Mark_Williams Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 I recently had a slight coming together (crash!) with a badly placed kerb and as a result have caused quite extensive damage to the front of my S2 Elise. Fortunately, I have a friend who is capable of fixing this to a high standard but I can't get the car down his very steep drive without damaging it further! The only solution is to remove the front clam and take it to him in my other car. I have printed off some instructions on how to remove it but was wondering if anyone can let me know how easy / difficult it is and are there any tips to making it a little less painless? I suspect this is going to be a pig of a job so any help would be gratefully received! Also, Are there any other jobs I should be doing whilst the clam is off to prevent me having to take it off again in the future? Mark
richbk Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 hi mark, and welcome to mloc where abouts are you based?? you might find a helpful mlocer can give you a hand with removal. i helped my garage owning mate remove and refit mine, and whilst a bit tricky and a bit daunting for me, it was pretty straight forward. have you looked at the seloc wiki, i think they have some pic's and text to explain richbk I suspect this is going to be a pig of a job so any help would be gratefully received! Also, Are there any other jobs I should be doing whilst the clam is off to prevent me having to take it off again in the future? Mark
Martin R Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 As said above the SELOC tech Wiki will help. You may want to check the condition of the heater resistor pack whilst you have the clam off. Welcome to MLOC by the way Here you go http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Remove_S2_front_clamshell
Mark_Williams Posted October 9, 2009 Author Posted October 9, 2009 I'm based in Wrexham in North Wales but as there is no NW owners club (that I can find) then you guys are probably my nearest. If you are aware of anyone in my area, I would be glad to hear from them as I think I am the only Elise in the area (I hardly ever see another one!). I know my way around a spanner and I'll quite enjoy fiddling with it so hopefully I should be ok. Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how I get on.
Balboa Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 I'm based in Wrexham in North Wales but as there is no NW owners club (that I can find) then you guys are probably my nearest. If you are aware of anyone in my area, I would be glad to hear from them as I think I am the only Elise in the area (I hardly ever see another one!). I know my way around a spanner and I'll quite enjoy fiddling with it so hopefully I should be ok. Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how I get on. Mark removal is pretty straight forward if you follow the insructions. I did my Exige front and rear last winter. The tricky bolts are the two hidden behind the door hinges. Not so difficult to get off if you have ratchet spanners but a real pig to to get back on especially with the spacers. Watch out for these as the ping out and go every where. If you pm me with your e-mail address I will send you the three different sets of instructions/pitures I found and used. To big to upload here. You will need a second pair of hands to help you lift it off and on again Jon
Martin R Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 Im not trying to get rid of you These lot however seem a friendly bunch http://norlog.org.uk/ Ive met a few and they seem reasonably normal.
jimbo07g41 Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 Replace the resistor with an upgraded pack, replace the heater actuator, fit a spash guard and think about replacing the radiator with an all alloy one. Take your time with the clam and you will be fine.
Mark_Williams Posted October 14, 2009 Author Posted October 14, 2009 Thanks for all the advice guys - I'm currently bidding on an outdoor cover on EBay to cover it once the clam is off, so the work isn't starting until I get this. - I stupidly coverted my garage into another bedroom a few years ago! I keep you posted with progress - I might be interesting!
Neil_C Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 There's an outdoor garage thing in the classifieds on here. I found removing the clam quite easy, you will definitely need another person to help when actually lifting the calm on and off the car. I used 2 extra peeps as I had someone plug the lights in whilst we held it nearly in place (serves random stranger right for walking past at the wrong time!). As long as the fixings haven't rusted on the only real problem is the shear number of them. I recommend loosening them with a rachet but using a brace to wind them out to save both your wrists and time.
Mark_Williams Posted October 18, 2009 Author Posted October 18, 2009 oh sod it! I got outbid on the cover! Think I'll just get one from Halfords as it will be cheaper and I will only use my shower cap once this work is done. Tomorrow is the big day - work is starting! Whilst I'm on.........Can anyone recommend a good value sports Cat - Mine is rattling at the moment ( the flexi pipe is fraying at the edges) and I don't think it's long for this world. Don't want to break the bank but I would like to improve performance a bit and make it sound a bit better. I am pretty sure the one that is on it is standard as it is a lot quieter than my previous two elises. I don't really want to go for a de-cat pipe as I hear they are too noisey! PS - Bought some new black wheels today and they're lovely - In quite a bit of trouble when the misses sees the bank account!
Mark_Williams Posted October 19, 2009 Author Posted October 19, 2009 I have undone all of the bolts in the instructions I have printed off and all is well. I was on my own so I haven't tried lifting it off yet but I'm sure this will be ok. There are a few things that concern me when it comes to putting it back on:- - How do you get the bolt that it obscurred by the door hinge back on? Ratchet spanner got it off ok but not looking formward to putting it back! - Some bright spark at Lotus decided that the very best place to situate the fuse box was..........bolted to the wheel arch liner! WTF!! I have removed the fuse box but this revealed another problem - From the top, looking down, the fuse box appeared to be attached with some phillips head screws (which I assumed had nuts on the other side).. After about 10 mins of turning these screws I realised that they weren't getting any looser and so I had a look underneath..........Instead of a nut on the other side, I found some sort of rubber stopper / washer that just turned with the bolt and no matter what I did, it would not come off! I remained patient but after a VERY long time, I decided that these just needed to come off and I have therefore forced them redering them useless.........how am I going to replace these? Will a nut and a rubber washer do? I am quite pleased with my days progress but I need some answers to the above problems. If anyone can help I be very grateful - I can try and upload photos if required. Cheers Mark
Neil_C Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 What mark elise have you got S1 or S2, yota/k? Usually after loosening the wheel arch liner on mine there is just enough room to reach behind and disconnect it? On a yota there is enough slack in the cable to relocate the box to the inside of the pax front compartment thing IIRC. if not i'd probably just rivet the thing back on. I'm guessing it's the radiator/ac control module like on mine? As for the door hinge bolt make sure you swap the bolt with one that's ok if you mullard it on the way out to make it possible to remove in future.
Mark_Williams Posted October 20, 2009 Author Posted October 20, 2009 It an 02 plate S2 with a K series engine.
Martin R Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 These will be what you want http://www.eliseparts.com/products.php?product=420 I cant remember if they are 5 or 6 mm on the fuse box. probably 5mm. I also have a decent condition sports cat with no Lambada in. I may be persuaded to sell it. PM me if you are interested.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.