Help has anyone got their Clam Shell removed at the moment?

[Mike Y]

I am looking for details of the part that looks like a "L" shaped channel at the bottom of the windscreen frame top of the A post.

On my Elan ex "Jimbob" the holes are there to fit it but I need some close up photos of the part and hopefully some measurements to make these or maybe someone might have a pair they are willing to part with?

Cheers Mike

[CalElan]

IMG_0623.JPG

IMG_0624.JPG

Let me know if these are of the right thing, I'll take some measurements

[Mike Y]

That is exactly the part.

Thank you very much for that.

Can you help me further please can toy supply me measurements and a close up photo of the Clamp Plate that anchors the base of the A panel to the front of the sill.

Cheers Mike

[Simon_P]

For a concours restoration you will need the original parts

or maybe someone might have a pair they are willing to part with?

Maybe

How much of a hurry are you in? They are still attached and the shell is against a wall on one side.

[Mike Y]

Thanks for the fast reply

I am hoping to get the clam and A panels assembled this weekend if possible.

As far as I can find the clamp plates are not available so I will have to make some.

There are a lot of concourse Baby & +2 Elans about where a huge % of the parts are non original / fabricated parts.

I am trying my best to obtain the parts but small fiddly parts especially are not that easy to find. Most people breaking the cars just throw this type of part away or damage it when removing it.

Thank you for your help.

Mike

[Simon_P]

As far as I can find the clamp plates are not available so I will have to make some.

You may be lucky there also but same problem with the wall and moving the shell to get to them is a bit involved. I'm tempted to get some made as mine are a bit rough also.

Anything else on your shopping list?

The originality comment was tongue in cheek as you don't really see either of these parts... But you would know!

I have a very original S3 until recently original paint original carpet (what was left of it) original hood, but I want to sell it and it is worth more with shiny paint etc... Nowhere near as cool though.

[CalElan]

Here are some large photos which should help you.

www.austerfields.com/Lotus/APanel/

I hosted them off site so they could be much larger.
In section the fitting is more V shaped than L shaped
The inner piece - attached - sits above the body seam, while the outer piece extends beyond it. Not sure this comes across in the images.

WRT the fixing at the bottom of the A-Panel - It's literally a piece of steel that spans the distance between the two bolts.
I think it originally had a rubber pad underneath to better clamp the panel - this was perished on mine so I replaced with a piece of Neoprene made to the same size as the plate and glued to it for ease of re-assembly.

[Mike Y]

Another part I require is the bracket for holding the Vacuum tank to the body tub.

Can you help with any photos or have you got one spare?

Cheers Mike

[Mike Y]

Here are some large photos which should help you.

www.austerfields.com/Lotus/APanel/

I hosted them off site so they could be much larger.
In section the fitting is more V shaped than L shaped
The inner piece - attached - sits above the body seam, while the outer piece extends beyond it. Not sure this comes across in the images.

WRT the fixing at the bottom of the A-Panel - It's literally a piece of steel that spans the distance between the two bolts.
I think it originally had a rubber pad underneath to better clamp the panel - this was perished on mine so I replaced with a piece of Neoprene made to the same size as the plate and glued to it for ease of re-assembly.

I am sorry I wasn't able to open your photos

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Mike,

I just emailed the pictures (JPGs) to you as they are all too big to post on LEC.

If Andrew can't help with the vacuum bracket, let me know and I will post a picture of one on a UK body tub I have.

If you don't get the pictures, let me know as they are really large files and I may have to resize them.

[GeoffSmith]

https://i.imgur.com/ab5Lpxn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2nSq9JR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/voCxUuR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2jJBRGI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6VoF1NJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9GxCHDd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wNlbDAd.jpg

[Mike Y]

That's great help guys thank you

[CalElan]

Thanks for helping out guys - I can try and grab some images of the bracket tomorrow

[Brit-Car-Nut]

If you can't, let me know. I have a UK RHD tub in the shop without the clam (that is in the storage building) and the vacuum canister is still installed but it is only 1 bolt to remove it.

FWIW, the parts book says the LHD and RHD cars both use the same A100P0094F bracket.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I am looking for details of the part that looks like a "L" shaped channel at the bottom of the windscreen frame top of the A post.

On my Elan ex "Jimbob" the holes are there to fit it but I need some close up photos of the part and hopefully some measurements to make these or maybe someone might have a pair they are willing to part with?

Cheers Mike

Mike,

I might have a pair of used water gutters (that is what they are) off the red UK tub in the shop. I will look at it tomorrow along with the vacuum canister mount.

Anything else you need?

I bought a couple of partially stripped UK tubs around 14 years ago and shipped them over here and one is in a corner of the shop and the other has been stripped and the boxes of the parts salvaged are in a storage building across the back yard.

I also got a new "later" SE chassis, two floor pan assemblies and the new FED body tub from Geoff. All are reasonably available for pictures or dimensions.

[Simon_P]

or have you got one spare?

yes

I'm having a car day today so will see what I can get off easily. Anything else on the shopping list?

[CalElan]

Images of the Vacuum reserve fixing here.

austerfields.com/Lotus/Vacuum/

These are in a more standard format so should be good.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Here is a photo of the vacuum capsule mount from the white (now yellow) m100 in the shop. That isn't a crack, it is some of the mounting adhesive that dribbled...

I also looked at the capsule still attached in the red car and it looks like someone glued it into place because after removing the nut, it still won't budge (even with a decent screwdriver as a lever). Maybe they installed the pod immediately after leaving a dribble like the one in the picture...

vacuum pod.jpg

[Simon_P]

I have both gutters to hand and the rivets, they came off easily stuck on with something soft.

I have got one clamp plate off so have a pattern and I'm looking at getting stainless ones made - more on that later.

The vac tank bracket is well and truly stuck on with the adhesive visible through the holes. It might come off with a cutting wire.

[Simon_P]

I Have the "Watershields" on my desk - If you would like them let me know. They come with patina, dirt, and glue attached.

DSC_0435.JPG

I couldn't get both 'A' Panel clamp plates of and mine are rough so I'm looking at getting some made.
viewtopic.php?f=85&t=28012

I'll have a go at getting the vac bottle bracket off but, not sure how successful that will be.