LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community - View Single Post - The Solo Setup Thread for the Elise in SCCA

Randy Chase · 09-14-2004, 11:20 AM

The most important thing right now is to tread carefully here. The shocks need to be SCCA legal which means the same mounting points and spring perch height. The one sticking point we have run into is that the stock shock from Lotus is very skinny, which allows them to use very skinny springs. Many off the shelf shocks are a larger diameter shock body and will not fit with the stock springs. And you can't change springs in stock class.

Options being investigated are:

Penske??
Advanced Dynamics??
Ohlins ??
Nitrons??
Koni. They have an off the shelf double-adjustable for the Elise that is also a good value. It looks good. Lee Grimes from Koni is bringing in some sets in early 2005 for testing on the Elise.

The other option is to revalve the Bilsteins. We are also looking into that.

If you feel like you are in a hurry to get your own shock solution, then just be careful. It can be an expensive mistake. If you check back in this thread, we will be supplying everything we have learned, but I am intentionally moving slowly and methodically, so you will have to wait. I expect we will have shocks by late spring 2005.

09-14-2004, 11:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,175 Images: 761	Shocks The most important thing right now is to tread carefully here. The shocks need to be SCCA legal which means the same mounting points and spring perch height. The one sticking point we have run into is that the stock shock from Lotus is very skinny, which allows them to use very skinny springs. Many off the shelf shocks are a larger diameter shock body and will not fit with the stock springs. And you can't change springs in stock class. Options being investigated are: Penske?? Advanced Dynamics?? Ohlins ?? Nitrons?? Koni. They have an off the shelf double-adjustable for the Elise that is also a good value. It looks good. Lee Grimes from Koni is bringing in some sets in early 2005 for testing on the Elise. The other option is to revalve the Bilsteins. We are also looking into that. If you feel like you are in a hurry to get your own shock solution, then just be careful. It can be an expensive mistake. If you check back in this thread, we will be supplying everything we have learned, but I am intentionally moving slowly and methodically, so you will have to wait. I expect we will have shocks by late spring 2005.