Lotus Elan Central

by **GeoffSmith** » Thu 30.11.2006, 20:36

1774 LECcies take a step back, saying "Well done Phil. You are the chosen one" :-D

by **surfboardfiller** » Thu 30.11.2006, 20:53

geoffsmith wrote:1774 LECcies take a step back, saying "Well done Phil. You are the chosen one"

Is that a 'no get on with it phil, my knees are like prunes and my bum is wet' then Geoff?

by **Sy V** » Fri 01.12.2006, 08:50

IIRC they're extruded rubber.
You might get a better idea of the manufacturing process if you visit the original manufacturers website.

Cooper-Standard of Canada.

by **surfboardfiller** » Fri 01.12.2006, 11:22

Sy V wrote:IIRC they're extruded rubber.
You might get a better idea of the manufacturing process if you visit the original manufacturers website.

Cooper-Standard of Canada.

They are to irregular in shape to be extruded.
If they are foam latex, I thing they are injected into a mould with a foaming agent and baked. But I'm not sure they are latex.?

by **Sy V** » Fri 01.12.2006, 13:06

Phil

At least some of the seals (hood) are extruded. I might be losing my marbles, but I don't make things up.
I know nothing about seal manufacturing, but I've liaised ad nauseam with Trim-Technology in their search for replacement seals for the hood assemblies. The term 'extruded' was used several times.
I have handled brand new sets of hood and A frame seals and they feel pretty similar to me and they rip/puncture just as easy as one another.

Take it or leave it - just offering up my layman's opinion.

by **surfboardfiller** » Sat 02.12.2006, 04:23

Sy V wrote:Phil

At least some of the seals (hood) are extruded. I might be losing my marbles, but I don't make things up.
I know nothing about seal manufacturing, but I've liaised ad nauseam with Trim-Technology in their search for replacement seals for the hood assemblies. The term 'extruded' was used several times.
I have handled brand new sets of hood and A frame seals and they feel pretty similar to me and they rip/puncture just as easy as one another.

Take it or leave it - just offering up my layman's opinion.

Much appreciated Sy, I didn't mean to sound rude, sorry if it came acros that way.

The others, (ones with a consistant profile) are more than likely to be extruded; extrusion is basically pushing a material through a shaped hole, so the material forms a long shape with a continuous profile, before it cures.

Regards,

Phil

by **GeoffSmith** » Sat 02.12.2006, 13:08

surfer - Phil wrote:Is that a 'no get on with it phil, my knees are like prunes and my bum is wet' then Geoff?

Actually no! My S2 is remarkably water tight but having researched hard on LEC, it was the one thing I was going to make sure was in excellent condition; the first one I looked at looked like the dog had been chewing the seals!

Don't worry about Sy - he's just a crotchety old fart or grumpy old bastard, but he can't have these as titles because he's an "ADMINISTRATOR", whooo! :-D

It comes to all men of a certain age (male menopause?). :lol:

Back to the seals, it is a consistent problem for everyone and I'm sure it will happen to me too one day, although I hope I've got 5+ years in hand compared to the SE's. It sounds like you might have a bit of knowledge so if there is anything you think you can do to come up with a better/cheaper solution, I'm sure there would be a lot of support (maybe only moral but better than nothing) for you. The seals aren't as sexy as carbon fibre / stainless bling, or go faster chips or brake upgrades but IMHO it's equally, or maybe even more important. My first car was an Anglia with undersealed corrugated cardboard patches in the floorplan and a continually wet car is not a pleasant experience.

Geoff

by **surfboardfiller** » Sat 02.12.2006, 14:27

Geoff, My knees get wet when it rains, and I'm hopefully going to get another car in a few hours which has no A post seals at all, so I really want to get this problem solved, my way of solving problems is to include the prvention of it happening again.
No, not sexy at all, unless you are into long, smooth lumps of rubber of course :wink:

I could easily make CF GRP or cast resin parts if you need help with a project...

Sy usually missunderstands my posts

by **dapinky** » Sat 02.12.2006, 16:07

Phil,

I know its a bit :offtopic:

but I know nothing about carbon fibre production, a little about grp and nowt about cast resin.

How easy do you reckon it would be to knock up some 'B' post caps - not necesarily identical to original design, but something that would look okay and still do the job ?

As I say, I don't know much about the material science of CF fabrication, but if someone could point me in the right direction of what to do with it, I reckon it would be worth a go. (at the moment, I've got no caps, so nothing to directly copy, but was thinking of trying to knock up something to do the job).

by **clemo** » Sat 02.12.2006, 22:20

not trying to throw all of the scent but i thought walker rubbers were going to do a mass remake for lotus some months ago ...
i say this as i had a chat with them 5 months ago when i bought my front lip spoiler from them... they did say " watch this space"....

by **surfboardfiller** » Sun 03.12.2006, 20:18

dapinky wrote:Phil,

I know its a bit but I know nothing about carbon fibre production, a little about grp and nowt about cast resin.

How easy do you reckon it would be to knock up some 'B' post caps - not necesarily identical to original design, but something that would look okay and still do the job ?

As I say, I don't know much about the material science of CF fabrication, but if someone could point me in the right direction of what to do with it, I reckon it would be worth a go. (at the moment, I've got no caps, so nothing to directly copy, but was thinking of trying to knock up something to do the job).

I'm finishing a job this week so I'll see what's on the market for mould making. I planned to reproduce the caps as replicas, if there was enough interest. CF could be made from the same mould as cast resin or grp. I'll keep you posted....

by **Rogerf** » Tue 05.12.2006, 18:32

Can someone post a profile or drawing/picture with dimensions of the A post seals as Walker Rubber are looking into possibilities!!

Roger

by **Rogerf** » Tue 05.12.2006, 23:26

I'm sure i've seen a drawing/picture of these on here somewhere

Walker Rubber can't help without one!

Anyone help?

Roger

by **Paul.P** » Wed 06.12.2006, 07:57

Roger, i can take pic of my new ones, & give you the dimensions, if thats any good, let me know which dimensions you require ?

by **Rogerf** » Wed 06.12.2006, 20:29

Paul,
Basically what it is,Walker Rubber need to know what mould they need to produce in order to manufacture/price these.
So as much info as possible would be helpful.
If it was possible and the price was right then i should imagine a proper scaled drawing would be required,or the use of some good originals to copy.

Cheers
Roger

by **Paul.P** » Wed 06.12.2006, 21:03

Roger, pic attached, the length is 670mm, with the little return at the top being 110mm. Your right, a mould would definitely need to be made, as the shape is quite complicated. I have a brand new pair here, but would require cast iron gaurantees that i would get them back unharmed, if i were to lend them out, as they wern't cheap, & are hard to get, but it would be nice if someone else made them. Were not infringing on production rights here, are we ?

by **Rogerf** » Wed 06.12.2006, 22:46

Paul,
Thats great but i can't find the picture!
This is only a tentative enquiry at present,so i would leave all the legal responsabilities with Walker Rubber.But yes you may well be right but we've got to try something.
It seems crazy the price of a bit of rubber.
If there was a copyright issue i might be tempted to make them myself :roll:

''really''

Roger

by **Paul.P** » Wed 06.12.2006, 22:58

Sorry Roger, got disturbed by one of my women, & forgot to add pic, its now there !

by **Rogerf** » Wed 06.12.2006, 23:49

Thanks Paul,
I've just sent pic and info off to Walker-Rubber.
Watch this space!

Roger

by **Sy V** » Thu 07.12.2006, 05:37

If we had a member who used Autocad, Paul could lend him the seals to make the drawings. That way there would be no risk to Paul's seals and Walker would get exactly what they need.

I'll be very surprised if the photo will suffice - no offence meant guys, what you're doing is worth a go.

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