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Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 9:33 pm
by elansprint71
Any documented evidence of what the first production Elan chassis weight was? I've looked all over the place and can't find it.


Thanks.

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:32 am
by Frogelan
Very roughly speaking it is about 40 kg...

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:07 am
by elansprint71
Frogelan wrote:Very roughly speaking it is about 40 kg...


Thanks. :D

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 1:58 pm
by pharriso
(Weight in 1962) = (Weight now) - (weight of oil coating) - (weight of rust)

But seriously, the only change to the chassis from '62 to 75 was the front tower angle? So all chassis' weigh a similar amount - apart from the 26R which weighs more due to additions & re-inforcements.

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:10 pm
by tedtaylor
Phil, you got your math wrong by ADDING weight with rust......you should be SUBTRACKING weight due to the loss of metal !!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:31 pm
by RichardHawkins
I cannot put a figure on the question, but I bought my replacement chassis in 1979 at age 30, I could just carry it under one arm, so 40kg for a fit young man seems about right.

Richard Hawkins

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:06 pm
by Bud English
Ted- There's no loss of metal unless the rust flakes off. All the base metal is still there as part of the oxide and protected the oil. :wink:

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 9:02 pm
by stevebroad
Bud English wrote:Ted- There's no loss of metal unless the rust flakes off. All the base metal is still there as part of the oxide and protected the oil. :wink:


In fact there is an increase in weight due to the oxygen consumed to make the rust :-)

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:05 pm
by ivorbadger2
tedtaylor wrote:Phil, you got your math wrong by ADDING weight with rust......you should be SUBTRACKING weight due to the loss of metal !!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:



Since Chapman was involved, it is "add lightness"

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 8:29 pm
by tedtaylor
I must have missed science class where they discussed oxide, oxygen, rust, weight ratio, etc.
I'm just going by some of the rusted "away" frames I've seen over the years where sections of metal frame are consumed, gone, disappeared, missing, or otherwise "rusted away", so it would have to weigh less. :roll:

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:41 pm
by Davidb
As regards 26R chassis--Tony Thompson added weight, Colin Chapman didn't (in my experience).

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:22 am
by rgh0
The weight affect of rust depends on how much falls off. The rust is heavier than the metal it consumes but if it falls off it leaves the chassis / sub frame lighter.

cheers
Rohan

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 4:09 pm
by prezoom
Plus, how heavy are the tin worms?

Re: Weight of Elan chassis back in 1962?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 5:15 pm
by nmauduit