you remember, and IIRC screwed to a little metal frame to the tunnel fiberglass. I think I tore it off by mistake and just have a sheet of rubber flopped over





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PostPost by: lotuselan2 » Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:32 am

Since the motion of the gear lever near the base and the plastic done for
sure is small, I would say it would be an easy piece to make for a sheet of
suitable rubber, Neoprene or similar.



Ken

'69 Lotus Elan +2 with BDR

_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of Paul Adamson
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 5:40 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...




I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson














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PostPost by: Frank Howard » Sun Feb 12, 2006 1:03 am

I just looked at mine. The base of the rubber shift boot fits into a
galvanized sheet that is screwed into the fiberglass tunnel, so the shift boot is
held in place by the galvanized sheet rather than the console. The console just
drops over the shifter and shift boot and the opening is covered by the last
"bellows" in the shift boot. This way the boot is secured solidly to the
sheet, rather than to the console which on my car is held in by nothing but
friction and gravity. This really looks like a dealer solution to complaints that
the console moves around with the shifter, but with Lotus, you never know for
sure. Hope this helps.

Frank Howard
'71 S4 SE
Minnesota
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PostPost by: nebogipfel » Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:42 am

Paul, I can't comment on "the part that never was" but I did try to
fit a secondary boot to my S4 when I put it together and it was a bit
of a failure.

The lever is short and the Elan gear lever gaitor is quite small and I
found the whole thing tended to bind up.

I suppose a thin sheet of really flexible neoprene or similar screwed
to the tunnel might work but I'm not sure how much noise supression
you would get from it


John
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PostPost by: Billmack » Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:04 pm

About the gear lever seal-
One description I read sounds like a bugeye sprite/early MG Midget type
thing which is just a very large firewall grommet if you look at it closely
Bill Mack
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PostPost by: "John Stevens" » Sun Feb 12, 2006 4:52 pm

My Elan +2 has the secondary gaiter that you remember. It was there when I
bought the car about 20 years ago, and the original owner didn't appear to
be the type to fiddle with the car, so I assume it was original equipment.
As it turns out, I have the console cover (or whatever is the proper term
for the plastic cover over the transmission/driveshaft tunnel) out of my car
for repairs right now, so that secondary gaiter is the only thing keeping
the outside air from getting into the car. It does an excellent job. The
temperature here during the morning commute these days is typically around
freezing, and I can feel no cold air getting past this gaiter as I shift
gears.



John Stevens

Albuquerque, New Mexico



_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of Paul Adamson
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 3:40 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...




I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson














SPONSORED LINKS


Plus
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Plus&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=Im
pressions&c=4&s=52&.sig=0JmZMxFvZsC1_4q4AiO96A>

Sprint
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sprint&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=
Impressions&c=4&s=52&.sig=fCbd1nSa8N0l5X1n3P7l4Q>

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PostPost by: Steve Crook » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:29 pm

There is one on my +2 and I fitted a spare one to my S3 Elan.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of Paul Adamson
Sent: 12 February 2006 12:40 AM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...


I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
Steve Crook
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 67
Joined: 10 Nov 2003

PostPost by: davidallen » Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:40 pm

This sounds like my +2 rear folding seat that no one, including the ex lotus
marketing manager, owns up to the existence of!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Adamson [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 February 2006 22:40
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...



I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
davidallen
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 292
Joined: 11 Aug 2005

PostPost by: Elan45 » Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:23 pm

But, David, We've already determined you're not looney, because I have
one in my late '69 S too.

Roger


lotus
marketing manager, owns up to the existence of!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Adamson [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 February 2006 22:40
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...



I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it
has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible
gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards
to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down
on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed
in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
Elan45
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Posts: 2518
Joined: 23 Nov 2008

PostPost by: davidallen » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:34 am

Yes, I stand corrected! Further to the wonders of the internet we have
discovered least two were made, located on different continents!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Sieling [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 14 February 2006 16:22
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...


But, David, We've already determined you're not looney, because I have
one in my late '69 S too.

Roger


lotus
marketing manager, owns up to the existence of!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Adamson [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 February 2006 22:40
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...



I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it
has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible
gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards
to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down
on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed
in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
davidallen
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 292
Joined: 11 Aug 2005

PostPost by: rgh0 » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:14 pm

I thought the fold down rear seats were standard on the 69 / 70 plus
2 S models. I have seen a few in Australia of this vintage with
them. They abandoned these folding seats in the later cars, the plus
2S 130 from 71 on models did not have them.

Rohan



--- In ***@***.***, "ALLEN, David" <david.allen@...>
wrote:













In God I trust.... All others please bring data
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PostPost by: Elan45 » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:41 pm

David,

Don't forget the front recliners too. My car is a home market RHD car
that was smuggled into the USA about 1976, since it still has the Weber
head, 3-eared KO wheels and low back front recliner seats which mean it
wouldn't have passed US safety standards. Today, that is moot, since US
laws allow importation of any car over 25 YO. I've got to look in my +2
parts book to see if there isn't a mention.

Roger


discovered least two were made, located on different continents!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Sieling [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 14 February 2006 16:22
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...


But, David, We've already determined you're not looney, because I have
one in my late '69 S too.

Roger


lotus
marketing manager, owns up to the existence of!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Adamson [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 February 2006 22:40
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...



I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it
has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible
gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards
to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down
on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed
in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
Elan45
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Posts: 2518
Joined: 23 Nov 2008

PostPost by: Steve Crook » Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:03 pm

At least three on three different continents, my +2 has the folding backrest
in South Africa.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of ALLEN, David
Sent: 15 February 2006 12:31 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...

Yes, I stand corrected! Further to the wonders of the internet we have
discovered least two were made, located on different continents!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Sieling [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 14 February 2006 16:22
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...


But, David, We've already determined you're not looney, because I have
one in my late '69 S too.

Roger


lotus
marketing manager, owns up to the existence of!

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Adamson [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: 11 February 2006 22:40
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] The mystery of the part that never was...



I have, like many of the listers - owned a fair number of Lotus Cars.
Presently I have an S4 Elan and (for my sins) an Eclat. :-(
I bought a "new" gear lever gaiter for the Elan back in 2000 and it
has
now fallen to bits.
I believe that this is because they are no longer made from proper
rubber.

Trawling through the depths of my memory, I recall on at least one of
the Plus 2's, that there was a second gaiter underneath the visible
gear
lever gaiter.
It looked like a flat sheet of rubber that had been formed downwards
to
go around the nylon domed part on the gearbox.
I had thought that I might add one of these to my S4 Elan to cut down
on
some of the noise.

To my surprise, when I rang Paul Matty on Friday, the man in the parts
department said that although he had seen the "secondary seal" listed
in
the +2 parts manual, neither he nor any of the mechanics at Paul Matty
had ever seen one!

Hence, "the part that never was".

Just to satisfy my curiosity, could anyone attest to the existence of
this elusive second gear lever gaiter?

I suppose, the next step would be to see if anyone agrees with me that
it might (if the part does exist!) be a worthwhile modification to the
original Elans.

Paul Adamson
Steve Crook
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 67
Joined: 10 Nov 2003

PostPost by: Lincoln62 » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:59 am

Make that 3. My friend ahs a +2S with the folding seat.

Peter
66S2

ALLEN, David wrote:

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