Lotus Elan Central

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 14:37**

Seeing as how this is a project within my other project, I thought I'd start another thread to get everyone's ideas. My personal goal is to get my car as light as possible without sacrificing all levels of comfort/convenience. I still use the car as a daily driver on nice days, but want to maximize performance and am willing to compromise where needed.

That said, have at it with suggestions. Here's my list of removals/replacements so far:

Engine bay
A/C system in total - compressor, condensor, all lines, evaporator, etc.
EGR system including VSV
Boost transducer (have mechanical gauge now)
BSV
Stock airbox and all plumbing
Brackets to lift engine
Aluminum underdrive pulley
Aluminum flywheel

Interior
Stereo
Stock seats
Steering wheel and airbag
Seat belts and all brackets (have full harnesses now)
Rear speaker enclosures (replaced with carpet - more behind the seat room!)

Boot
Power antenna
Washer fluid tank and wiring
Boot light, switch, and wiring (drained the battery anyway!)

One big "to do" in the future is lighter wheels. Unsprung weight is key. I also need to get into the doors and remove the speakers there along with any other bits not required. Power windows aren't a necessity, but creating a manual crank system would be further than I want to go at this point.

Sy, how much sound deadening material is under the carpet?

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 14:51**

One big "to do" in the future is lighter wheels

Dave,

I'm looking too. One the ones I'm looking at the closest is the Team Dynamics Pro Race Wheels. They can be had with 50mm offset and they are lighter. I know they aren't the lightest available but they are very reasonably priced for the weight savings. Off hand I don't recall what they weigh but will look into it again.

,Russ

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 16:44**

If I was adding lightness, I would look inside the doors - there are some seriously heavy lumps of metal there (but we don't want to compromise safety) Perhaps if a roll cage was installed instead .....

Jim B

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 17:43**

how about losing the convertable top? worth a lot of weight -- and if you need a top then you can just get a CF one from PM

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 19:06**

Dave,
If you're venturing inside the doors, I hope you've still got those orange clips I sent you. :wink:

For weight saving, consider the tyres as well as the wheels. When my original-spec UK-type 15" Michelin MXX3s finally needed replacement I was amazed at the difference in weight between those and the new Michelin Pilot Sports which went on. Same manufacturer, same size, collosal weight rise in the new tyres, and I'm sure it wasn't just that the tread had worn off.

The old ones were kevlar braced and had been developed specifically for the Elan, the new ones were "standard". I've always found it strange that tyre weight isn't published as part of the specification.

John

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 19:09**

Yes, I still have the clips, thank you!!! My Kumho V700s seem awful heavy, too. More reason to get better wheels.

I thought of removing the top, but it goes back to the daily driver thing. If I'm at work and a storm rolls in... I live in Michigan. If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes. :wink:

For those who have seen the M200 concept in person: How easy do the fixed headlights seem to be to reproduce? Might have a chunk of weight off the nose of the car with that one.

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 19:12**

Maybe something like this:

Posted: **Fri 07.10.2005, 23:36**

Dave M wrote:Yes, I still have the clips, thank you!!! My Kumho V700s seem awful heavy, too. More reason to get better wheels.

I thought of removing the top, but it goes back to the daily driver thing. If I'm at work and a storm rolls in...

Maybe a lightweight hood cover with roll hoops, windblocker, bubbles etc to which fits an Elise type fabric cover or stowable carbon panels

...

Posted: **Sat 08.10.2005, 01:16**

Brian_MDB wrote:
Dave M wrote:Yes, I still have the clips, thank you!!! My Kumho V700s seem awful heavy, too. More reason to get better wheels.

I thought of removing the top, but it goes back to the daily driver thing. If I'm at work and a storm rolls in...

Maybe a lightweight hood cover with roll hoops, windblocker, bubbles etc to which fits an Elise type fabric cover or stowable carbon panels ...

got a 3D mock-up yet, Brian ??

Posted: **Sun 09.10.2005, 04:44**

Hmmm, lights like this?

Looks like a careful cut to the bonnet, which if you replace the standard lid with a CF and custom bonnet clips could be worked in, I guess

Could you ditch the roof and make an old fashioned tonneau cover to cover the passenger's side, and buy a raincoat?

Good luck,
Ian

Posted: **Sun 09.10.2005, 06:07**

There's shed loads of the noise soaking material under the carpets Dave.
Th M200's lights don't work, they're mock ups - hence the driving lamps fitted next to the air intakes.

Posted: **Sun 09.10.2005, 11:01**

Dave

Is your flywheel the Fidanza model in the proposed group buy?

Thanks

David

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 04:50**

davidjt wrote:Is your flywheel the Fidanza model in the proposed group buy?

Yes, I have the Fidanza. I don't know what difference it made to performance as it was added with a number of other items, but is it ever easy to rev-match on downshifts now. Not that it was all that hard before, but throttle response is enhanced.

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 06:57**

If you're going to retain the stock pop-up headlamps it may be worth lightening or re-making the steel pod brackets and linkages etc, with aluminum or carbon ones? Same maybe applies for the brackets and bolts around the hood (bonnet) release?

The bolts holding the clamshell are hefty looking steel items sat on some big steel washers...the washers could be replaced with some nice countersunk anodized aluminum items

(I have a supply for these...) and possibly the bolts too although I'm not sure if they do double duty holding something else besides the bodywork

The oil / air separator sits on a steel bracket and the cover is black painted steel , these could be aluminum/carbon/plastic using lighter fasteners, there may even be a lighter alternate assembly available...?

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 07:08**

Aluminum/ steel adjustable Camshaft Pulleys?

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 13:38**

Brian_MDB wrote:Aluminum/ steel adjustable Camshaft Pulleys?

Bingo. I should check with the Isuzu guys to see if someone has an extra set lying around to use as a guide to have some made. I've got a client with a Mini Mill in his garage... :roll:

(oops...posted under the other ID while I was in posting a few pics...

)

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 13:55**

TheBard wrote:Hmmm, lights like this?

You've got it, Ian! A carbon hood with the tinted lens cover would look trick. The lights would blend right in. Don't know about visibility at night with the tint, but it would look nice as I ran into the tree. :wink:

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 13:57**

Brian_MDB wrote:If you're going to retain the stock pop-up headlamps it may be worth lightening or re-making the steel pod brackets and linkages etc, with aluminum or carbon ones? Same maybe applies for the brackets and bolts around the hood (bonnet) release?

The bolts holding the clamshell are hefty looking steel items sat on some big steel washers...the washers could be replaced with some nice countersunk anodized aluminum items (I have a supply for these...) and possibly the bolts too although I'm not sure if they do double duty holding something else besides the bodywork

The oil / air separator sits on a steel bracket and the cover is black painted steel , these could be aluminum/carbon/plastic using lighter fasteners, there may even be a lighter alternate assembly available...?

Good ideas...although I just added weight by having the oil separator bracket Jet-Hotted. :oops:

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 15:36**

Some of the fibreglass on the 917 was so thin it was translucent; the pedals and all brackets were drilled to save weight; the paint and most of the gel-coat will have to go.

Of course, given the price of titanium, the cheapest route could be a diet for the driver.......

Posted: **Mon 10.10.2005, 17:34**

picture elf wrote:
Brian_MDB wrote:Aluminum/ steel adjustable Camshaft Pulleys?

Bingo. I should check with the Isuzu guys to see if someone has an extra set lying around to use as a guide to have some made. I've got a client with a Mini Mill in his garage...

(oops...posted under the "other" ID while I was in posting a few pics... )

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