Elan-specific bolt package

[Sy V]

Interested...

[davidjt]

Sy<br><br>Another one just for spares?   How big is the turbo on that then?  8)

[nitroman]

Here is the status:  I ordered 2 sets (universal kits) of anodized fasteners today, 1 Allen-head set & 1 hex-flange-head set.  The guy said someone had bought 7 sets and cleaned him out on Monday, so these are on order with his supplier, who has them in stock & is shipping them out today.  He will have them late next week then ship them to me from California.  Those should satisfy every fastener need smaller than 8MM.  This weekend I will decide which bolts to include in the kit, and order any 8MM anodized-aluminium on an individual as-needed basis from a company in New Jersey.  I talked to them today & he said they try to keep all sizes in stock.  I will call them Monday to place an order.  The N.J. fasteners are polished as well as anodized, so you should have to wear shades to look at them!  Any size which might still be left wanting will be satisfied by getting polished stainless bolts from South Coast Stainless.  Arrrg, I can't believe I'm doing all this.<br><br>I think I might also order a couple full Elan-sets of NON-polished stainless bolts & washers as well, as that will give people a cheaper alternative if they simply want their car to look like it did when it came new from Lotus; not any more brilliant... just less rusty!<br><br>It should be noted that my experience teaches that anodized aluminium is untouchable by the elements.  Stainless will (at least the A-2 variety, the one primarily used in fasteners) corrode & even rust if subjected to the elements for long enough, but will still hold up 8-times-better (my personal guess) than normal bolts.  When a mariner buys bolts he truly wants to last he has them made out of bronze.  The 2 knocks against bronze are the cost and the softness of the metal, which is less of a problem for the larger bolt sizes used on a ship.  Kind of like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64809&item=3873778895&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW, except from a normal supplier they are stupidly expensive.

[Sy V]

Thanks for your efforts Matt.  

[nitroman]

Aluminum Flange Bolt Anodized (cool design!)...<br><br><br>Aluminum Socket Cap Anodized...<br>

[nitroman]

Hey Europe, I need your help.  Wish I could attach a picture but I am at work.  When you open the bonnet, I need a picture of the area where you rest the striker-plate, the complete area in-between the headlights.  I need to see how many of the bolts with the large fender washers there are, as I believe the USA version has more.  If I could get a picture of an SE and an S2 that would be really great!  I could probably figure this out when I get home by looking at the parts manual, but as they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words.  To my knowledge this is the only under-bonnet (bolt-related) difference.

[nitroman]

This is what I'm talking about.  Can I get the same view on a UK SE & S2 please?  (couldn't see that some of the washers needed a wipin' with Windex.  It was dark.)  The parts book lists the same number of these bolts regardless of LHD or RHD (on page 10.01A), so unless I see otherwise I'll make the bolt kits the same.  I'm going under the assumption that 2 or 3 of you want polished washers, which are $1.29 apiece, and a couple more might settle for just stainless, which are only $.29 each.  If there are any takers please say now, as it will affect the number of kits I make.<br>

[nitroman]

A full bolt kit with polished washers (only fender-washers are polished - as they have a large surface area to visibly justify the cash outlay... see picture earlier in this thread) is $71-USD, & with regular stainless washers is $61.  Shipping is actual cost incurred.  There are 63-fasteners in total in each kit.  All bolts are either polished SS or anodized-aluminium.  Each is in a highly visible location topside and will be easy for you to get to with normal Metric sockets (you'll need a 6-inch extension) and a Metric Allen-key set.<br><br>Kit will come with full installation instructions.  I will take the pages of the parts manual to work tomorrow and copy the pertinent ones to highlight the bolts included and their location, but now the day is at an end.  You will receive these pages, separated with the bolts that go with them, numerically numbered = to the number on the parts page, with each kit.  Should be a piece of cake.<br><br>I'm shipping the order for polished parts off to South Coast Stainless tomorrow... AND A BIG-ASS ORDER IT IS!  I'm afraid to total it up.  I've never filled out that many order forms before.

[grahamec]

Hope this is what you require Matt, good work you're doing.<br>

[grahamec]

Matt <br>Would you like paid in advance for the bolt package ?<br>Regards<br>Grahame

[Paul.P]

Matt, i would like one of these bolt kits ( in gold if poss ), could send you the money by paypal if you want ?

[nitroman]

First of all I would like to understand the differences in our cars when it comes to the 2 bolt locations at the very front of the vehicle.  Notice (above) the red car has 2 large fender washers held by normal bolts, while Grahame's car has bonnet-rests in these locations instead.  All Federal-version Elans have the bonnet-rests at the outside of the engine-bay as shown by the yellow-car in this thread  http://www.lotuselancentral.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=driveline;action=display;num=1108307318;start=2#2.  What kind of bolt/washer combination is located here on your cars?  I would prefer a picture if anyone has one.  I know I have some pictures on my home PC which may show this but they are not available to me now.  Based on this I need to order the appropriate number of washers.  I am hesitant to order the polished washers unless there is actual demand for them, as they cost a heap.  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.  Thanks for your input, Matt.<br><br>Oh lastly, the request for gold.  Right now all bolt packages are silver.  I don't mind doing a color but you will need to buy the entire base bolt-kit which is $60 plus shipping to me from California.  Normally one of these kits serves the needs of 2 Elans, not counting any bolts over 6mm.  So, any large bolts (on the hood latch, some engine accessories, hood hinges, etc.) would still be silver, as these sizes are simply not available color anodized on the free-market.  Also all washers are silver.  I am not saying gold will not look good with silver, it probably will.  And red or blue bolts to match your car will no doubt look fine sitting atop silver washers.  But unless you can convince someone else to shoulder the burden of color along with you the bolt kit will increase in price by $35.<br><br>South Coast Stainless usually takes 3 weeks to turn-around a polished order, and they are busiest in the winter (all those winter projects).  I need to be certain I am ordering the correct number of parts to meet demand, especially when it comes to polishing, as I do not want to fork over the big bucks for this service unless I myself can ship these out.  I will order a few extra unpolished SS washers, which will still be a huge improvement over an old corroded washer!  However my order for polished washers will soon be closed.  For this reason, please let me know your precise requirements.

[Doug]

Matt, this is going to be a god-worthy project, cause you are clearly mad for doing it [smiley=dazeda.gif]

[DeeAitch]

Hi Matt, put me down for a set with polished washers please.  Mine is an '91 SE with outboard bonnet stops, same as Michaels yellow one - well not quite so clean :-[<br>Just checked my mag collection and the inboard ones appear to be S2. Can anyone confirm?

[grahamec]

Matt<br>Well its 955pm, pitch black and outside ( garage full of crap ) I hope this pic helps it seems to be the same thread as the front ones and might be specific to S2<br>Regards<br>

[nitroman]

So it would appear then that S2 Elans have 4 bonnet-stops, eh?  Kind of interesting as all our cars have the same "bolt-receptacles" so if desired by getting the bolt, nut & rubber-top, we could all have 4-stops to better adjust the level of the bonnet with!

[grahamec]

[quote author=grahame link=board=upgrades;num=1081810058;start=45#54 date=02/15/05 at 13:02:32]Matt<br>Well its 955pm, <br><br>Should have read 8.55 pm

[grahamec]

Matt<br>For the sake of clarification, are you offering a set of polished anodised aluminium inc washers ? if so then put me down for a set, now are you saying that you could offer a larger set eg: a full Elan kit of the same spec then I may be interested, if you have a fairly accurate price guide would you kindly let me know.<br>Regards<br>Grahame

[nitroman]

Yes, anodised aluminium through size M6, which is most of your under-bonnet bolt needs.  Bolts larger than this are  polished Stainless-Steel.  If you so choose (but soon) the fender washers will be polished as well.  Fender washers have nothing to do with being located on a fender; rather they are washers whos OD is at least 3-times the size of their ID... meaning a large surface of the washer will be exposed to Her Majesty's critical gaze.  Some other washers will be provided as well, but they will not be polished... why polish something which the bolt will almost totally obscure?<br><br>This is an under-bonnet kit only.  That seemed to be the most requested area & my goal was to find a way to do this as cheaply as possible while still providing a noticable improvement.  For instance, on my car all bolts I see while on a creeper underneath the car have been replaced, all suspension bolts when you pull the wheels off are included in my personal order this time around.  I always seem to find more bolts!   The possibilities are endless... and VERY expensive.  To keep things from getting out of hand I had to decide what would offer the maximum benefit to the most people.

[grahamec]

Matt<br>Ok a full under bonnet polished where possible kit in anodised aluminium, and if you can double up your order for your personal wheels off kit then that as well.<br>Regards, and very well done for all your effort.<br>Grahame<br>ps: just tell me when and how to pay