Project Build - Elise GT: Honda Swap / Widebody Conversion

[campbell]

Julian Thompson would probably even approve. I am really looking forward to seeing the "after" pics now.

I see you had a bit of snow too?!

[MacLotus]

Julian Thompson would probably even approve. I am really looking forward to seeing the "after" pics now.

I see you had a bit of snow too?!

Best compliment I've had thus far! Thank you!

[Scotty C]

looks like a Renault spyder to me.

[Ferg]

Now that you've been able to take a picture of it from a greater distance we can appeciate the scale and lines better. Looks very good from the back and not nearly as 'heavy' looking as the pictures in the garage suggested. Amazing stuff.

[MacLotus]

Been working on a somewhat unique and innovative addition to the project. An 'automatic' downshift throttle blip system for the Lotus H-pattern that eliminates the need to heel/toe under threshold braking. Works great in the garage, but need to try it on the track. Stay tuned for more on this.

Spraying gel coat this week. The black dusting is the guide coat.

[Fluoxetine]

Are you taking moldings of the new clams, Ken?

(Would be a real shame if an off-track excursion damaged them, after all the hard work you've put in )

[MacLotus]

I've been asked that question a lot lately, and I continue to grapple with the right answer daily. Here's the dilemma... Making molds is equally time consuming and expensive as the moldless composte project itself, actually more expensive. Once you figure in labor and materials, $30k is probably a realistic cost. Quite a chunk of change to spend, and given their size, storing them would be challenging as well. Making a replacement clam even with a mold would cost a few thousand $.

If there were an aftermarket sales opportunity here in the US to recoup that investment, I might see it differently, but dumping another $30k into this project (that indirectly is not in the car) is hard to swallow. My decision is a simple one. "Don't hit anything." However, if I do have a minor scrape, I know a guy who does fiberglass cheap.

[MacLotus]

Should be getting paint this week after sitting primed for a week to ten days. The primer shrinks so its important to allow this to happen before final sanding and paint. I also decided to not go with a tri-coat pearl paint process simply because its just too difficult to paint an Elise S1 assembled (which is really optimal for even pearl overcoat, especially with yellow. Plus, it's incredibly challenging to repair/re-paint areas that might need fixing (track cars).

To that end, a two stage (basecoat + clearcoat) is much easier to panel paint and match during repairs. So this decision meant choosing a new color. Giallo Modena or Ferrari yellow is the final choice. Should look great!

[Ferg]

[pete]

[MacLotus]

16 months. Paint tomorrow! Ferrari Yellow.

[Dominic]

16 months. Paint tomorrow! Ferrari Yellow.

Looking forward to the next update! When do you expect to have it back on the road?

[Sanjøy]

[MacLotus]

Looking forward to the next update! When do you expect to have it back on the road?

End of May is my goal! Very excited!

[MacLotus]

Nearing final reassembly of my widebody project. I made a change in the final color choice to Giallo Modena (Ferrari Yellow). A 3 stage pearl is just too much trouble to maintain on a track car, where this is much easier to touch up and/or panel re-paint for exact match.



I still have to install the head lamp tinted lens covers, as well as the carbon fiber airfoils in the front airvents (which also encase the LED daytime running lamps/turn indicators). I also need to install the rear air diffuser and wheel arch liners.



















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