A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Well the title says it all. Coming home tonight doing about 55 and big racoon thought it would a great idea to dart out in front my little rocket. I checked on the coon, and it's dead ... the problem is that I think my clam is too
The local lotus dealer is 4 hours away and they are simply a glorified used car lot and about worthless as far as I can tell. I have a great body shop near by and I'm sure he hasn't worked on an Elise.
Any suggestions on this?
I know my local guy can handle the work, but I would like to help him to ensure that I get the needed work done right and with OE parts. For instance, where do I direct him to order parts like a new clam, any special directions or tips that would be helpful that I can pass on to him, etc...
The clam is shattered where the front plate would go and spidered to the passenger side oil cooler...
Thanks for any and all help!!!
Best,
Phil
A:
Not to be a downer, but my concern would be the crash structure under the clam. If that's damaged you're looking at a major repair job (way beyond mere body panel replacement) because among other things it's bonded rather than simply bolted to the chassis. There are previous stories of small impacts such as a raccoon resulting in this sort of damage.
A:
Pics, please, especially in the radiator inlet area directly behind the plith. Take the center grill out first. Dododge is right on; from the impact you described, we may be able to see if the crash structure is damaged.
A:
Agreed...I wouldn't let anyone give you an estimate without removing the clam and checking EVERYTHING.
(Might be a good time to add the Sector 111 front fenders)
A:
I'll try to get some pics snapped off and posted today. In the meantime I took a close look at everything visible with the clam still in place. I removed the oil cooler grills and the rad grill. There appears to be no damge ather than a smashed clam. Luckily the coon wasn't huge and I wasn't at hwy speeds That front plate area is obviously super fragile. The support bar where the tow loop screws in cut the lip of the clam where it was pushed up into it. There is spidering almost to the pass front tire... I was surprised the turn signal stayed in place
So for replacement parts... What about an exige clam?? Anyone looked into this? Would it fit the other Elise body parts? Is it comparably as weak as the Elise part? Do you think it would hurt the value of the car?
I checked out the carbon fiber clam and somehow or antoher I'm thinking a $7500 clam plus body work and prep may raise an eye or two at the insurance co.
Thanks,
Phil
A:
Phil, that's terrible. I had my clam repaired here by a local shop, one of which is a guy wanting to restore a Europa. If you want I can hook you up. All this with as busy as you've been. Can I help?
A:
Thanks buddy. The timing couldn't have been much worse. I'm in town for the next three weeks and then off to Tahiti for two weeks for the honeymoon and then winter here... I guess I'll continue to drive my beat up Lotus for the next couple weeks while the weather is nice.
I'll take all the help I can get. I really realy really want to replace the front clam with an Exige clam. I'm indifferent about replacing the side panels. If the stock ones will line up with the Exige clam, then I just assume keep them. Prior to banishment, Stan wrote that he was confident the clams will interchange without a problem. I hope he's right (he usually is). So my big task is finding parts now. I think State Farm will be good about the claim, they have a good reputation for being an -understanding- insurance co in my experience... I guess I'll start by calling Mid Rivers and request parts. If you have any insight on this stuff, I'd appreciate the help. I'm still pushing 14-16 hour days so finding time to do the research is going to be tough. I don't want to wait until winter to start the project though...
Sorry for the ramblings...
Best,
Phil
A:
We hit a dog about 3 weeks before our wedding, it tore up the clam and the ducting behind it. They were able to fix the clam but replaced the entire duct behind it; they said it was bonded in as well. The body shop here in Denver I took it to needed a few extra weeks getting in all the "extra" clips and "glue," shipping takes time from accross the pond, etc. The body shop does a lot of work on exotics and my Elise was the second one they had worked on, they had the car about six weeks. Like all good things, it takes a bit of time to get the repairs done.
Sorry to hear about the collision, ours scared the tar out of us!
A:
After cleaning, gutting, and skinning him marinate him in buttermilk overnight.
Then, lightly coat in flour and brown on all sides in a little butter or oil.
Then placed in covered dutch oven with some potoes, onions, a can of crushed tomatoes, some beef stock, chopped carrots and a splash of red wine.
Cover and bake for 2-3 hours at 350.
A:
Phil,
A few things.
--Use some packing tape and tape down the loose ends so that they don't rub against each other and grind the glass. Advice from Randy from last year at nationals.
--Let me know what i can do to help. I can chase down bits and pieces for you and order them. I looked into getting a front clam when I cracked mine last year, midrivers had one on hand actually, primed but unpainted. There is a chance that they may have another one, exige clam I don't know about. If you want I'll call Mike and check into a clam for you.
--Do your work and get married, if you want I can drop the car off and pick it up for you. I left ou a voicemail at your work number this a.m.
--You may want to drop it off at midrivers and have them farm out the body work which will essentially remove the hassle from the equation. Except that you have to wait a few weeks to go back and have the starshield done.
--If you decide you want to repair it you may want to consider doing an Uber clam conversion.
--If you decide you don't want your old clam I got dibs
A:
Originally Posted by turbophil
The support bar where the tow loop screws in cut the lip of the clam where it was pushed up into it.
More specifically, what was pushed into what? That "support bar" (if I understand you correctly) is bolted to the crash structure. If it moved, not so good. If the tow loop was in and bent into the clam, maybe the crash structure survived, but I don't think the loop is long enough.
A:
Thanks Babak- I'd take you up any help in the tracking down the parts department for sure I'd like to start a search party for an Exige clam first and then an Elise clam if we can't turn anything up. It sounds like it will fit. If we can get one on the car, Darksol may never talk to me again. It wouldn't surprise me he tries to wreck his car for the opportunity to replace his clam
Originally Posted by babak
Phil,
A few things.
--Use some packing tape and tape down the loose ends so that they don't rub against each other and grind the glass. Advice from Randy from last year at nationals.
--Let me know what i can do to help. I can chase down bits and pieces for you and order them. I looked into getting a front clam when I cracked mine last year, midrivers had one on hand actually, primed but unpainted. There is a chance that they may have another one, exige clam I don't know about. If you want I'll call Mike and check into a clam for you.
--Do your work and get married, if you want I can drop the car off and pick it up for you. I left ou a voicemail at your work number this a.m.
--You may want to drop it off at midrivers and have them farm out the body work which will essentially remove the hassle from the equation. Except that you have to wait a few weeks to go back and have the starshield done.
--If you decide you want to repair it you may want to consider doing an Uber clam conversion.
--If you decide you don't want your old clam I got dibs
A:
I wanted get some pics snapped this weekend but didn't find the time. The SO has me on a short leash until the wedding is behind us.
Hard to explain, but the lip with the holes in it for the grille got pushed up into the support bar. Nothing looks bent and the crash structure feels smooth and unmolested when I feel around in there.
I'm hoping the structure is fine (obviously). This could end up OK if I can work an upgrade or two into the whole mess, like the Exige clam or those new GUT side panels... Something has to make up for the hassel doesn't it
Best,
Phil
Originally Posted by Serebo1
More specifically, what was pushed into what? That "support bar" (if I understand you correctly) is bolted to the crash structure. If it moved, not so good. If the tow loop was in and bent into the clam, maybe the crash structure survived, but I don't think the loop is long enough.
A:
Originally Posted by qball
After cleaning, gutting, and skinning him marinate him in buttermilk overnight.
Then, lightly coat in flour and brown on all sides in a little butter or oil.
Then placed in covered dutch oven with some potoes, onions, a can of crushed tomatoes, some beef stock, chopped carrots and a splash of red wine.
Cover and bake for 2-3 hours at 350.
When done, throw away the coon and eat the dutch oven
A:
PM me your cellphone number. I'll call around tomorrow and get you some data on the exige clam. What else do you think you'll need?
A:
Is the exhaust manifold big enough to do a whole coon? Would being on the second cam equate to a saute' or just a simmer?
A:
Phil, I just saw this thread... sorry about the 'coon!
I just BARELY nicked one at about 80mph going to the Evo school this past April (5am in the morning). No damage at all. Thank God the car turns on a dime.
Originally Posted by turbophil
If we can get one on the car, Darksol may never talk to me again.
It's fine by me - it would further differentiate our cars from each other. I still get "I saw you driving blah blah blah" occasionally.
Besides I wouldn't wreck my car for that - I just plunked the FF 1/2 CF front splitter on a few weeks ago and I'm not going back!