Lotus Elan Central

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 30.10.2006, 21:42

Forgive me for being a cynical old bugger, but does the flattened pipe with a single bolt hole offer anything significantly more than the humping big U section of chassis isn't already providing? OK there is a bit of triangulation but it is a fairly flat triangle. :smt017

Geoff

by **Doug** » Mon 30.10.2006, 21:57

I agree with your observation, Geoff, but I did not believe until I tried it.

from another thread:

Doug wrote:excellent, Andy. I also can point out that after I got Big Dave M's rear strut bar in place, if I jack up only one front side the same side rear wheel will come off the ground at about the same time and thus there is not need to use the rear jack point--you use the front one which raises the whole side and then you can work on whichever area you need, or even rotate tires on one side with a single jack! Before the rear strut bar the car would twist a bit and did not raise up so eloquently!

this is a clearly visible phenomana after putting the rear bar in the car doesn't twist as much!

by **algirdas** » Mon 30.10.2006, 22:17

Dear Geoff:

I too wondered the same, but the conventional wisdom is that such a bar will make the car stiffer. I notice that when jacking up the driver's side it is difficult to open the door. It tends to "stick".

I'm hoping the strut bar will make my car stiffer than me after a fistful of Viagra. :shock:

Sincerely,

Algirdas

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 30.10.2006, 23:26

Algirdas,

I won't believe you without pictures!

Geoff

(Mistrusting, cynical old bugger)

by **algirdas** » Mon 30.10.2006, 23:37

Dear Geoff:

I better find out if they make a "long" lens for my camera.

Sincerely,

Algirdas (a crotchety old fart in his own right)

by **Dave M** » Tue 31.10.2006, 06:40

algirdas wrote:I'm hoping the strut bar will make my car stiffer than me after a fistful of Viagra.

While I will gladly furnish Algirdas a bar, I will not be associated with any stiffness that results. :roll:

by **Dimitris_GR** » Tue 31.10.2006, 13:51

Wouldn't it be better if we just glued some blue pills on the rear frame? :-D

by **lotusgirlmarie** » Tue 31.10.2006, 16:52

Men....... :roll:

>Always thinking :bananasex:

about stiffness.

by **algirdas** » Tue 31.10.2006, 17:20

Dear Marie:

No different from any female that I have met in my life. Difference being that we men don't mind talking about it.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

by **Elanlover** » Tue 31.10.2006, 17:29

With the install of LGM's rollbar, would a rear brace still be recommended? Would it add any significant stiffness over the rollbar?

Between the "Stiffy", rear brace, rollbar et al. there does seem to be a lot of talk on the subject. Perhaps we should nickname the strut bar "Bar - agra"????

by **algirdas** » Tue 31.10.2006, 17:40

Dear Blair:

I'm looking at doing both. The strut bar acts almost entirely on the two rear wings of the frame. The roll bar probably is only acting to settle the body down by tying the b-post area supports together and then, through the center roll bar mounts, to the frame. I don't see the roll bar adding to overall rigidity so as to enhance stiffness for suspension geometry purposes. The strut bar should act primarily to enhance stiffness for suspension geometry purposes.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

by **Ekapol** » Tue 31.10.2006, 20:19

Vice versa, from my the other posting for Marie's rollbar:

Structural, to me, it makes the car feel firmer, and more responsive even after preinstalled “Big Dave M’s” Rear strut tower brace.

I noticed that right after driving first few metres from the first crank with the rollbar.

by **Elanlover** » Thu 09.11.2006, 15:10

My only concern, then, is that it won't fit given the placement of my honking big amp in the trunk. :roll:

Other than that, I'd be in for one. Would be nice if I can figure out if it will fit BEFORE I buy one though.............

Any way to determine the placement measurements of the bar? In other words, when installed, how far is it from the rear trunk wall, the top of the trunk, bottom of the trunk, etc.????

by **Dave M** » Thu 09.11.2006, 15:22

Elanlover wrote:My only concern, then, is that it won't fit given the placement of my honking big amp in the trunk. Other than that, I'd be in for one. Would be nice if I can figure out if it will fit BEFORE I buy one though.............

Any way to determine the placement measurements of the bar? In other words, when installed, how far is it from the rear trunk wall, the top of the trunk, bottom of the trunk, etc.????

Someone has a picture of their big ol' amp in the trunk/boot with the bar, but I forget who it was. Funny you mention that.

I'll get some dimensions for you regarding the placement of the bar.

by **Elanlover** » Thu 09.11.2006, 20:41

Dave M wrote:Someone has a picture of their big ol' amp in the trunk/boot with the bar, but I forget who it was. Funny you mention that.

I'll get some dimensions for you regarding the placement of the bar.

I remember that picture! Couldn't find it in a search though.......... :cry:

by **John_W** » Thu 09.11.2006, 23:46

Elanlover wrote:I remember that picture! Couldn't find it in a search though..........

I thought it was Monty, but I don't see a strut bar in this pic.
John

by **Sy V** » Fri 10.11.2006, 08:50

Measurements; I don't have to hand, but I can say that it's tight enough to the bulk head to make a nice place to sit your (Lotus) umbrella.

by **F1 LOTUS** » Fri 10.11.2006, 09:25

Sy V wrote:... a nice place to sit your (Lotus) umbrella.

Or Clarinet

The bar also makes a great perch for the Budgie :twisted:

by **Elanlover** » Fri 10.11.2006, 14:19

F1 LOTUS wrote:

The bar also makes a great perch for the Budgie

That's one helluva Budgie :shock:

by **GeoffSmith** » Fri 10.11.2006, 16:14

John_W wrote:I thought it was Monty, but I don't see a strut bar in this pic.

Looks like his reg though.

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