Installation of windstop
Posted: Wed 21.03.2007, 21:01I have just installed an Oris windstop that I bought off Gazza and collected from him at Donington.
The windstop is designed to be fitted to a Mazda MX-5
but with a little bit of handy work can be adapted to fit the Elan.
After installation, I went on a test run to try it out. It certainly reduces the turbulance in the cabin and also reduces wind noise.
I will try to explain how I installed it. I hope it will be of use to someone else who is considering installing one of these windstops.
You will need to purchase:
1. a length (you will need about 400mm) of 8mm stainless steel threaded bar.
2. 4no domed nuts, 4no nyloc nuts and 6no normal nuts and washers to suit.
3. short length of 8mm ID black fuel hose.
4. Suitable fixings (6mm dia) for T-brackets.
Method.
1. Remove the carpet from the roof storage area by removing the screws along the back face of the plastic trim that runs along the top of the bulkhead.
2. Position the t-bracket upto the front edge of the plastic trim. You can just about feel it through the carpet. See pic. Use the t-bracket as a stencil and cut around to remove the carpet.
3. When the carpet is removed, it will reveal a plastic trim fixing. Remove this so that the bracket sits on the flat surface. Mark the hole locations onto the plastic trim.
4. Use a 6mm drill to drill all the way through the bulkhead into the roof storage area, piercing the additional thin plastic liner (you'll see what I mean). Take care when doing this, as when I had finished I discovered that there is a cable running within the recess. Luckily, I had avoided it at each location! phew!
5. Use a 20mm hole cutter to open up the hole on the thin plastic liner so that you can place washers and nuts onto the bracket fixings.
6. Fix the t-brackets to the bulkhead.
7. Refit the carpet to the roof storage area by reversing the process to remove!
8. Cut 2 lengths of threaded bar 200mm each. And rough assemble the bracket spacer using the domed nuts on one end, and the normal nuts along the length.
9. Place the windstop into the t-brackets and adjust the nuts so that the windstop is located centrally within the cabin. Take time to do this; measuring both sides to get it right. Tighten the nuts when you are happy with the position.
10. Remove the windstop from the car and cut off the excess length of threaded bar.
11. Reassemble the bracket spacer, but using the fuel hose, domed nuts and nyloc nuts as shown in the pic.
12. Reinsert into the t-brackets and tighten all the nuts with the windstop in an upright position.
With the windstop installed I am still able to raise and lower the roof (with some care) without fouling things up!
I am stil able to position the seat all the way back, however the tilt of the seat is reduced slightly. In my normal driving position, this is not an issue.
The windstop is designed to be fitted to a Mazda MX-5
but with a little bit of handy work can be adapted to fit the Elan.
After installation, I went on a test run to try it out. It certainly reduces the turbulance in the cabin and also reduces wind noise.
I will try to explain how I installed it. I hope it will be of use to someone else who is considering installing one of these windstops.
You will need to purchase:
1. a length (you will need about 400mm) of 8mm stainless steel threaded bar.
2. 4no domed nuts, 4no nyloc nuts and 6no normal nuts and washers to suit.
3. short length of 8mm ID black fuel hose.
4. Suitable fixings (6mm dia) for T-brackets.
Method.
1. Remove the carpet from the roof storage area by removing the screws along the back face of the plastic trim that runs along the top of the bulkhead.
2. Position the t-bracket upto the front edge of the plastic trim. You can just about feel it through the carpet. See pic. Use the t-bracket as a stencil and cut around to remove the carpet.
3. When the carpet is removed, it will reveal a plastic trim fixing. Remove this so that the bracket sits on the flat surface. Mark the hole locations onto the plastic trim.
4. Use a 6mm drill to drill all the way through the bulkhead into the roof storage area, piercing the additional thin plastic liner (you'll see what I mean). Take care when doing this, as when I had finished I discovered that there is a cable running within the recess. Luckily, I had avoided it at each location! phew!
5. Use a 20mm hole cutter to open up the hole on the thin plastic liner so that you can place washers and nuts onto the bracket fixings.
6. Fix the t-brackets to the bulkhead.
7. Refit the carpet to the roof storage area by reversing the process to remove!
8. Cut 2 lengths of threaded bar 200mm each. And rough assemble the bracket spacer using the domed nuts on one end, and the normal nuts along the length.
9. Place the windstop into the t-brackets and adjust the nuts so that the windstop is located centrally within the cabin. Take time to do this; measuring both sides to get it right. Tighten the nuts when you are happy with the position.
10. Remove the windstop from the car and cut off the excess length of threaded bar.
11. Reassemble the bracket spacer, but using the fuel hose, domed nuts and nyloc nuts as shown in the pic.
12. Reinsert into the t-brackets and tighten all the nuts with the windstop in an upright position.
With the windstop installed I am still able to raise and lower the roof (with some care) without fouling things up!
I am stil able to position the seat all the way back, however the tilt of the seat is reduced slightly. In my normal driving position, this is not an issue.
Sorry Gary. Couldn't resist it. 
Where do you get the Oris wind stop from ? I've seen the "classic" featured on the mx5.co.uk for £99, the picture given on the site is different to the one shown fitted by Paul at the top of the page, "I want that one" 