Tilting Clam in the Worx

[chuck_risen]

I love the idea and it looks like you put a lot of good hard work and thought into it. I just can't give up my rear panel. I like it too much. With it off I feel like my car has a big hole in it's pants and you can see its "package". Any way you might have an option for those of us that do not mind removing the rear panel? As in a kit that does not include all of the hardware for eliminating the rear panel?

[muttpep]

Originally Posted by chuck_risen

I love the idea and it looks like you put a lot of good hard work and thought into it. I just can't give up my rear panel. I like it too much. With it off I feel like my car has a big hole in it's pants and you can see its "package". Any way you might have an option for those of us that do not mind removing the rear panel? As in a kit that does not include all of the hardware for eliminating the rear panel?

Sounds like you need a secondary Mod that would allow the rear panel to swing out for tilitng.......

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by chuck_risen

I love the idea and it looks like you put a lot of good hard work and thought into it. I just can't give up my rear panel. I like it too much. With it off I feel like my car has a big hole in it's pants and you can see its "package". Any way you might have an option for those of us that do not mind removing the rear panel? As in a kit that does not include all of the hardware for eliminating the rear panel?

It will work with the rear panel. Again, it won't be quite as slick, but still slick. I'll include instructions for keeping the panel in place.

Operators are standing by

Best,

Phil

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Hey Gang-

...

I hope that covers most of the details. Thanks again for the support and let me know if you have any questions.

...

It seems like this would be a good time to make a video of the full process of opening and closing the clam with your kit.

Also, a few pictures to make a few things clearer to everyone:
1) Rear panel issue: Which bolts would be permanently eliminated, and which would remain in place and have to be removed and replaced to tilt the clam.
2) Slight trimming of the interior rollbar cover: a trimmed picture, and an untrimmed picture.
One thing you mentioned earlier in the thread, but not in your last big post, was something about the lifting the weatherstripping a bit for the top along the rollbar cover, and people's concern about water leakage. Can you give more information on how that was done and the potential for leakage? (With pictures if possible.)

[perryeyges]

Phil,
These would go nicely on both sides of the clam behind the side vents. I could inset them as well. Just unlatch and open, about 10 seconds..YES!
The other alternative would be aluminum old style hood pins that protrude through the clam just to the rear of the door on the top of the rear 1/4 ledge. Much cheaper and easier to install

[perryeyges]

Phil check out this crude attempt at a clam hinge by MTM on the Esthi. They just drilled a hole at the bottom of the fender liner support structure. OUCH! Looks heavy. I think they were lying about the weight of the car @2,100lbs..

[turbophil]

Ya, they had to trim the roll bar cover on that car as well for it to clear. Fiberglass is sacred to me It's darn difficult, if not impossible to clear the roll bar with a conventional pivot hinge like they used (or the others I've seen). Even with my hinge, it's tight. The clam really has to go UP like ours does before it pivots back...or have a pivot point about 6 feet behind the car... The latter would just look goofy

I think your latch system will work, but it's a bit more extreme than I'm going to go with the body of my car. More power to you though. Are your going to french in those latches like the car in your post?

Best,

Phil

[perryeyges]

I decided to go with these instead. Plan to mount them about 6-8" aft of the passenger compartment on either side of the "C" Pillars on top of the rear 1/4's. Chop, chop, cut, cut....

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by perryeyges

I decided to go with these instead. Plan to mount them about 6-8" aft of the passenger compartment on either side of the "C" Pillars on top of the clam. Chop, chop, cut, cut....

Where did you get those latches. I need a set for the Elan I am doing.

Edit...yeah...right there in front of me. 034 Motorsport

[perryeyges]

I saw these latches on the Catena and the 211 and was wondering where to get them and how they worked. A few days ago a customer stopped in with a set on his modded A4 C/F hood. They looked great. He told me the name "Aero catch" so I googled it and found a speed shop in Fremont, Ca. that stocked them. Fremont is local to me so I ordered 2 sets to play with.
034 Motorsport tel#(510)657-6707
www.034motorsport.com

[tvacc]

I am fairly sure you know what a 71 Elan looks like...right?

I need new latches for the hood. Currently has those stupid pins that stick up with sliding latches. Lots of room below hood. Do you know which ones would work best for me?

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by perryeyges

I saw these latches on the Catena and the 211 and was wondering where to get them and how they worked. A few days ago a customer stopped in with a set on his modded A4 C/F hood. They looked great. He told me the name "Aero catch" so I googled it and found a speed shop in Fremont, Ca. that stocked them. Fremont is local to me so I ordered 2 sets to play with.
034 Motorsport tel#(510)657-6707
www.034motorsport.com

GREAT FIND PERRY. I'm going to order one of those for my boot lid. I currently use a hood pin since I did away with the factory lock), but this would oh so much more interesting!

Thanks, Phil

[perryeyges]

I thought the looked pretty trick but had no idea how they worked when I saw these photos.

[MaineLotus]

How are the hinges going? Please finish this project ASAP, I have another idea you need to work on... (Hint: it works in conjuction with your hinged rear clam)

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by MaineLotus

How are the hinges going? Please finish this project ASAP, I have another idea you need to work on... (Hint: it works in conjuction with your hinged rear clam)

Lambo doors?

[MaineLotus]

Ha ha, no! A mod that I think is long overdue... And Phil has the technical expertise and creativity to pull this off.

[Baysailor]

Originally Posted by MaineLotus

How are the hinges going? Please finish this project ASAP, I have another idea you need to work on... (Hint: it works in conjuction with your hinged rear clam)

Quick release latches for the hardtop?

[sfelise]

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Quick release latches for the hardtop?

That would be cool!

But don't do anything to slow down the tilting clam, any updates?

[MaineLotus]

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Quick release latches for the hardtop?

Bingo! The OEM system is poorly executed. It bugs me everytime I remove and replace the top - cheap and flimsy. I have some ideas, similiar to a bicycle skewer, but I think Phil could improve on this. Besides, I don't have a fab shop in my garage!

[turbophil]

Hey All,

I want to apologize for the delay in updates and getting kits out. The demand was high enough for these kits that we've had to farm out some of the fabricating. While "my guys" are normally very fast, they got a bit back logged, which put a wrinkle in our timeline. Current status is that we should have our farmed out parts "anyday". Then we just need to powder coat and they'll be out the door...

Since I know you're concerned about me still finding time to enjoy my car, I've been enjoying driving Liz in our great spring weather the past several days and using my clamhinge quite frequently to gain access to the ECU and wiring to add more sensors to my Dash2 project.

Cheers,

Phil


PS- Maine- Drop me a PM about your idea

PSS- Perry, have you rec'd those locks yet? I'm going to order one today for the boot lid, I do believe