Discussion
I've just seen this in the classifieds.... that looks very cool..
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1468039.htm
I've always wondered if it would be possible to build a brand new Elise S1 as light as possible, with a Supercharged Mugen Honda and Hewland gearbox...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1468039.htm
I've always wondered if it would be possible to build a brand new Elise S1 as light as possible, with a Supercharged Mugen Honda and Hewland gearbox...
Would be interesting to see if someone does try & build a vehicle using this chassis. They'll have fun bonding all the body panels in the right places without the correct jigs & fixtures.
The rear subframe probably wouldn't last too long either as the coating doesn't last too long in a heated environment (exhaust very close to subframe) hence Lotus use a galvonizing process rather than paint / plastic coating.
Sad to say, but IMHO this chassis would best serve as a museum centre piece.
The rear subframe probably wouldn't last too long either as the coating doesn't last too long in a heated environment (exhaust very close to subframe) hence Lotus use a galvonizing process rather than paint / plastic coating.
Sad to say, but IMHO this chassis would best serve as a museum centre piece.
Monkey boy 1 said:
Would be interesting to see if someone does try & build a vehicle using this chassis. They'll have fun bonding all the body panels in the right places without the correct jigs & fixtures.
The rear subframe probably wouldn't last too long either as the coating doesn't last too long in a heated environment (exhaust very close to subframe) hence Lotus use a galvonizing process rather than paint / plastic coating.
Sad to say, but IMHO this chassis would best serve as a museum centre piece.
LOL!The rear subframe probably wouldn't last too long either as the coating doesn't last too long in a heated environment (exhaust very close to subframe) hence Lotus use a galvonizing process rather than paint / plastic coating.
Sad to say, but IMHO this chassis would best serve as a museum centre piece.
Not sure where you get this from? bonding the crashbox/windscreen surround and sills on is relatively easy if you know what your doing, managed to do quite a few without any jig's etc.
as for the subframe, galvanizing is not that heat proof either! (how many have gone 'white' due to heat? If the exhaust and CAT are properly heat shielded it's no problem.
Not a huge fan of plastic/powder coating them either, I usually just have them passivated.
all that said, £6,100 is more than I would pay for that, ignoring the work required to build it back up, it's a very expensive way to save a few KG's.
Esprit said:
Scuffers said:
all that said, £6,100 is more than I would pay for that, ignoring the work required to build it back up, it's a very expensive way to save a few KG's.
True, but then, so are carbon clams... and there's a few people out there crazy enough to use them 
as Mike Pilbeam one said, it's all about £'s cost per Lb saving, and to my way of adding up, this is not high up the list.
Scuffers said:
LOL!
Not sure where you get this from? bonding the crashbox/windscreen surround and sills on is relatively easy if you know what your doing, managed to do quite a few without any jig's etc.
Would love to see what your shut gaps would be like if you do it all by hand.Not sure where you get this from? bonding the crashbox/windscreen surround and sills on is relatively easy if you know what your doing, managed to do quite a few without any jig's etc.
If you have done "quite a few" without jigs & fixtures, remind me NEVER to buy a Lotus from you.
If you would like to come & show us how it's done I'm sure Lotus could save tens of thousands of pounds on fixturing & measuring equipment.
Mind you, if you are building a race car, I suppose all that set-up isn't necessary. If it gets from start to finish in one piece that's all that matters. Quality means nothing.
Monkey boy 1 said:
Scuffers said:
LOL!
Not sure where you get this from? bonding the crashbox/windscreen surround and sills on is relatively easy if you know what your doing, managed to do quite a few without any jig's etc.
Would love to see what your shut gaps would be like if you do it all by hand.Not sure where you get this from? bonding the crashbox/windscreen surround and sills on is relatively easy if you know what your doing, managed to do quite a few without any jig's etc.
If you have done "quite a few" without jigs & fixtures, remind me NEVER to buy a Lotus from you.
If you would like to come & show us how it's done I'm sure Lotus could save tens of thousands of pounds on fixturing & measuring equipment.
Mind you, if you are building a race car, I suppose all that set-up isn't necessary. If it gets from start to finish in one piece that's all that matters. Quality means nothing.
this is from a company that has more issues with panel gaps on new cars than just about anybody else! (and for the record, I don't sell cars)
you can say what you like, end of the day it's really not that hard, just a case of taking your time.
This makes me laugh all the more when I remember a few conversations I have had with professional body-shops about the quality of panels supplied by Lotus and how they require at least 2-3 hours prep-work just to get them to fit if you want them to look right.
IIRC the chassis weight originally quoted by Lotus excluded the rear subframe, door beams and other stuff that this chassis comes with so 66kg including this stuff is lighter. That said, if I was starting from scratch then you could start with a totally standard chassis and spend the extra cash in plenty of other ways!
Agree with Simon, the quality of body parts from Lotus and shut lines on completed cars is normally pretty shonky so with a bit of care you can get a good result without needed jigs. Come to think of it, I dont know of any official Lotus bodyshops that use jigs let alone all the countless other repairers.
B
Agree with Simon, the quality of body parts from Lotus and shut lines on completed cars is normally pretty shonky so with a bit of care you can get a good result without needed jigs. Come to think of it, I dont know of any official Lotus bodyshops that use jigs let alone all the countless other repairers.
B
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