Elan-specific bolt package

[nitroman]

I replaced those & all the nuts in there too.  Seemed worth it when I drove the car a lot... but now not even I get to see them!

[grahamec]

Matt<br>The extra bolts for the headlight location, do you have these to hand ?

[grahamec]

[quote author=Dico link=board=upgrades;num=1081810058;start=120#122 date=03/06/05 at 11:46:27]if so me and Grahame would like a set please  ;)[/quote]<br><br>Read me like a book mate  :-[

[nitroman]

Headlight bolts:  are yours rusty?  Mine are not, but they just poked out at me on Delta's silver car & I thought silver bolts would be a better choice for him.<br><br>I took apart this area once when I replaced a light unit.  There are 3 different types of screws in there.  One a machine thread, and 2 a sheet metal thread... one of which is the long adjuster screw.  If you replaced that one you would have to aim your headlights again.<br><br>Let me know your requirements & if so directed when I get time I will take the dimensions.

[nitroman]

BEFORE:<br><br><br>AFTER:<br><br><br><br>4 minutes on the buffing wheel yielded this result.  I am pissed though cuz my finest compound and softest buffing wheels are still in my attic in Florida (or in one of these big-ass boxes in the storage room, but that is like a 2% shot, as I kept most of my seldom-used automotive gear in the attic).  Using those would most likely get rid of the swirl marks.  This has been off my engine ever since I had the heat-shields ceramic-coated, just thought I'd see what I could do with it.  This part is made of VERY HEAVY gauge steel and weighs well over a pound, maybe two.  It is WAY-OVER-ENGINEERED just to keep the dipstick in the proper position, as that is its only job.  This would be a great piece for someone who does sandcasting to duplicate in aluminium.  Lotus should have just made this from stamped-steel to begin with, but I guess that was an Isuzu decision.<br><br>BTW this is the dipstick support, and the bolt & washers are part of your kits.<br><br>As to your headlight request you need 12 each of:<br>M4 x 20<br>#8 x 2"<br>Needless to say I would have to order these, but in case you wanted to get them on your own that's what you'd need.

[Doug]

I had that one dipped in JetHot  ::)

[grahamec]

Matt<br>Thanks for the info, what type of fastener is a #8 * 2" please.<br>I ordered the M4/10 and M4/15 from Aerotek last week and received a call this morning from them telling me that they don,t do M4 in anodised only in SS, shame they don't get thier web site sorted.<br><br>Dico<br>Do you want me to order your bolts in SS then and do you want me to order the headlamp bolts in SS for you as soon as Matt clears up the question on #8 * 2" for me ?

[nitroman]

Well crap.  You'll want to ask if they are going to polish the SS bolts as I wouldn't want to pay their listed prices for off-the-shelf SS.  That would be a rip-off.<br><br>Alternatively I could put in another order with SCS for the M4's & whomever wants the headlight kit as well.  I would ship them separately so as not to hold up your main order.<br><br>A #8 is an SAE size of sheet metal screw.  This particular one is 2 inches long or about 50mm in length.

[grahamec]

Matt<br>I checked with Aerotek and they are not polished and they won't polish, so may I take you up on your kind offer of a reorder from SCS to include the headlamp ones aswell, since I was ordering for Dico also I am sure he would like to avail himself of your offer.<br>Thanks a bunch<br>Grahame

[nitroman]

Grahame or anyone... any words of wisdom for placing a value on the shipment?  Seems as though I shipped pipes over there B4 & the recipient had to pay 17.5% VAT on the value I placed on the customs label.

[Sy V]

Matt<br><br>The usual trick is to declare them as used car part "presents" and value them less than $10.

[grahamec]

[quote author=Sy link=board=upgrades;num=1081810058;start=120#132 date=03/07/05 at 21:32:45]Matt<br><br>The usual trick is to declare them as used car part "presents" and value them less than $10.[/quote]<br><br>Agreed, as far as I know, cheers Sy

[nitroman]

OK, will do.  The package came in last night & I segregated "your" stuff from my stuff.  It is all there except for some #10 lock washers for my Holley FPR, which doesn't affect you & is something I might find at the HDW-store in SS.<br><br>I can't work on it today as my daughter is calling me wanting to know what we're doing on her Spring break so I have to research & make airline reservations & all.  That & other things are really pressing my time right now but I will make every effort to get it shipped by Friday.  It is not something where I will just dump your parts in a box & say "here".  You'll see.

[Sy V]

That's fine Matt...as long as the "here" includes "This goes..." "and here" etc.   <br><br>Now I really must order those other ones from the Wye Valley...

[nitroman]

Dico & Grahame, I got your #8 x 2" stainless screws at the hardware store today.  Three go on each headlight & they are the adjustment screws, so proceed with caution here.  Don't know if you've ever aimed your headlights at the garage door at night from the bottom of your driveway to get a baseline... then adjusted back to same point.  I have used that method in the past many times.  Of the 2 screws in each corner of the lamp these are the ones recessed slightly "in a hole".  You'll know what I mean when you raise your lights and look at it.  The other M4 x 20 machine-thread screws I don't have right now.  These hold the front bracket the headlights mount to & when I removed one the light moved; so I would wait until I can get all these to you.   Also there are bolts on the backside of each lamp which keep them from falling backwards out of the unit.  These were rusty on my car so I do believe they will be a right mess on yours as well.  They can only be accessed by completely removing the light but might be good to have on hand for when you do.  Let me know what you think.<br><br>I really like the look of silver here as it does not shout its presence like the black OE screws do.  Can take a picture when I get home tonight if you want.  All silver cars should have left the factory this way IMHO!<br><br>I vow to stop buying any more fasteners until I've shipped the ones that are now all over my living-room floor.  It is a sight that would send a woman over the edge!

[nitroman]

See what I mean about the headlights?  These I picked up today will look much better I think, and are regular stainless, not even polished.  Want to make the headlights as sleek & inocuous as possible I believe.<br><br><br><br><br>Just some of the mess on my floor:<br>

[nitroman]

Putting each of these kits together is a lot of %*$%& work, especially bcuz there are small differences for most of you.  I suddenly understand why application specific bolt-kits cost so much!  I shudder to think how many hours I'll have in this when I'm done.  I think you will find that as a software engineer, my attention to detail is rather absolute.  In by biz if you are wrong you find out quickly & definitively.  As such, to avoid embarrassment (and keep your job), you account for ALL possibilities no matter how remote.<br><br>Insofar as doing these again, at this point I would say no.

[Paul.P]

Nitroman, your efforts are well appreciated, & i'm sure blacky will look really bling ( Hate that word ! ), when there all fitted.