The "Setscrew, bonnet front support buffer"

[Elanlover]

Yeah, that's right. The "Setscrew, bonnet front support buffer". The part's identified on page 10.09A in the parts guide. Where is it? Grrr.......

I've been trying to even out the headlight pods to make them sit evenly (there's more to it than just the shims) and discovered that part of the problem is that the hood/bonnet sits a bit low on one side when closed. Adjusting the "Bolt, bonnet mid support buffer" doesn't do it. Its as though there needs to be a buffer support screw right next to the headlight pods at the front to get the hood to sit evenly. You know, like a "Setscrew, bonnet front support buffer". The kind that shows up in the parts guide but isn't installed on the car! There are two screws there, nicely tightened down that "could" do the job of a support buffer but don't.

Anyone have these so called front support buffers installed on their cars??????????????

[dapinky]

Blair,

I have good news and bad news for you........

....

....


Some Elans had 6 bonnet buffer setscrews fitted (2 each at front, middle and rear), whilst some I have seen only had the middle and rear.

Presumably, Lotus decided that the front ones wern't necessary (or ran out of parts!).

So, the good news is that someone has decided that you don't need them!

However, the bad news is that you do.....

.....

The worse news is that (whilst it obviously CAN be done), retro-fitting them isn't an easy proposition - straightforward and simple, but to do correctly, is going to take time - lots of time.

They simply screw down (with a plain locknut) through the clamshell and into a captive fitting which is bonded to the underside of the clamshell. It is basically just a flanged M8 nut bonded to the structure from underneath - and to get to fit it, you will need to get to the underside of the clamshell .

Now, it was easy for me to replace the rusty fitting on mine whilst the clam was off the car, and it may be possible to undo just the front of it and lift it up enough to get at where you need to be - even if you can just slide a stainless nut into place and give it a dab of sikaflex (or epoxy, or chewing gum) - but the front bumper will need to be removed (probably) - or at least, the liners removed from the wheelarches and the side fittings removed to allow the front edge of the clam to be raised.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

The parts guide calls for a pair of 10mm self adhesive buffers at the front. Illustration #17.

I would expect these can be modified to help set the clearance?

[Elanlover]

This what I thought would be the case. I think I'm just going to buy some longer M6 screws to replace the fixing screws in place now, find some rubber caps for the tops and MacGyver up some of my own.

[Elanlover]

The parts guide calls for a pair of 10mm self adhesive buffers at the front.

I would expect these can be modified to help set the clearance?

The 10mm buffers look to me like self adhesive pads that fit on the underside of the hood. The material is pretty thin where the buffers would stick up so they probably added those for extra protection.

[lotusflasherman]

Mine has 4 positioned as shown. Seems to fit well and not wobble.

bonnet.jpg

Not surprised they left something off - I hadn't noticed till speaking to you at the Bird in Hand that I didn't have "SE" on the boot of this one...
... and the "Elan" is too far to the right to just add it. Suppose I could squeeze on an 'i' for incognito.

[Elanlover]

Phil, if you've got the 2 in front and 2 mid position then you will also have the 2 that are right under the hinges at the back of the bonnet near the windshield. That makes 6 for you (grrrrrrrr............). Ordering some from SJ or the like won't do it for us unlucky types. The parts manual calls for M8 screws and what's in place instead of the front support buffers in my car (and likely everyone else without these supports) are M6 screws that serve little purpose other than to fill the hole in the bodywork that was supposed to be for the M8 screws and get rusty of course (unless you replaced them with stainless like I did a while ago). So, I just went out and bought some M6 x 80 SS hex head screws and some rubber stoppers to fit over them. Works like a charm.

[Fredjohn]

Not surprised they left something off - I hadn't noticed till speaking to you at the Bird in Hand that I didn't have "SE" on the boot of this one...
... and the "Elan" is too far to the right to just add it. Suppose I could squeeze on an 'i' for incognito.

If they left the "SE" bit of the badge off better check under the bonnet that they didn't forget to put the turbo under it's shield as well!!!!!

[CalElan]

Phil, if you've got the 2 in front and 2 mid position then you will also have the 2 that are right under the hinges at the back of the bonnet near the windshield. That makes 6 for you (grrrrrrrr............). Ordering some from SJ or the like won't do it for us unlucky types. The parts manual calls for M8 screws and what's in place instead of the front support buffers in my car (and likely everyone else without these supports) are M6 screws that serve little purpose other than to fill the hole in the bodywork that was supposed to be for the M8 screws and get rusty of course (unless you replaced them with stainless like I did a while ago). So, I just went out and bought some M6 x 80 SS hex head screws and some rubber stoppers to fit over them. Works like a charm.

I have the same problem as you and it's driving me crazy that my bonnet line is too low at bottom left!
Any chance you could give more details of what you purchased and how you fitted it so that I can steal your idea. Thanks...

[Elanlover]

Simple really. SS M6 x 80mm bolts plus a nut so that the setup looks a lot like the standard support buffers (washer on body, then nut to tighten it down and bolt goes through it all). I just went to Lowes and picked up some rubber stoppers, cut them shorter with a knife and drilled a hole in them (then used a Dremel to smooth out the hole). Just drop the stopper on top of the head of the hex head bolt and you're done.

[CalElan]

Thanks - I'm going to give it a go!

[lotusflasherman]

Phil, if you've got the 2 in front and 2 mid position then you will also have the 2 that are right under the hinges at the back of the bonnet near the windshield. That makes 6 for you (grrrrrrrr............). Ordering some from SJ or the like won't do it for us unlucky types. The parts manual calls for M8 screws and what's in place instead of the front support buffers in my car (and likely everyone else without these supports) are M6 screws that serve little purpose other than to fill the hole in the bodywork that was supposed to be for the M8 screws and get rusty of course (unless you replaced them with stainless like I did a while ago). So, I just went out and bought some M6 x 80 SS hex head screws and some rubber stoppers to fit over them. Works like a charm.

Yes, I've also got 2 at the back sitting on the rearward hinge to body bolt so got 6 in all - I didn't want to gloat. Haven't yet thought through what they are for though - hinges seem to a good job of holding the bonnet in that area.
By the way, wasn't you I spoke to ... can't tell Elanman from Elanlover