Lotus Elan Central

by **Fubar1764** » Mon 25.06.2007, 06:37

Has anyone replaced their top by themselves?

I have a spare top that needs to go on, and I'm hoping for some guidance. :roll:

by **John_W** » Mon 25.06.2007, 08:07

Monty's your man. It was on his Pinky thread, but I can't find it.
I'll be interested in his comments, too, as I have a new soft top waiting to be fitted sometime.

John

by **Gazza** » Mon 25.06.2007, 09:05

I put a 2nd hand S2 hood on my first SE by myself.

If I remember it was just a case of undoing 4 large bolts (2 each side) lifting the old hood out and replacing with the new one.

I did get 4 new bolts from Lotus as the were either a little bent or the threads had gone, but they were not much.

Once the new hood is in, it was just a case of getting it in a good position before doing up the nuts up tight. You might need to use some spacers/wedges to lift and hold the hood in the correct position while you do it.

Everything is done around the b-post cap area.

It wasn't that hard because I did it :shock:

Gazza

by **muley** » Mon 25.06.2007, 12:34

I've swapped hoods in the past.

You have to remove / loosen sundry bits of plastic trim to gain access to the bolts and holding plates. They will still cut and scratch your hands ...

As gazza says, you need wedges / levers to adjust the height of the posts.

When you finally lift the hood out - don't wrap a seat belt round your ankle before stepping backwards holding the hood - like I did - you'll fall flat on your back and the hood is pretty heavy / unwieldy.

I found that the hood required quite a bit of adjustment to line up with the pillars and windows - I used a rubber mallet to knock seven kinds of bells out of the frame until it fitted

- there are some adjusters under the rubbers seals which I didn't discover until later.

Cheers

Jim

by **Monty** » Mon 25.06.2007, 18:59

Think there on about replacing the hood fabric

Yep did this on Pinky1 but thats nearly 3 years ago :shock:

KevH did a write up, which is what i used as reference. The only thing i remember is getting frustrated with the glue :roll:

Think the write up is in Word, is it poss to upload to LEC?

Edit
Can`t seem to find Kev`s write up on my comp :roll:

by **Fubar1764** » Wed 27.06.2007, 00:30

HELP! Does anyone have any advice on this? Tomorrow's "car guy" night where my mates and I sit around have a pint and tryto work on cars.

I'm hoping to get the top changed out as it's decided to rain like a rainforest here.

Monty, any assistance?

by **Doc Fizzix** » Wed 27.06.2007, 01:25

This is a dumb question but do you mean the convertible top or the front hood over the motor?

If convertible top, I have done it and it is no fun, there is lots of tweeking and adjustments. I also had to make some special tools for adjusting as instructed in the service guide.

by **Fubar1764** » Wed 27.06.2007, 02:20

Doc Fizzix wrote:This is a dumb question but do you mean the convertible top or the front hood over the motor?

If convertible top, I have done it and it is no fun, there is lots of tweeking and adjustments. I also had to make some special tools for adjusting as instructed in the service guide.

Oh phooey! Just what I didn't want to hear.

Yes, I mean the convertible top. Grr. . .not a big fan of the Lotus Service manual: "Undo screws. Remove top. Affix top. Secure screws."

by **Doc Fizzix** » Wed 27.06.2007, 02:45

LOL

Ok, now we are on the right track.

Are you just replacing the canvas top or are you replacing the whole works including the frame?

by **Doc Fizzix** » Wed 27.06.2007, 04:35

Jack

There are some special bolts and tools that I have from when I replaced mine. I had to make the adjustment shims for the top. I would be glad to send them down to you but I have to find them first

I will look this weekend if that is not to late

by **Monty** » Wed 27.06.2007, 20:18

Jack,

We need to know what u`r replacing :roll:

the whole thing with frame or putting a new hood fabric on your existing frame?

I`ve search the forum for KevH write up but can`t find it

by **John_W** » Wed 27.06.2007, 21:17

Monty, Jack,
Here's something that I squirrelled away before the thread went missing. (download Rich Text format file.)

John

by **Fubar1764** » Wed 27.06.2007, 22:45

Doc,
Thank you, that's very generous of you. I'm hoping surgery won't require the fashioning of separate tools, but. . .
I'm going to take this one slowly since we're not in desperate need of her. I'll let you know though.

Monty,
Just the canvas.

John,
Thank you! I'll review it tonight with the guys over drinks - probably laughing about how we're going to screw this up!

by **Monty** » Wed 27.06.2007, 23:25

John_W wrote:Monty, Jack,
Here's something that I squirrelled away before the thread went missing. (download Rich Text format file.)

John

Yep thats the one.

Nice one John :smt023

got that saved :wink:

could do with an admin adding that to the repairs section

Wounder what Kev is up to these days

Jack
Good luck mate

by **Monty** » Sat 30.06.2007, 11:48

Hey Jack,

How did u get on with the roof?

by **algirdas** » Sun 01.07.2007, 06:20

Dear Jack:

Get in touch with Marie. She has replaced the canvas part of the convertible top twice in the last few months. She can walk you through it step-by-colorful step.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

by **lotusgirlmarie** » Sun 01.07.2007, 17:46

Yep.... Unfortunately I've replaced mine twice due to an arse who knifed my top afew months back.

by **Fubar1764** » Sun 01.07.2007, 19:10

Monty wrote:Hey Jack,

How did u get on with the roof?

Haven't done it yet. We're closing on a new place this Tuesday, so things have been a bit anxious! We'll soon be in the world of mortgages! Does this mean we're getting old?

Uh. . .looking forward (?!) to repainting the walls, ceilings, and cabinetry (stained circa 1977), shampooing the carpet, then moving. So, it might be a while before she gets a new top.

algirdas wrote: Get in touch with Marie. She has replaced the canvas part of the convertible top twice in the last few months. She can walk you through it step-by-colorful step.

Thanks! Good advice!

lotusgirlmarie wrote:Yep.... Unfortunately I've replaced mine twice due to an arse who knifed my top afew months back.

Yeah, I remember that.
Mind if I call you about this when I get to it in a couple of weeks?

by **lotusgirlmarie** » Mon 02.07.2007, 15:58

Sure....... Give me a ring.

by **Fubar1764** » Mon 02.07.2007, 16:28

lotusgirlmarie wrote:Sure....... Give me a ring.

Thanks Marie! Much obliged!

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