At the Factory on Thursday - Q&A Session

[rip]

It was an S2 (with one SE wheel) - didn't get the Number though, sorry!

What do we pay you for

[GeoffSmith]

If you paid me, I'd have got it!

I KEEP TRYING!

[GeoffSmith]

ALDL protocol is apparently in EML manual (part No D100T0027J). Neil Lovelock says that if you e-mail him, Geoff he can knock one out for you at less than 50% of RRP of £42.80 (incl VAT).

Thanks Sy

I'll be rattling the "EML collection fund" tin under the noses of all the Normas and Normans at Donington or should ESM release NormaslyexpensiveScan?

[Specky]

Cheers Sy,

Thanks for the answer...

August... I ask you...

TTFN

[Sy V]

Here's a couple of pictures of me looking at the wishbones and seals:

[Sy V]

I've just phoned Neil at Lotus to rectify my mistake in not getting the S2's number.
It's neither 801 or 802 that BTW Neil reckons was an urban myth. He remembers two or three pre-production S2s being made for testing and homologation etc, but they were never numbered.
The car I saw was a customer's car from London and as such Neil wouldn't divulge either its number or VRN.

[Sy V]

Back to the parts inspection.

The rear wishbones reminded me very much of the ready-bushed ones that SW Lotus used to do.
Did Lotus intervene there?
Why did they stop doing them?
I don't know.

As for the seals - I can see the problems they're having. The skin is really fragile and creases very easily - we know it's only foam underneath.
They wouldn't last and would soon be like a bathroom sponge.

[surfboardfiller]

Back to the parts inspection.

The rear wishbones reminded me very much of the ready-bushed ones that SW Lotus used to do.
Did Lotus intervene there?
Why did they stop doing them?
I don't know.

As for the seals - I can see the problems they're having. The skin is really fragile and creases very easily - we know it's only foam underneath.
They wouldn't last and would soon be like a bathroom sponge.

Both the shape and material are all wrong, I'm genuinely surprised! I'd love to go and work for lotus and help solve these type of problems, but my degree is not in Engineering even if my brain is.

Excellent work Sy and thanks for sharing this all with us!


PS any idea who developed Lotus' new web site?

[Sy V]

While we're on the sharing topic, here's the latest aftersales (discount) parts list:

[rip]

As for the seals - I can see the problems they're having. The skin is really fragile and creases very easily - we know it's only foam underneath.
They wouldn't last and would soon be like a bathroom sponge.

Both the shape and material are all wrong, I'm genuinely surprised! I'd love to go and work for lotus and help solve these type of problems, but my degree is not in Engineering even if my brain is.

[/quote]

I spoke to Kimbers about the material a few minutes before the Exploding Elan got its name He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.

[theelanman]

He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.

we just need to source a composite......

[surfboardfiller]

I spoke to Kimbers about the material a few minutes before the Exploding Elan got its name He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.

I would not expect it to work if he is refusing to change the shape. It depends on the shape more than the material. I could make it work!

[DaveT]

As for the seals - I can see the problems they're having. The skin is really fragile and creases very easily - we know it's only foam underneath.
They wouldn't last and would soon be like a bathroom sponge.

Both the shape and material are all wrong, I'm genuinely surprised! I'd love to go and work for lotus and help solve these type of problems, but my degree is not in Engineering even if my brain is.

I spoke to Kimbers about the material a few minutes before the Exploding Elan got its name He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.[/quote]

If thats the problem why dont they just change the type of sponge they fill it with??????
It would seem that the old seals were filled with an open cell sponge rubber, which means that once the integrity of the external rubber coating is lost then water gets in to all parts of the sponge structure.
If the seals were filled with a closed cell sponge rubber then ingress would only be in the small area adjacent to the damage.
As an ex polymer chemist this would seem to be a logical solution.

D

[Monty]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

[F1 LOTUS]

Are Lotus taking part in this?
http://auto.xprize.org/

Not specifically Brian, no.
But they had a press day yesterday where they had a 1.5 litre Opel (Astra) turbo diesel with a hybrid giving out shed loads torque BHP and very low emissions.
They've also made a green Elise that runs on bio-fuel, has bamboo seats and a chassis made from recycled coke cans. You think I'm taking the piss here, don't you? Well I'm not!

Thanks Sy - Pity

[Candles]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

[GeoffSmith]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

You're going to get me in deep doggy doo.

[Enright]

G-G-G-Granville!

[Monty]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

You're going to get me in deep doggy doo.

Fekin hell i can`t stop laughing

[GeoffSmith]

G-G-G-Granville!