Front wheel arch panel OFF SIDE

[hatters]

The small panel behind the offside front wheel the one with the reflector in sticks out about 8 to 10 mm more than the front of the door when the door is closed
I have tried to upload some pics without success .The question I want to ask is .Is it easy to adjust this panel or is it going to be a big job like most of the jobs on the Elan are
It spoils the side line of the car even though it doesnt stick out that much
Let me know if any of you have had any experience with this problem
Cheers Roan

[wayne]

Panel is held in place by 2 captive bolts at the top and 2 bolts at the bottom that go into rivnuts.

Chances are one or both the lower bolts are loose or rivnuts have come loose.

If you open the door and look down at the bottom of the panel you will see the 2 bolts.
The panel has slots cut into it.
I believe I tightened mine using a 1/4" ratchet, long extension and a wobbly socket.

It may also be possible to stick it in place with RTV silicone. Can it be pushed back into position?

[hatters]

No its not loose .But I will investigate and see if I can loosen the nuts and push it in it so its in line with the bottom of the door
Thanks for your advice

[hatters]

I decided to have a go at securing this panel today
So I undid the two 10 mil pins inside holding it in place .I then went and asked my neighbour if he could push the bottom of the panel in while I tightened
up the pins , he pushed it in and I tried to tighten the pins up ,this is where the problem started ,the pins kept turning and wouldnt tighten .There is probably some sort of captive nut or Rivnut under the sill panel and they must be turning with the pins .So that means I have to gain access to these whatever they are .How easy is it to remove the sill covers I cant budge them and cant find any fixing screws, is it going to finish up like most jobs on these motors have I got to strip the car down to gain access to these flaming pins !!!

[blacknight]

Had a similar problem with mine. Tried all the same options.

My solution was to use some special plaster board anchor bolts. Not sure what they are called but they go through existing hole and then two metal wings extend, allowing you to brace against inside of wing. The wing bits were long so did not just keep turning.

They were easily obtained from my local hardware store at minimal cost. They have not moved yet, and it has been three years!

Good luck

Iain

[hatters]

Thank you for that advice I will see if I can get hold of some of those ,But first Ihave got to get the pins out
Thanks again

[Brit-Car-Nut]

By pins, I assume you mean the bolts?

The bolts thread into a JACKNUT, part number A075W3034Z.

If the bolt just spins around and around. Using a dremel or similar grinder, cut the bolts off close to the bottom.

If the nut portion of the has broken free, the bolt will drop into the sill area.

The jacknut is a nut that works like a pop-rivet. You put it in the hole and as you tighten the bolt, it pulls the nut portion up which causes the shank to swell which holds it in place.

If the bolt doesn't disappear, you should be able to GENTLY drift the bolt shank down into the jacknut so it straightens the collapsible section and you should be able to carefully pull the jacknut out of the sill. The jacknut is soft aluminum and you really just want to stretch it to it's original shape so you can remove it.

If the bolt disappears into the sill, it means the shank is also gone so there is very little holding the remaining portion to the sill. Try to remove the jacknut remains by gently prying it all the way around.

If it won't come up, you can try a drill to carefully remove the remaining shank and then you can remove the top and replace with new jacknuts or rivnuts or whatever.