Intercooler Pipe Body Grommet

[andrewp]

The Lotus-supplied rubber grommet that protects the intercooler pipe where is passes through the hole in the bodywork (FL wheel arch area) is paper-thin and dry rots. No Elan I have ever seen (here in Canada) has an intact one.

Good thing is McMaster-Carr (a large US-based specialist hardware supplier) sells numerous similar-sized grommets. Their website is excellent . . . I searched via grommet inner diameter. Some offerings are rubber, some are a poly material; but all are many times less expensive than the Lotus version (usually $2 to $4 US). I have just ordered a range of these and will test fit them so as to report which is the best choice.

Andrew in Edmonton

[MPx]

Hi Andrew. Certainly agree the Lotus part is expensive and short lived. Dont know what supply is like out in Canada, but this thread here describes the MG grommet that many of us have used. Mine is still going strong even now. Just worth noting that there was some concern at the time that it was a good but not super air tight fit that some thought may cause an issue. In practice I've never heard of anyone who has had an issue. And of course you may not have ready access to MG parts like we do in the UK.

[chrism]

Erm...does it need to be air-tight?

As far as I can see it's just there to secure a pipe passing through a larger hole in the body-work?

Thanks for the heads-up tho' - mine's just come out in two bits

[Tuga2112]

As far as I can see it's just there to secure a pipe passing through a larger hole in the body-work?

its not even there for that reason actually.

its just there to look pretty

if you look at 8:49 in the video. you can see a shiny new stainless bolt on the intake pipe. next to it theres a bracket that is not attached to it.
that bracket has a rubber "bushing" where it ataches to the top of the turret.

that little bracket is the real thing that holds the intake pipe in place, the grommet is there at best just as a dust cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_5G-LKNUA&t=299s

[chrism]

Yep gottit...thanks for that

[MPx]

The issue that BCN posted about the grommet "seal" was that the HVAC intake is close to that hole in the wing and the concern was that poor quality air from around the engine bay would be able to get through to that section and be drawn into the car. Never aware of any of that happening myself...but then carbon monoxide doesn't have a smell.

[chrism]

So...I gather it's a body grommet which serves to support an air intake-to-manifold pipe passing through the inner wing hole.

And also, if it (mostly) seals it can save (most) fumes from coming the other side of the inner wing into the cabin via the l/h fresh air vent(?)

[MPx]

That's the chap

[Tuga2112]

i quite like this explanation.
it certianly helps explain why the heater doesnt blow very cold when it should.

you guys are expensive friends to have... (off shopping again)

[chrism]

Yes, I noticed that yours was missing on the video...
I wanted to say something but it felt irreverent - a bit like telling Eric Clapton that one of his strings was out of tune

[Tuga2112]

:D Yes, I noticed that yours was missing on the video...
I wanted to say something but it felt irreverent - a bit like telling Eric Clapton that one of his strings was out of tune

yes, i never bothered buying a replacement as i never seen any reason to spend 10 quid on something which to my knowledge had no functional purpose.

[chrism]

...well you can have my 33-year-old OEM one for a only fiver (p+p extra of course...).



Honestly, it just needs a spot of glue. I heard you're good at fixing things...

[andrewp]

No need to have a torn/split body grommet . . . even if it is just cosmetic. McMaster-Carr (USA) sells most everything automotive hardware-related. They sell grommet #63595K39.

Intended for a hole of 3.25". Inner hole = 2.1". Made of medium-hard vinyl-plastic. Claimed to be chemical resistant. Won't dry out and become brittle when exposed to UV radiation. Handles -40 F to +200 F.

Best of all it is $2.69 (US) which is about 14 times cheaper than the genuine Lotus part (#A100L0077F). I can tell you it fits perfectly and is a dramatic improvement to a dry-rotted, split original Lotus part.

Hope this helps some Elan owners.

Andrew in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada