Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Have just had the car resprayed at considerable expense and want to ensure I don?t mark the paintwork when fitting the front bumper. I thought of fitting 30mm wide 1.5mm thick neoprene rubber ?sponge? strip on the inside top and bottom edges. I guess this stuff with compress down to less than 1mm and would prevent the bumper digging into the paintwork.

Would this be a good idea, what have others done when fitting the bumper?

Mounted mine as is and I don?t remember any special spacers or anything and it is not dug in and yes it is right down against the paint but in eight years or so no movement or anything happened that made it mar the paint or anything, Gordon Sauer

Gordon Sauer wrote:Mounted mine as is and I don?t remember any special spacers or anything and it is not dug in and yes it is right down against the paint but in eight years or so no movement or anything happened that made it mar the paint or anything, Gordon Sauer

Thanks Gordon

Now that I said that and I got your thank you it reminded me that there were some old rubber pieces that were under there that spaced it out some so these weren?t added by me but I did return those as part of the mounting and to confirm my memory I looked up on RD enterprises that there are rubber blocks that are part of the mounting system of the front bumper so be sure to use those. Gordon Sauer

I've always fitted rubber pads between bumpers and body.At the back bumper it stops ingress of water into boot.
Alan

Old inner tube rubber is a good material and free from your local friendly tyre fitter.

There are square rubber washers under each hole.

LaikaTheDog wrote:There are square rubber washers under each hole.

How thick are those washers?

I thought I remember may be a good eighth of an inch unless somebody has one and they can measure it otherwise maybe call RD Enterprises and I?m sure they?d be willing to measure it, Gordon

When I restored my Plus 2 I bought a large bag of rubber penny washers, about 1.5mm thick, and used a number of these under each moutning point for the front and rear bumpers

Those washers were used exensively in my resto, usually with a stainless penny 'compression' washer, and were one of the best few quid, I ever spent.

There are square hard rubber washers about 1 1/4? and about a fat ?? thick. Lay masking tape down on the whole area to protect the paint. It shouldn?t touch the body. I recut my washers from the rubber spacer used for the fuel tank, but any hard rubber will do.

Davefettback wrote:There are square hard rubber washers about 1 1/4? and about a fat ?? thick. Lay masking tape down on the whole area to protect the paint. It shouldn?t touch the body. I recut my washers from the rubber spacer used for the fuel tank, but any hard rubber will do.

Thanks, will give it a go