out of hibernation

[lotustonybassplayer]

a few pictures of the car with some winter mods (still more to do though ) they are clear lenses at the front not that they look like it in the pic

[TrevorB]

Hi Tony, look forward to seeing it all at Brands Hatch. Some interesting mods.

Merlot still in hibernation as I'm not allowed to drive for another 2 weeks at least!

Trevor

p.s. pm sent

[maz_r]

Looks v. nice Tony

Are we invited to play 'spot the upgrade'??

I'll start:

Elise steering wheel
Yellow gear knob
Yellow/black gaiter
Clear front lenses
Clear side repeaters
Gas strut on boot (very nice - I want one now!)
Solenoid boot release
Stubby aerial
High level brake light

Appreciate some of these may not be a result of this winters work. What else is planed?

[lotustonybassplayer]

all correct and done the mist spray washers not that anyone was going see them in the pic done the petrol flap as well. also done the bonnet struts,still got the short shift kit to install had it 2 years but my garage is used for something else and cant face doing it outside. i am going to fit the some parking sensors if i can get the rear bumper off fixings seized underneath ! i got the struts for the boot from ebay just ordinary kitchen door ones . first attempt was using some hatchback car ones but they were to powerful and had to hack the boot lid a bit, not shown in the pics and now needs some cosmetic surgery but out of site out of mind.

[lotustonybassplayer]

I forgot new hood maybe a chip if i do a brake upgrade ,but the calipers were renewed before i got the car and they are fine at the moment. belts are due for a change. just got a belt water pump kit in from rock auto, just got to convince my mechanic to do it well he did my elise belts i am sure the elan wont present him any problems

[novacaine]

Looking good tony!

What newton rating is the gas struts you have used in the boot?

[lotustonybassplayer]

Sorry Jon i cant remember off hand will see if i can find the receipt cause i dont know where i bought them from. it was on the web though going off my trolley lately, will see if anything marked on them in the morning

[lotustonybassplayer]

Jon the struts are 100nm. one on its own lifted the boot, but i used two to balance it for closing the boot, as with only one in use you had to push down on the side of the boot, that the strut was attached to to make close evenly if that makes sense

[novacaine]

Might have to give it a go, I'm sick of the wind blowing it down!

[Fredjohn]

Tony
Interesting use of gas strut on the boot: like it and may well do it myself.
But is one 100nm strut enough to actually lift the lid, as opposed to holding it fully open?

If so I may well use two 50nm struts: readily available from both ebay and Amazon ( )

According to the ebay seller the following table shows relevant weights/forces, but this will also depend on the distance from the pivot (laws of physics on leverage etc etc)

Recommended door weight / NM force.
•50Nm = 0.9 - 1.5kg door
•80Nm = 1.5 - 1.9kg door
•100Nm = 1.9 - 3kg door
•120Nm = 2 - 4.1kg door
•150Nm = 4.1- 6.2kg door

As the boot lid weighs 1.54kg at the catch (not the full weight, just the supported weight at that point), 2 x 50nm should be enough.

Look forward to your comments, and others (provided we don't get a thesis on the laws of physics!

John

[epipete]

Interesting, I have the Bonnet Struts, which IMHO are a bonus, and tire of the weight of the boot closing it so am also interested in this upgrade. What did you use for brackets to hold the struts or (as I haven't looked yet ) is there a suitable infrastructure there already?

Pete

Edit: oh, I see those in Johns link have brackets in situ!

[lotustonybassplayer]

Hi yes one strut easily opens it and holds it up no problem. so 2 X 50nm struts would easily lift it. what i have found that with the remote boot release it will not open it, with out the engine running as the battery does not seem to have enough guts to release the lock. I think thats down to the force of the struts ! i have a new battery to go anyway as it only last two days with out the trickle conditioner running
As for fixing them i have just used self tapping screws into the lid and bodywork had no problems so far might go to small nuts and bolts if i get any movement in the fixings tho .

[Fredjohn]

Thanks Tony: I anticipated a potential problem of the extra resistance on the catch from the struts being a bit much for the solenoid unless fully powered. Hence my wondering if 2 x 50nm would do it.
Have ordered a pair now so will let you all know shortly (when it's warm enough to venture outside to fit them!!)

[Fredjohn]

Tony
Can you clarify what you fastened the bottom end of the strut to? The picture doesn't show any detail, and mine are too short to reach the wheel arch if that was used.

Thanks
John

[lotustonybassplayer]

Sorry for late reply John i just fixed to the side the strut is touching at the bottom, bracket facing outwards, so 90 degrees to the bootlid fixings which is the recess that protrudes into the boot, that the hood cover hinges live in when cover is shut. Hope that makes sense i just used self tapping screws as you cant have the boot and the hood lid covers open together .
Tony

[lotustonybassplayer]

just another litte mod to stop me reversing into the step there is a matching one on the other corner but a bit wet to take pic