Engine bay underframe jacking

[L.G.]

Hi,

I was just reading WikiLEC and came across this "# Do NOT jack beneath the engine bay underframe; " which reminded me that mine was jacked beneath the chassis part that run under the engine bay. It is not in a , let's say, normal shape and it looks like it's been jacked not once but couple of times. I am not sure what to do with it, any advices?

It's very hot here by the way, elan driving has become sweaty driving...

Thanks,
L.G.

[Paul.P]

LG, the underframe, known to lotus as the prongeron, should of had couple of warning stickers on telling not to use as jacking point !. Sounds like yours has been & it has distorted the not to thick metal, you should see about a replacement, think these are still available from lotus for approx £280.

[DaveT]

Also one of the first things to be bent in a front end prang?

D

[Paul.P]

8)

Also one of the first things to be bent in a front end prang?

D

Quite true Dave, probably cause they aint that strong, hence the NO JACKING signs !.

LG, if you don't have them already, there are particular points the elan can be jacked, it might be worth taking a drawing of these to your mechanic & making sure he uses only those, or person that replaces your tyres !

[Monty]

The prongeron is part of the suspension set up as it keeps the front wheels parallel, we found this out when Dico & I swapped out his engine and tried to roll the car back into the garage with the prongeron removed and the wheels started to splay out

Mine has also been used as a jacking point on the front section but has only dented the outer skin and not actually bent the frame. so it depends on how bad it is really.

See if u can get a pic

BTW the jacking points are in the owners hand book

[mikeydude]

Mines the same as monty's I don't think it's caused any problems though,

All the same, it should go on a "list of things to check when buying an Elan"

[L.G.]

Yeah it has a sticker but there is also a problem with that because it's under the frame where you can't see when jacking the car; anyways I know where to jack it, won't let that happen again. Monty, I don't have that sort of a wheel play and I don't feel anything wrong about the alignment but I'll have it checked as well thanks. If I get it lifted sometime I'll send a photo.

Thanks have a nice day (or night)((or both)),
L.G.