Why won't top compartment cover stay up?

[atikovi]

I've just starting going over this car I bought a few months ago. The trunk lid will stay up by itself but the cover over the top compartment won't. Are they some how connected, since it seems I can't open one when the other is open. How can I get that lid to stay up without holding it open?

[F1 LOTUS]

I've just starting going over this car I bought a few months ago. The trunk lid will stay up by itself but the cover over the top compartment won't. Are they some how connected, since it seems I can't open one when the other is open. How can I get that lid to stay up without holding it open?

I think they may be connected somehow? Anyways, the lid doesn't stay up on it's own - another project along with the hideous bonnet stay, both need a neat little gas strut installation...

[Specky]

The old battery cover trick saves the day again..

Improvise, adapt, overcome...

TTFN

[GeoffSmith]

Atikovi, Dave means that if you lift the back of the hood/roof and the lid, the battery cover is just the right size to fit in between them and allow (limited) access.

Dave, why improvise when we've got a Brian the size of a planet?

Brian, excellent news and another exciting development to look forward to. My personal preference would be for the hood/roof cover strut before the bonnet/hood strut as I don't have a blinging oil filler cap to show off. It would be useful if the bracket could incorporate a suitable socket for trickle charging the battery. Any idea of timescales and cost? Now get out of that one if you dare!

Geoff

[atikovi]

So that top cover isn't supposed to stay up by itself? Even my Fiat 850 Spider with the same type of setup has a spring to hold the cover open when lowering or raising the top. OK. At least I can cross off another thing on my fix-it list.

[F1 LOTUS]

So that top cover isn't supposed to stay up by itself? Even my Fiat 850 Spider with the same type of setup has a spring to hold the cover open when lowering or raising the top. OK. At least I can cross off another thing on my fix-it list.

Why don't you create a Fiat 850 type upgrade for the Elan?

[GeoffSmith]

Why don't you create a Fiat 850 type upgrade for the Elan?

Don't try and get out of it .... "Now!...It's a very difficult job...and...the only way to get through it...is we all work together...as a team...and that means...YOU do everything...I say!" Go to it Brian.

[F1 LOTUS]

Hey, I didn't get where I am today without being able to get out of things!...
Besides, atikovi started it "Even my Fiat 850 Spider with the same type of setup has a spring to hold the cover open..." Now THAT is fighting talk where you come from innit Geoff

[GeoffSmith]

Oh go on Brian. You know you want to and no-one does brackets quite as well as you.

[rip]

So that top cover isn't supposed to stay up by itself? Even my Fiat 850 Spider with the same type of setup has a spring to hold the cover open when lowering or raising the top. OK. At least I can cross off another thing on my fix-it list.

Why don't you create a Fiat 850 type upgrade for the Elan?

Cuz it adds xtra weight. Remember the Lotus design brief: If is not absolutely necessary, chuck it away to lighten the car.

[atikovi]

Cuz it adds xtra weight. Remember the Lotus design brief: If is not absolutely necessary, chuck it away to lighten the car.

If thats the case, why power windows, a radio, etc. On my Fiat it's just a little spring device that holds the top cover up, 3 ounces max.

[rip]

Cuz it adds xtra weight. Remember the Lotus design brief: If is not absolutely necessary, chuck it away to lighten the car.

If thats the case, why power windows, a radio, etc. On my Fiat it's just a little spring device that holds the top cover up, 3 ounces max.

Drive without a radio? Never! It is an essential.

Other than that, if you can do the same thing with something lighter, do it! It's what Mr Chapman would have wanted.

[Gary]

The hood cover isn't supposed to stay up.

Also, there is a mechanism, such that the hood cover and boot cannot be opened at the same time. Think the owners manual mentions this.

I think this is because the 2 might hit each other otherwise