Lotus Elan Central

During my (slightly over-kill) suspension re-build I am replacing as much as I can with new and/or improved parts.

One thing I noticed, on both my car, and on Nicks, was that the 8 shims-per-side on the top ball joints didn't actually exist - Nick only had 6 on each side, I had 6 on one side and 8 on the other. (usually because un-knowledgable mechanics have thrown some away to get the right Caster angle, as opposed to moving them front to back, or just dropped and lost them at some point).

The 6 which i did have are a bit mangled/rusty, so I decided to get some more....

....until I saw the price of the things - £2.70+VAT each - so for 16 of them I was looking at about £55 with postage.

Having decided that I didn't want to go that way, I have looked at getting some made up in stainless steel.

Now, I'm a bit of a 'sketch on the back of a fag packet' kind of designer, so imagine my surprise when I found out that even for a simple part like this, a CAD file is needed to even get a quote

...so i downloaded a free program and spent most of Sunday afternoon learning how to make a simple 2D shape (which I'm sure any Year 10 pupil could have done in 5 minutes) - eventually ending up with a .dwg file.

Having sent this off to a couple of companies, I have ended up with a variety of quotes, all surprisingly similar and (seemingly) good value - but there is a down side.....

...there is a 'minimum order value', so to get 16 of them made, it costs the same as getting 100 made.

It isn't worthwile to get 16, but 100 makes them cost effective....

....so we need a list

I can obviously get a quote for as large a quantity as required, but I want mine quite quickly, so will be doing an initial order quite soon - as such, does anyone want either a set of 16, or a few individual items??

Price will be dependent on final numbers, but if i get 100 made (enough for 6 cars), then it won't cost any more than £15 delivered to your door - hopefully less. Sold individually, they'll cost you a quid a piece.

If there is enough interest, I'd expect the price to drop to much neerer to a tenner a set.

Anyone interested?

Oh, and I won't want any money from anyone until they are delivered

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3)
4)
5)
6)

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4)
5)
6)

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4) Sandra (set of 16)
5)
6)

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4) Sandra (set of 16)
5) DaveB (set of 16) please
6)

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4) Sandra (set of 16)
5) DaveB (set of 16) please
6) BDC Peter (2 sets of 16) (delivery address in U.K. available)
7)

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4) Sandra (set of 16)
5) DaveB (set of 16) please
6) BDC Peter (2 sets of 16) (delivery address in U.K. available)
7) Nick Walker

Hmm, far more interest than I expected on this one - I thought it'd be a struggle to get rid of the extra ones if I bought a hundred - I was a bit pessimistic on the attraction of a Group Buy.

It looks like I'm going to have to re-contact the company to get a quote for a bigger-than-minimum order.

Before i place a big order, is there anyone who actually understands CAD design (simple 2D stuff on a free program which works the same as Autocad) who can look at my first attempt (well, okay then, it wasn't my first attempt - but it was my first project and final attempt at it!) to check that the drawing file will actually produce what I/we want, and not something which is either the size of an ant, or as big as a football pitch????

If not, I'll do a minimum order this week and once I'm happy that they are correct, I'd be happier to order another quantity - what I don't want to do is buy loads of them and then find that my understanding of CAD isn't as I thought, and they turn out wrong.

I can look at the CAD for you. I'm no expert but I've done them for clients in the past. I've got a lot of experience with design packages, but much less with technical design packages.

But I can't do it until about the week starting 16th December being realistic. Hopefully somebody more qualified can come forward but I could confidently be a sounding board on it, and as my suspension will be getting the same treatment rather shortly, I'm in too!

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4) Sandra (set of 16)
5) DaveB (set of 16) please
6) BDC Peter (2 sets of 16) (delivery address in U.K. available)
7) Nick Walker
8.) Jeemy (set of 16)

Me too please Dave

1) Pinky (set of 16)
2) inkitin (set of 16)
3) Trig (set of 16 )
4) Sandra (set of 16)
5) DaveB (set of 16) please
6) BDC Peter (2 sets of 16) (delivery address in U.K. available)
7) Nick Walker
8.) Jeemy (set of 16)
9) maz_r (set of 16)

Right, I've spoken with the manufacturer, and placed an order for 200 units...... They will be cut from 0.9mm stainless steel (Grade 304) and should be ready within a week.

As the thickness is slightly less than an OE shim (0.1mm less), I have used some advanced mathmatics to work out that we will need 9 per side, not the 8 as currently specified, which will have the slight advantage of allowing slightly more accurate caster setting (if the measuring equipment is capable of such minor measurements - mine isn't!)

Therefore, I have adjusted everyones order to reflect the extra 2 shims - i don't expect it to have an impact on final price.

Oh, and the company won't do delivery to me, I have to go and pick them up (well, they would arrange a courier, but it is a minimum price of £20, and i can drive to Yate and back for less than that - unless Geoff is going past that way ).

1) Pinky (set of 18)
2) inkitin (set of 18)
3) Trig (set of 18 )
4) Sandra (set of 18)
5) DaveB (set of 18) please
6) & 7) BDC Peter (2 sets of 18) (delivery address in U.K. available)
8.) Nick Walker
9) Jeemy (set of 18)
10) maz_r (set of 18)
11)

so, with 200 units ordered, there is space on the list for 1 more person (or I'll hang on to them until someone wants them in the future).

I will check that the items are the right size/shape before i send them out - just in case my CAD designing is wrong! (at the moment, I'm happy to do it all at my own risk and see how good they are.

Count me in please.
1) Pinky (set of 18)
2) inkitin (set of 18)
3) Trig (set of 18 )
4) Sandra (set of 18)
5) DaveB (set of 18) please
6) & 7) BDC Peter (2 sets of 18) (delivery address in U.K. available)
8.) Nick Walker
9) Jeemy (set of 18)
10) maz_r (set of 18)
11) JohnB (set of 18)

Count me in please.

1) Pinky (set of 18)
2) inkitin (set of 18)
3) Trig (set of 18 )
4) Sandra (set of 18)
5) DaveB (set of 18) please
6) & 7) BDC Peter (2 sets of 18) (delivery address in U.K. available)
8.) Nick Walker
9) Jeemy (set of 18)
10) maz_r (set of 18)
11) JohnB (set of 18)
12) Nobby (set of 18)

Nice one pinky

Cheers
Rob

Rob,

as per my earlier post, I've ordered 200, so only enough for 11 full sets.

I wasn't prepared to wait ages for a big list as my car is in bits and i want it back in one piece!

Also, until i have actually tested the part for size/fit, i wouldn't want to fund a huge production run for something which may not work....

...That said, there's nothing to say that I can't do another order once I'm happy with the way they fit, and feel comfortable with making a bigger order.

So, for now the list has to be closed, but I'll start another list as soon as I'm happy with the items supplied.

current order:-

1) Pinky (set of 18)
2) inkitin (set of 18)
3) Trig (set of 18 )
4) Sandra (set of 18)
5) DaveB (set of 18) please
6) & 7) BDC Peter (2 sets of 18) (delivery address in U.K. available)
8.) Nick Walker
9) Jeemy (set of 18)
10) maz_r (set of 18)
11) JohnB (set of 18)
LIST CLOSED


Next run(or reserve if anyone drops out)

1) Nobby (set of 18)

i'll be up for a set next time please.

Next run(or reserve if anyone drops out)

1) Nobby (set of 18)
2) adster (set of 18)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8.)
9)
10)

dapinky wrote:Oh, and the company won't do delivery to me, I have to go and pick them up (well, they would arrange a courier, but it is a minimum price of £20, and i can drive to Yate and back for less than that - unless Geoff is going past that way ).

No problem - who did you go to? Laserit?

dapinky wrote:LIST CLOSED

Problem!



Next run(or reserve if anyone drops out)

1) Nobby (set of 18)
2) adster (set of 18)
3) Geoff (set of 18)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8 )
9)
10)

GeoffSmith wrote:No problem - who did you go to? Laserit?

Yep - quite a bit cheaper than the place just down the road from me - and a lot closer that either the place in Yorkshire (even though it was spitting distance from Nick & Kim in Huddersfield), or the one in Truro (where Angie is going this weekend )

Next run(or reserve if anyone drops out)

1) Nobby (set of 18)
2) adster (set of 18)
3) Geoff (set of 18)
4) Woody (set of 18)
5)
6)
7)
8 )
9)
10)
Cheers,
Woody

I picked up the first batch of 200 pieces this morning - I'm pleased with the items, and astounded that my CAD drawing was correct

Whilst there (and being happy with the items) I placed an order for a further 125 pieces, which means that I currently have 11 sets of 18 for the people on the first list, and there will be 7 sets from the next lot (and one left over in case anyone wants a template in the future).

I have paid for the ones I have, and the next lot as well - so Geoff can collect them for me

Those of you who are good at maths will note that there will be 3 sets left once all interested parties are sorted out - feel free to take one of those spaces NOW if you wish to take advantage of this offer.

I WILL BE UNLIKELY TO MAKE A FURTHER ORDER AFTER THIS TIME, SO THE LIST IS 'FINAL'.

currently in stock, and ready for delivery:-
1) Pinky (set of 18)
2) inkitin (set of 18)
3) Trig (set of 18 )
4) Sandra (set of 18)
5) DaveB (set of 18) please
6) & 7) BDC Peter (2 sets of 18) (delivery address in U.K. available)
8.) Nick Walker
9) Jeemy (set of 18)
10) maz_r (set of 18)
11) JohnB (set of 18)

Awaiting production, but ordered:-
1) Nobby (set of 18)
2) adster (set of 18)
3) Geoff (set of 18)
4) Woody (set of 18)
5) up for grabs
6) up for grabs
7) up for grabs
LIST ENDS

As the total quantity ordered didn't hit another 'price break', unfortunately the costs haven't come down , and with us needing 18 instead of the originally considered 16 items, it means that I can't afford to retire on the profits from this enterprise

However, the good news is that they can still be on your doorstep for the originally-projected price of £15

I accept cash, cheque, EBT, PayPal, beer-tokens, gift vouchers, Vietnamese Dong or others by arrangement (but would prefer EBT!).

Please confirm your position on the list, address (many of which I already have), and sort the payment details - and then I'll get Postman Pat to chuck them in his bag for you.

*Note to Peter*
The delivery costs to Belgium aren't a hell of a lot more than to the UK, so I am happy to send them to you over there at the same cost (working on the principle that 1 bigger envelope to Belgium won't cost any more than 2 smaller envelopes to UK).