Interior fitting issues

[lotos]

My dash / console has some issues, not sure if these are common or if there is a fix at all.

The pics are below with descriptions:

[tweetdriver63]

Randy,

Most of this is pretty standard. Every FED Elan's airbag wheel that I've seen, has that problem...mine included. I have plans to someday try to deal with it, but it's not a high priority. When I replaced the horn buttons, with the airbag out, I think there's probably a way to support it from the inside to keep it lined up, but not sure. The problem is that the part of the back cover that is warped has no inside support of any kind. It's just a molded bit of rubber. I was thinking something like a piece of wire that could be bent to the right shape maybe? You might also be able to find a replacement. It was a common GM wheel. Camaro, firebird, fiero, etc. Check on ebay, there are usually a bunch of them in various condition.

The vents aren't usually the problem. Usually it's the dash around them that gets warped. From your picture, it looks like in your case, it's actually the vents. If so, there are replacements available. Somewhere there's a thread that references some other vehicles as a cross-reference for them. Seems to me they are common to a Ford of some variety???? At any rate, if you pull one out, it'll have a GM or Ford?? part number on it.

I think all of them have a glovebox that looks a little off, as well as uneven gaps in places like the console. Mostly I would attribute that to the hand-built nature of the car. You can probably adjust the console bits to even it out a little. As for the glovebox not opening smoothly, it has the shittiest hinge system ever designed. I could have designed it myself. It may be that a previous owner had to make repairs to it when one or both of the attachment points on the box broke off. Both of mine did. It took gobs of epoxy to finally get them fixed, and I consider it still a delicate situation.

[Doug]

welcome to Elan ownership . . .

[Doc Fizzix]

welcome to Elan ownership . . .

Well said, now the fun begins

Very common for a hand made car

[WillB]

Looks like a write-off to me

Seriously, you're looking at a 15-20 year old, hand-built car. The fitment actally looks pretty good for a Lotus!

[lotos]

Most of this is pretty standard.

welcome to Elan ownership . . .

Very common for a hand made car

Seriously, you're looking at a 15-20 year old, hand-built car. The fitment actally looks pretty good for a Lotus!

Thanks - I figured as much but it never hurts to ask. The glove box is freaking terrible, but I really don't see how it could possibly be adjusted in any way.

From your picture, it looks like in your case, it's actually the vents. If so, there are replacements available. Somewhere there's a thread that references some other vehicles as a cross-reference for them. Seems to me they are common to a Ford of some variety???? At any rate, if you pull one out, it'll have a GM or Ford?? part number on it.

Sounds good, thanks! Yeah, it's weird, the plastic is almost melted in the middle, bizarre.

[Elanlover]

Hey, did you take pics of my car without me knowing it

[lotos]

Vents say:

FORD
03 19 55
81DB 18C 400AA

[Elanlover]

I find with the vents that its hard to determine the cause -vent warpage or dash warpage. It mostly seems to happen on the side vents too. I'd pull them out and check them against a square (or somethign similar). If its the vents them a heat gun might help. In my case, it apepars to be a combination of both.

[RayD]

The glove box is freaking terrible, but I really don't see how it could possibly be adjusted in any way.

Randy,

Try taking the lock staple off and see if the glove box lid will go up square under any circumstances... it may need a bit slicing off the dash.

If it does go up, but only when being held in position, try spragging a piece of wood from the back to the front at one side to push it slightly out of shape...in other words to stop the right hand side arriving before the left.

Ray

[lotos]

In my case, it apepars to be a combination of both.

Me too, but the vents are the majority of the issue. I may try a heat gun while bending them up in the middle.

Ray - I think it can be pushed into the right spot without even removing anything right now. I'll think about bending it in place a bit.

[RayD]

In that case Randy, if it’s the same fitting as the UK version with a full width hinge bar running through two holes at the back it might be worth slotting the right hand side hole up a touch.

Ray

[tigerdog]

Vents are definitely a US Ford product - previous owner replaced them in my car. Guess what? The new ones are warped down in the middle! Plastic is thin, top is open, sun is warm and I think the dash expands just enough to squeeze them. My glove box is identical; I think a heat-gun judiciously applied might help torque the door plastic into shape.

[lotos]

Honestly I'm glad to hear it's normal - I was nit-picking, looking for things to fix and ask about. Other than replacing all the hoses underhood someday, I'm almost out of stuff to talk about already.

[Doc Fizzix]

Randy

If I remember, when I looked at the glove box it was separating from the foam causing it to "bow" you can re-glue it to the foam and that will fix the fit a little.

[tigerdog]

Honestly I'm glad to hear it's normal - I was nit-picking, looking for things to fix and ask about.

Just drive the car and this problem will fix itself.

[Elanlover]

Just drive the car and this problem will fix itself.

Only because you'll have so much fun driving it you'll forget about all these little issues

[lotos]

I had the joy of being born to truly sarcastic parents. "Mom.. it hurts when I move my arm." "So don't move your arm." Ba dum dum.

But I took a nice drive today even in some cold weather to do my emissions testing and getting my plates. Loving every minute of it. Even when the wife yells at me because black foam is falling on her feet.

[nitroman]

I had the joy of being born to truly sarcastic parents. "Mom.. it hurts when I move my arm." "So don't move your arm." Ba dum dum.

But I took a nice drive today even in some cold weather to do my emissions testing and getting my plates. Loving every minute of it. Even when the wife yells at me because black foam is falling on her feet.

TOXIC black foam, or just normal black foam?
Was it burning her legs or something?
Why the yelling?

[lotos]

Yelling because it's a convertible with the radio on She was wearing flip flops and I found it pretty amusing to watch her shake it off.

Toxic black mold foam, I assume. I've called in a sequestration team.