Re & Reing Elan side frames

[JonnyPlus2]

Hi,
Anyone done this? I have to do it to fix the cracks that run the length of the car under the side frames on both sides.

Any tips, advice etc etc would be much appreciated.

[elanfan1]

I believe there are a number of threads about renewing sill members just have a search for those terms.

[JonnyPlus2]

Thanks, that was very helpful.

[richardcox_lotus]

A google search using lattice and Elan will give you all the links you need:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lotus+elan+lattice+site:www.lotuselan.net&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=sivn&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg0_vc4OLVAhVEF8AKHTy6CQ0QrQIIKigEMAA&biw=375&bih=559

[pharriso]

A google search using lattice and Elan will give you all the links you need:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lotus+elan+lattice+site:www.lotuselan.net&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=sivn&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg0_vc4OLVAhVEF8AKHTy6CQ0QrQIIKigEMAA&biw=375&bih=559

Based on the username "JonnyPlus2" I think we're talking Plus 2 here...

[Gordon Sauer]

Took mine out the back and so rusted made sill attachment face all wavy between screws so reglassed and used stainless steel screws into galvanized one I used, Gordon Sauer

[JonnyPlus2]

I chose my username when I was looking. The Elan coupe showed up before a Plus 2 and seemed like a tolerable substitute.

My side frames are in good nick (galvanized) but I have to pull them to fix the cracks in the glass underneath them. This side is terrible, the other side is just bad.

Screws? I didn't see any screws. Where are they supposed to be?

[Gordon Sauer]

That was + 2 talk and here's a picture of my Elan but I thought just those points were maybe glassed in although there may be a piece of rebar running the length of the sill and in your case it would just be having to grind all that glass out and replace and reglass-no screws!-and not done here. Gordon Sauer

[elanfan1]

Johnny,

I like others got confused by your name and thought you were talking Plus 2. I think this could be a recurring theme and it might pay you to change your user though how I don't know. As you may have noticed you've got some Plus 2 answers.

If the galvanising on your wire frames is intact you don't want to be removing it from the car - for a start it gives a lot further into the car than you would think. As has been said you need to grind out all the damaged stuff and reglass. Whether it might pay you to do that a little at a time to make it easier to retain the shape is up to you. It might be that if you can buy a cheap used bodyshell elsewhere you can cut out the required parts you need and either sell on or keep for the future the remainder.

Also YHM

[Gordon Sauer]

As I look at that some more, and you say the metal pieces are in good shape, then you really don't have to take any of that out since the metal and the glass right around it are still going to be strong, but rather V out where the cracks are and re-glass with several layers a good width and let that set up and then turn the car over and do the same on the inside where the crack is, with a deep enough V that basically you're almost meeting the fresh glass from the other side-- Standard stuff from the fiberglass repair books with Wilkins is the name I believe is the one that referred to here so often. It looks like where you ground down to the metal you really may have already taken off too much there unless you were just exploring. That really does look more like impact stuff the way some of it's been pushed out and overlapping the other, so considering another body is also reasonable depending on whether everything really lines up. Gordon Sauer

[JonnyPlus2]

Thanks for this Gentlemen. I can see that Re & reing the side frames may not be necessary. YAY!

Getting a hold of an Elan body on this side of the pond is IME, easy as pie. You just call up the bloke in the UK who makes them and pay him $4K quid and he airmails it to you. Otherwise it seems to be almost impossible.

Best,
Jonny Plus None

[billwill]

You might care to put your car type in your signature, or remember to explicitly say what type of Elan you are inquiring about in your messages.

Saves lots of confusion..

[JonnyPlus2]

Here's my standard sig, I only suppressed it once.

[elj221c]

You might find some of Gary Anderson's posts helpful. Search Sill Latice or variatons. Here's a start...

lotus-chassis-f36/elan-door-surround-latice-yours-rotten-too-t15161-15.html

Then there's the Sows Ear. Worth a read.

lotus-chassis-f36/sows-ear-chassis-t24752.html

The job is one I have to do sometime. I wonder if Boss Motors would sell the frames?