feeler : custom KW Suspension for our Lotus Elan << re

[XiPHiAS]

But, if thewheelrestorer gave you all that information I think he's not entirely correct.

TWR gave me none information, he just jumped in, and helped me proving you CAN make the Elan better... Thats all!

With installing a strut brace you change the stiffeness of the car. Maybe we understand each other wrong...
roll barr <> strut brace is not the same?

[theelanman]

eko
also seems alot of work for something yer selling next august.....

[Elanlover]

XiPHiAS, a strut tower bar and anti-roll bar are two entirely different things and have similar, but different effects on handling.

Anti roll bar

Strut Bar

[XiPHiAS]

XiPHiAS, a strut tower bar and anti-roll bar are two entirely different things and have similar, but different effects on handling.

Anti roll bar

Strut Bar

Sorry my mistake on that ...

[ektrolleyboy]

I know what you're all saying and I appreciate the thoughts.
The car's fine. Really! But I still think it rolls more than it's capapble of (if that makes sense?). You can see what I mean in photographs of the ELAN.
I'm just used to properly stiff cars I think. That's all... With modern seats. I also find the Elan seats lack so much lateral support!

[thewheelrestorer]

ektrolleyboy:
I think this thread is virtually "dead" EK trolley boy,

Xiphias has said a few times he'll just go it alone,

The subject in hand seemingly upsets too many people to think there car is not as good as they think............I've seen this with most forums I've been involved with, I guess when you get a club of people especially with cars the're all madly in love with it and enjoy driving, waxing it etc....but there are some car forums that not only love it, but don't have a second thought that they can improve it.........from the originally designed manufacturer be it a Mini, Ferrari, Reliant Robin or Lada! that's why the aftermarket road tuning business turns over multi millions of pounds from car lovers modding and uprating their cars.

It's probably best to pm Xiphias if you're interested in the KW set-up, it may come to fruition..you never know?

ciao 4 now,

[XiPHiAS]

ektrolleyboy:
I think this thread is virtually "dead" EK trolley boy,

Xiphias has said a few times he'll just go it alone,

The subject in hand seemingly upsets too many people to think there car is not as good as they think............I've seen this with most forums I've been involved with, I guess when you get a club of people especially with cars the're all madly in love with it and enjoy driving, waxing it etc....but there are some car forums that not only love it, but don't have a second thought that they can improve it.........from the originally designed manufacturer be it a Mini, Ferrari, Reliant Robin or Lada! that's why the aftermarket road tuning business turns over multi millions of pounds from car lovers modding and uprating their cars.

It's probably best to pm Xiphias if you're interested in the KW set-up, it may come to fruition..you never know?

ciao 4 now,

Just to be clear...
I LOVE MY LOTUS ELAN A LOT! It is a very good handling car with a lot of power BUT ...

... many things can tuned up to a higher level
... different parts can improved a lot (with newer technologies)

I know the Lotus Elan is a very good, otherwise I don't have one in my garage.
I know the bad and the good things of the Elan. So my new Elan will be an improved version!
Upgraded suspension, upgraded engine management, upgraded brakes, upgraded shifting ... I think the crucial elements that the car is almost 20 years old technology. When my Elan is done, it will be an evolution of the very good old basis.

As a base the Lotus Elan is a very good allday use, exotic looking fast and fun car to drive. But it can a lot better
Even an Lamborghini or a Ferrari can be improved. KW can improve the suspension of a Porsche 997 GT3 RS, BMW E46 M3 CSL ...

Don't forget I had an Elan before, and I missed the car so much I bought another one!

So I will close the disscussion here, people that are realy intrested in a high end suspension for their Elan can PM or email me. (fvc-AT-telenet.be)

[theelanman]

I think you'll find we're very interested in the mods and upgrades people make.....
funding for 'projects' is not to be from the community which is why you keep getting asked for what it is exactly and how much it'll cost....people dont want to keep pouring in cash for someone else to give themselves a 'job' and get something which in their eyes has made no noticable difference to them at all

I dont suppose youve read the thread on costas' car ...which puts out 437bhp....
and no I didnt miss type.....437bhp.....
and what a ferrari beater that is......it also costs him a fortune in rubber

most of the members of this forum do not have the time, money or interest to develop stuff theyre happy with......and those who are interested want to know what the pros and cons are and how much its gonna cost.....
as with everything on here its taken one person to go and do it and then come back with the info to allow the rest of the forum to see if theyd like to go that way.....

Id suggest that ekotrolley and thewheelrestorer pool their funds and develop it and then come back with the results....how does that sound????
this would then leave you with a bolt on replacement which would then be able to be sold by KW....
and you guys could take the credit for 'redesigning' the lotus suspension

[XiPHiAS]

I am NOT designing/develop or build things myself ... (I am not a suspension specialist)
and
I am NOT searching for funds ...

My question is how many people are intrested in a excellent sport suspension from a good aftermarket tuningcompany.
The benefit for the forummembers is... you can buy the set for a sharper price.
I decided to let them develop the suspension for my own, I will pay everything, even if no one is intrested here!

If they design the suspension for me alone (1 piece) the price will be x.xxx€ IF other people are intrested in a set, they can lower their price a bit. I'm sure if you ask for the suspension later... you will pay the full price. So that's the benefit for everyone, if you step in the project you can have a better price.

[theelanman]

XiP
I know what you mean but it does tend to be that one person works with a company to improve/upgrade (as say with the PECO exhaust system) once you have done it then a cost can be established and other can either take up the 'offer' or not.....
thats generally the way it works rather than guessin numbers up front.....
it'll be a case of you do it then see if others follow once the £££ is established ......
cheers
G

[thewheelrestorer]

I'm very confident that KW would produce a good system (Shock & Spring assembly) without even driving or testing the car, they may of couse want to test a car, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had very little input. They will calculate a very good baseline by not only measuring the size and stroke of the shock absorber and the spring rate of the spring but they will also calculate the valving and dual spring weights from their experience and formulas etc.....

I fully understand that if it's a grand, thats a serious amount of money to dabble with something that you're not 100% convinced will benefit you.

Xiphias, ektrolleyboy? myself and possible others on the list would and could be prepared to take the gamble based on the fact that we trust KW's judgement from either our experiences or a gut reaction etc...

It could be a good idea for a one person to commit first (Xiphias?) and then report on the findings, and as far as costs and discount goes if xiphias pays £500 development costs, he could then add £25 on each package kit cost for a group buy of say 20 assemblies for example, to get back the development costs if he wanted to?.
Then say for exmaple if a kit was £850, we could then negociate a group buy of EG: 20 units at £650 each etc.....there are all sorts of ways you could calcultae this so that everyone gets a good deal.

?

[theelanman]

definatley sounds like the way to go........
I'll be interested in reading the result

[Grayone]

I have followed this thread, and a few others with interest, however when a mate of mine flew into Mombai Wednesday afternoon; it just seems to put it all in perspective. He is OK but we are obviously worried about him.


As to the suspension - my contribution is one of 'Personal Cost Benefit Analysis'. That is, is the cost worth the improvement - to you? A bit like: I can spend £100 on new loudspeaker wires for my Hi Fi and they will give me 2% improvement when I listen carefully, and how often do I listen carefully next to the M1 motorway. I believe guitarists, of which I know a few, call it 'snake oil'. Not to be confused with the muck that a leaking AC leaves!

To 'wheelrestorer' and 'xphias' it would seem to be a likely YES. To me, who has not yet discovered the 'outer limits' of the M100 it is a solid NO; though I am interested in bringing the suspension, like the rest of the car back to 100% at least, and I have just shelled out £150 for two pieces of rubber each about 2feet long, (see thread on Doors and Windows).

Actually I suspect that a number of owners/lovers would like to see the M100 brought to the place that the original designers back in the late 1980s intended; and this will cost money. But, it will never equal supercars such as Ferrari and Lamboghini, they are simply so much more expensive. So much more money to throw at them.

But as someone who has always looked at design as a compromise, I can't help thinking that after 20 years there is room for improvement in a lot of areas.

But as someone who has tried to get into the latest Lotus incarnation, (Elise/Exige) though not the Evora, and failed - the M100 is still the best bet for a fat, lardy b*****d approacing pensionable age.

So I will continue to 'improve' my Lotus as funds allow, and good luck to 'wheelrestorer' and 'xphias' and those who follow, there is always room to improve on an already superb design. If their cost benefit analysis swings in my favour - I will follow...

[theelanman]

when a mate of mine flew into Mombai Wednesday afternoon....

not literatlly I hope..........either way I hope hes ok

I/we would like to see the M100 brought to the place that the original designers back in the late 1980s intended

should I ask Peter when I see him next week?????

[JIMBO]

Having worked in Motor Sport for many years, supplying tyres to Production Saloons, Sports Cars, and yes even the
most sccessfull Lotus, Chris Meek's Europa, I can assure you that all "production" suspension can be improved on,
safely and effectively.I hope you dont think that car was on standard Lotus suspension, even the tyre sizes used had to be added to an " additional holomogation list This allways comes at a cost or compromise.
The Elan's handling 20 years ago was incredible. Today a good driver in a sports hatch could drive around us without
too much trouble.
When I see how much people spend trying to make their car go faster without taking on board the improvements required(brakes, shocks, tyres etc) to handle the increased performance,it makes me cringe.
Now I have upgraded the brakes, changed the wheels, tyres and refurbished the wishbones , I may go for a mountain chip.
I would gladly change to a better suspension set up, but at the price level we are talking about here, I could not
justify the out-lay.
Those that can afford or justify it, go for it. Those of you that are too blinkered to accept possible improvements, continue to enjoy what you have in safety, without putting others down .
Regards
Jim