Door opens. Door closes.

[pete]

Trying to fix the door hinge (dropped door).

Why would they call it a "Door hinge access panel" if it doesn't give you access to the door hinge?

Yes I know the wiki on SELOC tells you that but, well hope springs.

So now I am going to have to take the clam off. (Secretly quite excited).

This is how much gravel there was in the drivers side "doesn't give you as much access as you might hope to the door hinge" panel.
Yes I am including the pile of gravel on the floor.

In the pax side there is almost certainly as much gravel. And a 10mm spanner which I have just dropped. Off to buy new spanner.

(Am I OK to use jacking point B with a stand underneath to support the front end with the back wheels on the ground?)

Pete

[BiggestNizzy]

Will you be in tonight ? I should have a 10mm spanner in the car if you need it.

[pete]

Will you be in tonight ? I should have a 10mm spanner in the car if you need it.

Oooo I hoped you say that, already bought new spanner but if you could pop round that would be ace, doing i'll have the clam off by then...

[mckeann]

think of the weight you'll save.

Can you send me the gravel back please

[pete]

think of the weight you'll save.

Can you send me the gravel back please

I've told you already that if it was in the car when I collected it it's mine now. And that applies to the gravel, the tar, the "Best of the Carpenters" CD and the extensive collection of pornography I found under the pax seat.

(And yes I am running my laptop in the garage so I can see the workshop manual).

[BiggestNizzy]

If the clams coming off take a carefull note of where all the shims and washers go they are important. don't do what I did and stick them all in a box, you end up with a wonky clam

[robin]

The clam's probably wonky already, so just throw all the shims in the air and fit them in the order they land ... cannot be any worse

Cheers,
Robin

[pete]

The clam's probably wonky already, so just throw all the shims in the air and fit them in the order they land ... cannot be any worse

Cheers,
Robin

Hmm wise words indeed.

Sourced the loudest rattle!!! The pax side windscreen pillar bolt wasn't tight. In fact was hardly done up at all. Do these bolts need anything on them when they go back in? (Duralec or copper grease etc...).

So far no shims found. 4 bolts in and stopping for tea. Where would normally find the shims (I take it I am basically looking for extra washers?)

[BiggestNizzy]

Do these bolts need anything on them when they go back in?

I have some Loctite 275 on my desk if I remember I will bring it with me.

[robin]

I think all the bolts are steel into steel so they don't have to have duralac on them. I would refit all the clam bolts with copper grease. Don't know what loctite 275 is ... if it's a threadlock, I don't think it's required - the bolts will be loose because they weren't tightened up properly, not because they've worked loose. This is probably also why you haven't found any shims. If you were happy with the lines and fit of the clam before hand, no bother. If you thought that some of the panel gaps were a bit dodgy, you might want to order up the shims from Lotus so that you've got them when you finally put it all back together again

Cheers,
Robin

[pete]

I think all the bolts are steel into steel so they don't have to have duralac on them. I would refit all the clam bolts with copper grease. Don't know what loctite 275 is ... if it's a threadlock, I don't think it's required - the bolts will be loose because they weren't tightened up properly, not because they've worked loose. This is probably also why you haven't found any shims. If you were happy with the lines and fit of the clam before hand, no bother. If you thought that some of the panel gaps were a bit dodgy, you might want to order up the shims from Lotus so that you've got them when you finally put it all back together again

Cheers,
Robin

Happy with the panel fit... Hmmm. Should the clam actually touch the windscreen?

(It's like grownup lego. I love my new car. Never played with the old ones to this extent, due needing it to actually get places.)

[BiggestNizzy]

No if the clam touches the screen it will break the screen

[mckeann]

can i just say that the panel gaps have nothing to do with me. I spent a fair wack of cash at a lotus specialist down south getting it resprayed, and it came back with dodgy panel gaps.

The rest of the rattles must have crept up on me, as i cant say i noticed them

[pete]

No if the clam touches the screen it will break the screen

Or rattle?

Are shims really something you get from Lotus? Are they just not washers? (not found any yet).

Trying to help MMC by putting Bell and Covill out of business. I suspect their business model doesn't allow for folk like me keeping their splendidly helpful chap on the phone for 1/2 an hour to order a 60p screw. (MMC weren't as helpful).

There's not a lot of my wheelarch liners left. It's almost as if the car spent most of it's life going round a track made up of mainly right hand corners. Buying new ones would be a waste wouldn't it*?

Pete

*Must stop buying my car presents. It's weird. I'm anthropomorphising again.

[pete]

can i just say that the panel gaps have nothing to do with me. I spent a fair wack of cash at a lotus specialist down south getting it resprayed, and it came back with dodgy panel gaps.

The rest of the rattles must have crept up on me, as i cant say i noticed them

You had it resprayed?

Seriously?

You got a receipt? Or a warranty?