stuff in stainless steel - who'd have what if I could get it

[Monty]

U can always take the cap off to see the level

Ought to have a bespoke cap really, like the oil filler one ?

would be nice but Think we`d have to keep the cap as it release`s preasure, so the thread would need to match perfect

[timmo]

nice shiny rings to go round the funboy three may be nice.

[theelanman]

timmo
think johnbenk had discovered a vauxhall source for these!!!!
shiney plastic I know but what do you think
cheers
G

http://www.lotuselancentral.com/forum/v ... php?t=5672

[Elanlover]

Don't know if this topic is dead or not or if these ideas are worthy of consideration but..............

I think the interior could beneift from some shiny stainless effects. The door escutcheons (sp. ?), even the door hadle itself, B caps, seat protectors on the back of the seat, etc. I know someone had some of these done in carbon fibre but I think they'd look great in stainless. A nice piece to surround the speedo area would look good too.

I'm sure there are a lot of little pieces in the Elan that would benefit from some small, relatively inexpensive stainless pieces.

[Enright]

What about the plate that the turbo shield bolts to?
Or how about the brackets that you hoist the engine out with?
And maybe even the little filter cover behind the CAS?

[Doug]

just send em off to JetHot
http://www.jet-hot.com/

[nitroman]

Doug has the best solution, and I speak from experience. All the parts mentioned and 'X'ed in your picture could have this done. As to the turbo to airfilter pipe I could have these made and mandrel-bent in steel then Jet-Hot coated. All you would need then do is choose/buy the silicone coupling one each end in a colour that accentuates your car. I can send my current "accordion-piece" to the shop in Jacksonville & have a lot made up, then send them to Jet-Hot. They will be stronger & just as aesthetically appealing, heat resistant/insulated unlike stainless, as well as cheaper. You have seen my heat shields, etc and they are even more shiny than stainless. The top pipe could be done this way using my existing OE rubber part as well & the shop can even weld a dump-valve into it. That way they would be a matching set.

Sy or Doug, could you establish a sign-up list for this very achievable project? (even though I can't give you a price right now I know it would be cheaper, more durable, and all-round superior to stainless)

These still look as new 5-years down-the-road as the day I had them coated.

[Doug]

Sy or Doug, could you establish a sign-up list for this very achievable project?

well, if people start dropping notes of interest I will help you keep track of them in a list

[Sy V]

...and I'll watch from afar!

[Paul.P]

Well i'm definitely in for a top & bottom pipe !

[ailwyn]

Dependant on cost, I would be interested in the airbox/turbo hose and the plenum(?) hose, although I can't really visualise how it could be coated with a dump valve welded in (unless it was welded after coating?).

Turbo heat shield and the other engine bay items previously listed would also be of interest.

As for where to get the coatings, I would be interested in knowing prices from the US and will be watching the Stiffy thread for the results of the UK hunt for a similar coating service.

If available I would probably also go for the fun boy three surrounds in stainless but not convinced about plastic ones. Any other trimmings to brighten up the dark cockpit would also be considered.

Ailwyn

[Dave M]

just send em off to JetHot
http://www.jet-hot.com/

Mmmmm...Jet Hot...

[nitroman]

Ailwyn said:

although I can't really visualise how it could be coated with a dump valve welded in (unless it was welded after coating?).

The main pipe would be made with an outlet hole for the dump valve, with a short smaller-diameter pipe welded onto the hole. Then send the entire welded-unit off to Jet-Hot & have it coated. I have a tubing notcher so could cut half-moons into these dump-valve fittings all day long (that way it won't interrupt the flow coming through the main intake). Later you would attach the dump valve of your choice with a short silicone connector, but without needing to splice in a T-fitting!

To illustrate the principle I made this exhaust crossover for my old TR8 (dual-exhaust) when I noticed the Falcon stainless exhaust I had bought & fitted just pushed the crossover-pipe right through the hole into the main-exhaust cutting-off 1/2 the air-flow... choking my car above 3000-RPM! My change made a huge difference & the car then revved well above redline, as there were no electronic controls in those days. I made this piece myself after some careful measuring and replaced that piece of the Falcon exhaust. You can see the crossover does not intrude into or limit the main exhaust-flow, it is just welded to the outside of the pipe as the crossover-piece is concave on the ends and wraps around the outside of the main-pipe:

[nitroman]

BTW until proved differently beware any non-Jet-Hot coatings. I had a piece ceramic-metallic coated by a firm in Orlando as they were only 2 hours away & could have it back to me the next day. Their "shiny" coating, which the guy assured me was just like Jet-Hot, was instead a dull grey. I sent it back to give them a 2nd chance but it came back even worse!

[grahamec]

Count me in please

[nitroman]

I was wondering what diameter to make the dump-valve pipe. Is this pretty much the industry standard? BTW, this is exactly what you'd have to buy to fit your dump valve. Hope everything is clear now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Turbo-Dump-Valve-Fitting-Kit-6-75-inc-P-P_W0QQitemZ8033240306QQcategoryZ72205QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Sy V]

I think I'm right in saying that standard is 25mm, Matt.

[Paul.P]

Matt, will you be going ahead with these pipes ?

[nitroman]

The next time I am in Jacksonville (whether I fly or drive) I'll take the original rubber top pipe with me & get a quote from him; marking at what points the pipe makes contact with the TB & intake-pipe, and also where the outlet for the blowoff should be. I think that is a better piece for him to match against as Bill's chrome upper pipe, although a fine piece, was always in contact with the header tank edge. What the heck I'll take both with me!

In the mean time, if I know the general level of interest I can get a price quote on a small batch, which would undoubtedly knock some off of the price. I could get a quote on mild-steel vs. stainless. If mild-steel I'd have him ship the batch to Mississippi (Jet-Hot), then have them shipped up to me in Atlanta. If you want yours a particular colour I'll have him spray grey-primer on it and you can sand/paint when you receive it.

I already have a customer number with Jet-Hot & the key to dealing with them is to get a quote in advance. If you just sent something & said "coat this" you'd be charged to the max.

Interestingly, the guy in the EBAY link above actually emailed to give me props, as he monitors this board. Small world eh?

[Paul.P]

Matt, not trying to be pushy mate, but have you any idea when these intake pipes are likely to be made, weeks, months or ?, just trying to plan phase 2 .