Interior Exterior
Q:
I was thinking of replacing the plastic Elise front clam grills with the metal chicken wire grills that is currently on the Exige. Do you guys know if those metal grills from the Exige will fit the Elise?
A:
They are not a direct fit, but they could be made to work. The Exige grills do not attach via holes in the front clam like the Elise.
A:
This poses another question. Will the Exige front clam fit the Elise? I know the only body panels they share are the doors but does anyone know if the Exige clam will fit the Elise? Now that I've asked the question I suppose no one could know this except Lotus themselves.
A:
Take a look at Sands approach to replacing the grills with mesh:
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...eshgrille.html
_______________
KG
A:
Take a look at Sands approach to replacing the grills with mesh:
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...eshgrille.html
_______________
KG
Jon E actually modified his Elise by adding the expanded aluminium mesh. This is the stuff that comes in patterns. He used the normal bolts to hold the mesh in place where available and glued it when there were no fasteners nearby.
I decided to use chicken wire, actually stainless steel welded wire mesh. I attached the wire mesh inside the oil cooler enclosures using tie wraps. These were deep enough in the opening to not be visible unless you look closely.
For the radiator exit opening, I used the original plastic part but cut out the slats. I used the frame to hold the welded wire mesh, also attached on the blind side with tie wraps.
For more information on the modifications:
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...ons/index.html
I am interested in how the Exige attaches the wire mesh to the clams. Anyone have pictures of the inside of the rear deck of the Exige or the underside of the front clam?
Michael
(edited for clarity)
A:
I've asked to have my second car built this way from the factory. It's not likely but the "Sands Approach" seems promising.
I was watching a TV show on the development of the HD V-Rod. They had problems with the development of the cooling system. They ended up putting little wings to divert air into the radiator. Problem was it was funneling so much air into the system, it was litterally blowing back out. They had to add little fins, like our Elises, to break up the intake air and slow it down so it could be used. I have been wondering if that is the case with our cars. I'm sure you would then argue that the Exige has mesh for the side intakes BUT the intakes are enlarged and have an added "scope" to them.
This is really a question for the factory. I would rather have fins and a working cooling system than Mesh and fires or overheating.
A:
I was thinking of replacing the plastic Elise front clam grills with the metal chicken wire grills that is currently on the Exige. Do you guys know if those metal grills from the Exige will fit the Elise?
I thought about the same thing...that is until I discovered that the "mesh" on the Exige is also plastic (sad but true). You'd be better off fabricating a custom grille from real stainless steel mesh. I may get around to doing this at some point, but definitely won't be utilizing the Exige plastic parts!
Glad to know that you're getting another one!
bt
A:
Ex Horse,
Are you still interested in working on my Elite? Let me know (you can PM me).
A:
If Lotus chose to use plastic then maybe they are on to something. No chips in the paint...won't bend? I would think the chicken wire/metal mesh may get bent up from small children, rocks, and cones. (Not that I ever hit cones)
I am calling Lotus tomorrow to see what they say about fitting the Exige front clam on my Elise. Before anyone jumps on me I would add a rear spoiler to even things out. If this is so I am going to drive around a very busy parking lot at night until someone doesn't see me. (partially kidding)
A:
I am interested in how the Exige attaches the wire mesh to the clams. Anyone have pictures of the inside of the rear deck of the Exige or the underside of the front clam?
Michael
I haven't seen inside the Exige clam, but I did look closely at the radiator exhaust vents compared to an Elise. The Elise clam bends down into the opening to form a vertical edge around the opening that is maybe an inch deep. The Exige clam appears to have either no inside lip or one that is maybe 1/4" at best. It looked like the mesh just went straight across underneath the opening and was fastened somehow underneath (couldn't see that area from outside).
That's kind of hard to describe...did that make sense?
If the mesh is plastic, it sure looks good. On very close inspection, I never considered it was anything but metal.
A:
I"m no expert, but I would guess that the Exige and Elise front clams are interchangable. Perhaps even the rears.
A:
I"m no expert, but I would guess that the Exige and Elise front clams are interchangable. Perhaps even the rears.
The real killer might be the rocker panels. If it's true that the door panels are the only common body pieces, that means the rocker panels are not the same and that the Exige clams may not match up with the Elise rocker panels.
A:
A:
Was it an easy retrofit?
I asked my local dealer if the Exige front clam would fit the Elise. He said it might work but he did not think it would be easy. I'm really hoping someone could verify that the clams or grills are easily interchangeable.
A:
I asked my local dealer if the Exige front clam would fit the Elise. He said it might work but he did not think it would be easy. I'm really hoping someone could verify that the clams or grills are easily interchangeable.
I was under the impression that the various body panels (other than the doors) are not interchangeable between the Elise and the Exige. Even if you could mount the clams, the body lines probably will not line up. Although with enough money and skill, anything can be modified to fit.
Also, from previous efforts, the mountings for the Elise grills and the Exige grills are completely different. Again, enough work, and you can make things fit, but it's not a direct bolt it...
A:
If my car ever gets in an front-end accident it's getting an Exige front clam. I'll have the body shop MAKE it work.
A:
Mine did just get hit and the repair estimates are leading me in unusual directions.
Someone here has the exige clam on the elise.
I suppose it would work.
I will keep my current clam as a backup, and begin to do more parallel parking in downtown areas.
A:
I am calling Lotus tomorrow to see what they say about fitting the Exige front clam on my Elise. Before anyone jumps on me I would add a rear spoiler to even things out. If this is so I am going to drive around a very busy parking lot at night until someone doesn't see me. (partially kidding)
Did you ever call them and find out if it would fit?
-e