Lotus Elan Central

by **Andy C** » Thu 20.04.2006, 04:23

Currently got the seats out of my car for a clean and reconditioning treatment. I have been recommended a special product, and once finished, I will post my impressions and results.

However, while the seats are out and upon my garage floor .. is there anything I "should" do whilst I have easier access to certain areas. I can't logicaly think of anything .. but I can guarentee if I don't ask, then there will be something.

Thanks for your advice.

by **Dico** » Thu 20.04.2006, 05:14

Take advantage of the room.
Tried it in a triumph spitfire once but gave up

by **cjay** » Thu 20.04.2006, 07:16

Go for it Andy! if you find any change while your at it it's probably mine :wink:

Wonder if anyone's ever done it in an Elise, deserve a medal if they have!

cjay

by **Enright** » Thu 20.04.2006, 07:29

When I took my seats out I swapped the entire cushion assemblies.
Over time your arse hammers the driver's side one into submission, while the passenger side gets far less abuse so is noticeably firmer.
If you want to even up the wear, then do it. It's another hour's work, but is very straightforward (especially if you use Doug's "installing seat heaters" write-up), and well worth it for the feeling of extra support afterwards.

by **pjohn151** » Thu 20.04.2006, 08:43

Did that on my old Elan, and the seats felt much better for it

Phil

PS: I did manage it in a Spitfire :wink:

by **muley** » Thu 20.04.2006, 08:59

Enright13 wrote:When I took my seats out I swapped the entire cushion assemblies.
Over time your arse hammers the driver's side one into submission, while the passenger side gets far less abuse so is noticeably firmer.
If you want to even up the wear, then do it. It's another hour's work, but is very straightforward (especially if you use Doug's "installing seat heaters" write-up), and well worth it for the feeling of extra support afterwards.

The only slight snag I came up with was that the seat protectors have to be swapped over and this would have left a couple of holes - which I could have covered with a couple of new protectors - but I didn't have any....

Edited to add - I have now read the post properly and realised that you swapped just the bases - which gets round the problem. JB

by **Rambo** » Thu 20.04.2006, 09:33

Dico wrote::bananasex: Take advantage of the room.
Tried it in a triumph spitfire once but gave up

Try some Viagra next time Dico !!

When I bought my Elan 2 1/2 years ago I got the garage to swap the seats over as the driver seat had about 67000 miles worth of bums sat in it and the passenger seat was virtually unworn. The only problem with this, as pointed out by Muley, is that the seat protectors are then on the inside edge. You could remove the existing ones leaving a couple of small holes and indentations or buy a couple of new ones and screw them on. I bought a couple of new ones but they're still sitting in the garage.

If you don't want to go that way, an article I have suggests simply buying some new clips which hold the base cushion in place, inverting the cushion and refitting. The original clips will probably have snapped under the weight of previous drivers - not that I am insinuating that Cjay was in anyway heavy

Mark

by **dans** » Thu 20.04.2006, 10:11

.. not insinuating in anyway that I am heavy but......
Rambo, I'd be interested in any article you have on replacing the clips/support in the seat?

Driving along the other day I got this sudden sinking feeling, and reckon I am now sitting about an inch lower in the seat. Not being the tallest guy in the world I am now having a few visibility issues..... :oops:

A few strands of plastic/gut (?) wire have also appeared so I'm assuming a bit more than just clips have given way.
Haven't had to look into it yet though.

Cheers,
Dan

by **Sy V** » Thu 20.04.2006, 10:16

Talking of visibility - Andy, how tall are you?

I ask because, if you're anything over 6' it may be worth removing the rear spacers (best to source shorter bolts though) and replacing the seat.

Fore/aft travel isn't inhibited and the seating position and visibility for tall people is vastly improved.

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 20.04.2006, 10:38

Sy V wrote:it may be worth removing the rear spacers (best to source shorter bolts though) and replacing the seat.

Sy
where are these??.....I replaced my seats with S2's and have found myself quite a bit higher.....didnt notice anything when I changed everything over....just wondered where these were and how to remove em......presume this tilts you back but drops the level at which youre posterior is located
thanks
G

by **Sy V** » Thu 20.04.2006, 10:51

They're the black cones on which the rails sit.

Page 13.01A in the Parts Guide.

by **muley** » Thu 20.04.2006, 11:11

dans wrote:.. not insinuating in anyway that I am heavy but......
Rambo, I'd be interested in any article you have on replacing the clips/support in the seat?

Driving along the other day I got this sudden sinking feeling, and reckon I am now sitting about an inch lower in the seat. Not being the tallest guy in the world I am now having a few visibility issues.....
A few strands of plastic/gut (?) wire have also appeared so I'm assuming a bit more than just clips have given way.
Haven't had to look into it yet though.

Cheers,
Dan

Dan,

You might be lucky, the base sometimes frays a bit - giving you the odd strand of material, but the clips work between a metal rod in the base and holes in the side rails. As far as I know you can get the clips from Lotus dealers - I actually used some clips from an old sun lounger that was scrapped a few years ago - I knew they'd come in handy one day!!

Jim B

by **muley** » Thu 20.04.2006, 11:14

Andy,

It seems we've hi-jacked your thread. I don't think there's anything in particular you can do while the seat is out - I did remove the driver's one when I replaced a throttle cable, and carried a fridge once after taking the passenger side one out ;-)

Also, a good opportunity to check those clips in the seat base,

Regards

Jim B

by **Enright** » Thu 20.04.2006, 12:57

VERY good idea Jim. Someone mentioned that those spring clips only cost 65p each - if the seats are out anyway then I can't think of a better bit of timely preventative maintenance.

by **Andy C** » Thu 20.04.2006, 14:08

Thanks for all the ideas guys .. I have been discussing some of them with Janie ;-)

My seats are both in real good nick, and I have taken the opportunity to check all the appropriate clips and fitting and stuff while they are out. All they really needed was a clean, and the covers refitted on the outside edges at the base were the plastic lip/strip had popped out from the groove in the metal base. The seat bases are almost identical in support, so no real need to change these at this time. Looks like cjay and the other previous owners have looked after things well.

I'll finish them up on Saturday, and post some pics and my impressions of the leather product I am using .. so far it looks like a ripper.

by **Rambo** » Thu 20.04.2006, 15:17

[quote="dans]Rambo, I'd be interested in any article you have on replacing the clips/support in the seat?[/quote]

Dans - It was just a very brief three liner in an article for Classic Cars, Feb. 2000. Nothing of any substance. Mark

by **pjohn151** » Thu 20.04.2006, 15:38

I actually used some clips from an old sun lounger that was scrapped a few years ago - I knew they'd come in handy one day!!

If you have not scrapped any sun loungers recently, then an old wire coat hanger can make quite a few of the 'C' shaped clips :lol:

Phil

by **nitroman** » Fri 21.04.2006, 03:51

What about fore/aft seat travel? On a couple of other cars where I've had the seats & rails out the rails had a raised "stop" that the seat bumped against causing it to stop moving rearward. I found that by "finishing the factory job" by cutting the upward punched triangle-piece with a dremel-wheel that the seat would then continue to slide back until it came in contact with the rear bulkhead. This offered more leg-room to stretch-out on long road trips.

Any such luck that the Elan is designed this way as well? Something has to be stopping the seat moving in its track before it comes into contact with the bulkhead. Anyone had a first-hand look to see what it is & if it can be removed?

by **dans** » Fri 21.04.2006, 10:14

On mine the top back of the seat comes up against the corner surround of the roof fitting/door/bulkhead area, well before hitting any stops, and thats without the sit particulary reclined....
I had to shout at my mate to stop trying to push it back further, before accepting that he wasn't gonna fit in it!!!!

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