Elan-specific bolt package

[nitroman]

OK, I have Grahame, Dave & Sy down for a polished set.  I have finalized the quantities & amounts on the order form.  I ordered enough that I *might* be able to do 2 unpolished sets as well but I'll have to wait for the 2 anodized-aluminium bolt kits to arrive and ensure they have the sizes I need.   Regarding those I received this email today "YOUR PACKAGE WILL BE SHIPPED OUT TO YOU TODAY AND YOUR UPS TRACKING NUMBER IS 1Z8157590340214822.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.  Marc Caravaggio, Parts Specialist".<br><br>You can let these 3 fine chaps report back to you on what they think of these kits & if there is great enough demand perhaps some kind of poll can be set up for this & other areas of interest on the car.  I ordered enough parts to install the additional "S2" bonnet-stops on my car to see what I think of them, if they can be adjusted to level the bonnet and provide a little 'pop' when the hood-release-cable is pulled.<br><br>I want you to know that this has been done strictly at cost, which seems pretty dumb to me right now.  There is more to be saved if the 3 of you want me to ship your packages together to one address & then divide them once they are in the UK, just let me know.

[Sy V]

Matt offered:<br><br>"Please, with each request for a bolt package let me know if you want polished washers, and let me know where your bonnet-rests are located.  I will hold-off a day or 2 until this issue becomes clarified."<br><br>Christ Matt, I can't even remember where my f***ing car is, let alone where the bonnet props are!<br><br>

[grahamec]

Matt , I dont mind if you ship to me and I will post on in the UK, if thats ok with Sy and Dave let me know. Matt you have an IM with my address.<br>Regards

[nitroman]

Grahame, I can add your side & front bonnet-stops (in stainless unlike the OEM parts) to the order if you wish.  There are different lengths for the side & front stays.  I can reply with prices for these parts when I get home.  Let me know, as I can add these to the bottom of the order-form without using 'White-Out'.  These are M8 bolts on the S2; I am using M6 bolts to mimic these on my car as that is the receptacle size on the earlier cars.  Tonight I'll post a pic of what that will look like, in case anyone else is interested in an 'S2 upgrade' as well (you can always revert to original iffin' you no like).  Sy, sorry for wanting to move on this.  I suppose putting White-Out on top of White-Out was pissing me off!  I can take 2 more orders on a contingency basis but I will not accept payment for them until I am sure I have all the parts to fill the requirements.<br><br>Bitching & complaining session:  Be sure to thank WYE VALLEY SUPPLIES at 01597 860464 for me.  After emailing me saying "We can combine shipping if you order multiple items" they sent me an electronic invoice for a replicate £4.84 postal-fee, as well as charging me 17.5% VAT on the whole order.  I just paid it cuz I figure the phone call might end up costing me even more & stop the shipment.  Still, thank them for shafting me.  

[Sy V]

Matt<br><br>This is crazy...I had no idea you were sourcing them from this side of the pond!<br>I just left them a message...

[grahamec]

Matt<br>Yes please just add them on, no need to check with me re: prices It'll be fine. Along with Sy my gast is flabbered that you are sourcing from over here ???

[DeeAitch]

I am also stunned Matt Some forum this or is it some crazy guys (Sorry Steff + ladies )<br>If it helps I will be in Knoxville TN early April so can buy you a beer or three if you fancy a drive <br>No problem with your offer Grahame or I can hand carry in April if need be. Either way I am happy to share whatever cost is involved.<br>BTW I don't recall having holes for the inboard bonnet stops - can't see them on Michaels picture and car is at home - federal only?

[grahamec]

Dave, I have some parts waiting at formula 1 so if its any where near to you then I could hand deliver  ;)

[Paul.P]

If theres any orders left going i would like a polished set as well ( for an SE ).

[nitroman]

I only used Wye Valley to get SS metric Flange nuts from as I simply could not find any this side of the lake.  I only needed one set but ordered 2 as they said I could combine shipping.  They have a great E-commerce site but were VERY unresponsive until it came to BILLING me!  Now I've spent $40-bucks on flange nuts!<br>Dico & Paul P...  I will try to accomodate you in this order if I can.  Dico, do you have an S2 like Grahame???<br><br>Grahame & Dico, the wheels-off polished stainless kit I would have to work up a separate price for.  It uses no aluminium pieces as I thought that unwise due to its load-bearing strength.  Also I have not replaced the truly load-bearing bolts as the stainless is not as strong as the high-grade bolts in those locations.  What I have done is cap the end of those bolts with a shiny washer & nut, as those pieces are not bearing the weight of the vehicle.  I have completely replaced the smaller size M8 bolts which do lesser jobs re suspension alignment & affixing various parts to the suspension.  I will fill out an order-form & let you know what these come to.  At a minimum I could snail-mail you the order-form minus only your personal info for you to fax or forward to South Coast Stainless.  I will take pictures of my suspension once these are fitted for your perusal.<br><br>Dave, you should have holes for the inboard bonnet-stops.  See the picture of my red car on the previous page & let me know.  There should be a bolt & fender-washer there now.<br><br>Paul P., if I cannot accomodate you this time round should I order you a gold-anodised set at extra cost in future?  Someone has to give Game-Boy a run for his money!

[Paul.P]

Yes Matt, i would prefer a Gold set & am in no hurry for couple of months. By the way, im not in competition with Game-boy !!!, you will see why i want gold in the future ?. Thanks, Paul

[Doug]

could it be to match yer teeth?<br><br>

[nitroman]

Here is the non-S2 owner's front bonnet-stop. This bolt is too short but there should be several 70mm bolts on the way here right now... the perfect length.  Anyway you get the idea.  I just used a silicone vacuum-cap as the buffer instead of the OEM Lotus black-rubber-buffer.<br><br><br>BTW there are not 2 nuts here (unless you count me), that is just a reflection.  Even so, these pictures do not convey how shiny these parts are.<br><br><br>I wanted to demonstrate the factory bonnet-stop so I pulled off the rubber-cover.  As you can see it is just a plain old hex bolt.  The rubber-cover was hard to remove as it has a "grasping" design, it even grabbed a sure hold of the smaller M6 Allen-bolt above and would not let go!<br><br><br>Grahame, I need another $12-USD to replace all 4 of your S2-variety bonnet-stops (bolts, nuts & washers) in polished SS.  The black rubber pieces I assume you can reuse or buy new ones.  They are Lotus part number X046B6113Z.<br><br>That brings up another point.  If I supply you gents with a list of Lotus parts I need could you email a dealer for a quote?  If the price is close enough to your total maybe we can do a swap, so to speak?<br><br>After much surfing I have concluded that earlier non-Federal Elans do not have the 2 front bonnet-stop areas at all, not even bolt holes, even though the parts manual lists them.  Please correct me if I am wrong.  Can't say I am all that surprised as Triumph many times assembled cars with wheels or upholstery it never officially listed, solely to keep the line moving based on supplier availability.<br><br>Dico & Paul P. - I have upped the order qty to S.C.S. and with the order of another gold-kit for Paul can supply you both first-time round.  In fact Paul's order of the gold fasteners should get to me before the polished order does.<br><br>Dave, Knoxville is quite a way up from Atlanta.  It takes me 2 hours to get to Chattanooga, TN, just across the state line.  But if you are willing to drive some I can meet up with you.  You are an hour or less from Deal's Gap, aka The Tail of the Dragon, recognized as being the swerviest bit of asphalt in the USA.  If you can hit that during the week you can do it without crowds or the cops, both of which are there in abundance on the weekend.

[Sy V]

Matt<br><br>I can confirm that my props are outboard.  Love the coloured cap that you've used - can they be done in red?<br><br>Just give me the list of parts you need and I'll add it to the Hall Effect Sensor and mail it all over to you.<br><br>Sy

[Doug]

Nice, I like the set-up with the front stops.  Matt, I'm interested in front stop retrofit, either the whole kit, or since I already have shiny fender washers I'd just need the studs and nuts (gee I'm lazy or I could order some myself ??? I prefer the OEM black stops actually for continuity of character--and who want to call attention to the stop caps anyway  :-/

[grahamec]

[quote author=nitroman link=board=upgrades;num=1081810058;start=60#70 date=02/16/05 at 12:58:50]<br><br>Grahame & Dico, the wheels-off polished stainless kit I would have to work up a separate price for.  It uses no aluminium pieces as I thought that unwise due to its load-bearing strength.  Also I have not replaced the truly load-bearing bolts as the stainless is not as strong as the high-grade bolts in those locations.  What I have done is cap the end of those bolts with a shiny washer & nut, as those pieces are not bearing the weight of the vehicle.  I have completely replaced the smaller size M8 bolts which do lesser jobs re suspension alignment & affixing various parts to the suspension.  I will fill out an order-form & let you know what these come to.  At a minimum I could snail-mail you the order-form minus only your personal info for you to fax or forward to South Coast Stainless.  I will take pictures of my suspension once these are fitted for your perusal.<br><br>[/quote]<br><br>Matt<br>Whatever way causes you less hassle is great by me, thanks. Pics would be great.<br><br> Grahame, I need another $12-USD to replace all 4 of your S2-variety bonnet-stops (bolts, nuts & washers) in polished SS.  The black rubber pieces I assume you can reuse or buy new ones.  They are Lotus part number X046B6113Z. <br>Matt<br>Also great, I am realy impressed by your work ethic, if I sent my car over to you would it come back all nice and shiney<br><br> ;D ;D <br><br>Still havn't worked out how to get two quotation boxes in one message<br>All the best<br>Grahame ???

[nitroman]

No problem Doug, I can send you the parts sans washers when they arrive.  I had 5 M6 x 70 bolts that I cut shorter to use on my underframe.  Never thought I would need bolts that long.  Guess that's why I keep all my old, but still serviceable parts!  Paul offered "These are the first things you see (front bonnet stays), so I might as well replace them".  Hell, cap 'em with a switch that engages when the bonnet is raised... have lights start flashing all around "the bay"!

[grahamec]

Dico<br>How come you've got a Medina Greener engine bay matey  ;D ;D :-*