Was going to do this to fit tow post and have a general clean up. Should be easy on 2-Eleven, just a dozen or so screws and six bolts but looks like most of the nasty little allen screws into captive nuts are seriously corroded. Apart from soaking in WD40, any words of wisdom on how to improve chance of removing these screws in one piece? Never took the clam off my Exige but I guess similar issues on Elise/Exige.
Nasty feeling I will have to resort to drilling some screws out if I proceed, what are the chances of saving the captive nuts with precision Dremelling?
Maybe should just leave it alone to avoid potential disaster.
2 Eleven front clam removal
2 Eleven front clam removal
Aging biker
Re: 2 Eleven front clam removal
hi gdr,
i have recently taken off my front clam on the exige for a new windscreen; and im afraid that your right to assume that maybe a few bolts maybe seized or even missing
in my case there was a few missing and a few that needed a bit of WD40 to loosen. i personally would remove the screw or bolt with any means possible(with out damaging anything else in the mean time) and replace with new. i know this seems like obvious advice, but its sound 
so the moral of the story is give yourself plenty of time and don’t get frustrated when you get an iffy screw or bolt and start effing and blinding 
P.S. screws and bolts can be found on elise shop and elise parts, if needed.
i have recently taken off my front clam on the exige for a new windscreen; and im afraid that your right to assume that maybe a few bolts maybe seized or even missing
in my case there was a few missing and a few that needed a bit of WD40 to loosen. i personally would remove the screw or bolt with any means possible(with out damaging anything else in the mean time) and replace with new. i know this seems like obvious advice, but its sound so the moral of the story is give yourself plenty of time and don’t get frustrated when you get an iffy screw or bolt and start effing and blinding P.S. screws and bolts can be found on elise shop and elise parts, if needed.
captian james t kirk-i am sorry i cant hear you, over the sound of how awesome i am-
1998 Audi Elige s1-1.8t 20v
05 Exige S2 - stage 2- Piperx VIS induction
1998 Audi Elige s1-1.8t 20v
05 Exige S2 - stage 2- Piperx VIS induction
Re: 2 Eleven front clam removal
Well, the deed is done. All front clam screws and also those fixing panels behind front wheels and spoiler removed but not without much pain, Dremel was smokin' and WD40 tin empty. Seems to be a mixture of stainless and mild steel fixings, certainly the captive nut plates are mild steel. Had to burn off 8 or 9 screws due to rounded allen heads and/or captive plate spinning. Good thing about 2-Eleven is that most if not all of the bonded nut plates are accessible within the panel so easy to replace. I think I will fabricate some stainless captive nut plates to bond back in.
Only real pain is that one of the captive nuts from side panel has spun so side panel will have to come off too. Not difficult though and the side panel fixings appear less corroded.
I think that my car must have been driven in winter on salty roads by previous owner and is somewhat under engineered for corrosion resistance. Maybe Elise/Exige fixings are a bit less exposed, the 2-eleven has more open panels.
Would be a good idea to remove all fixings when car is new and replace with well greased stainless as far as possible.
Still, no damage done, bonding in new captive nuts should be relatively easy and when all new greased fixings are in should be able to whip panels off in no time at all for future maintenance.
Only real pain is that one of the captive nuts from side panel has spun so side panel will have to come off too. Not difficult though and the side panel fixings appear less corroded.
I think that my car must have been driven in winter on salty roads by previous owner and is somewhat under engineered for corrosion resistance. Maybe Elise/Exige fixings are a bit less exposed, the 2-eleven has more open panels.
Would be a good idea to remove all fixings when car is new and replace with well greased stainless as far as possible.
Still, no damage done, bonding in new captive nuts should be relatively easy and when all new greased fixings are in should be able to whip panels off in no time at all for future maintenance.
Aging biker