Cheap curb feeler mod - with pic! - LotusTalk

PhoneBoy · 08-26-2007, 07:57 PM

In case anyone is interested on how to do this, here is how:

Cut a piece of approx 10 inches of 1/2" rebar or, just do as I did and find a piece laying on the road.
Now this is the difficult part: Drive over it so it pops up and puts a hole in your car, lodging it just in front of the rear wheel. This may take some practice, but I was able to do it the first time!
Now park with confidence!

Did this mod on Friday and left for the weekend. After thinking about it over the weekend I've come to the conclusion that the car looks better without the rebar hanging out the side.

Anyone have any suggestions on a good repair shop in the Twin Cities that can undo this mod?

Caution: In hindsight, curb feelers would probably work better on the passenger side of the car so don't make the mistake I did and have it on the driver’s side. Also, my car has the prototype so the guys at Sector 111 better not even THINK of copying my prototype design.

Cardinal · 08-26-2007, 08:06 PM

macdady2424 · 08-26-2007, 08:12 PM

Dang, sorry to see that.

Maybe if you pull it out with tweezers and put a band-aid on it, no one will notice.

PhoneBoy · 08-26-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdady2424

Dang, sorry to see that.

Maybe if you pull it out with tweezers and put a band-aid on it, no one will notice.

I was thinking of those little circular stick-on thingies (technical Lotus term) that they use to cover the side mirror mount holes on the inside of the car. Now if they only came in yellow... hmmm...

Mark16q · 08-26-2007, 08:34 PM

Maybe put the Blackwatch Racing side protectant film over it? I have it and like the way it looks, and would be a cheap "fix" if you're into it.

Mark

Flash G · 08-26-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoneBoy

[*]Now this is the difficult part: Drive over it so it pops up and puts a hole in your car, lodging it just in front of the rear wheel. This may take some practice, but I was able to do it the first time![*]Now park with confidence!

Lotus just called. They'd like their car back now. You can go ahead and just drop it back off at the dealer... and walk away.

.

ZTEC · 08-27-2007, 05:31 AM

That's Funny and Sad - I am glad you have a sense of humor about it, I agree that the Rock-guard would be a good fix unless you want to get into paying a deductible. Did you pick this up near a construction site or just a random road?

2005LotusS2 · 08-27-2007, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark16q

Maybe put the Blackwatch Racing side protectant film over it? I have it and like the way it looks, and would be a cheap "fix" if you're into it.

Mark

you have a veryy nice lotus...

xtn · 08-27-2007, 06:45 AM

Curb feeler? Sorry, I thought it was a kickstand.

xtn

codymac · 08-27-2007, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash G

Lotus just called. They'd like their car back now. You can go ahead and just drop it back off at the dealer... and walk away.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation called, they want their rebar back.

Walnuts · 08-27-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codymac

The Minnesota Department of Transportation called, they want their rebar back.

...and to make things worse, i know in Maryland they charge about $45 to clean and repair the rebar you so carelessly damaged.

god... i'd cry if that happened to my car, or any of the cars i've ever owned... hopefully its an easy repair. please don't just put a sticker over it though!

fastscutr · 08-27-2007, 08:34 AM

how much does it weigh?

loanshark · 08-27-2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark16q

Maybe put the Blackwatch Racing side protectant film over it? I have it and like the way it looks, and would be a cheap "fix" if you're into it.

Mark

I am thinking of getting those. Are they stick on like on BMWs (magnet type) or are they glued on? Also how does it interfere with starshield?

Icedog_16 · 08-27-2007, 09:18 AM

Sorry to hear. Man, that sounds like the kind of crap that would happen to me! For instance, what are the odds that while riding a motorcycle I can run over an object that turns out to be a key in the middle of the street, and which results in a flat tire, and that key happens to belong to one of my father's secretaries?!? I should have charged a finder's fee!

shay2nak · 08-27-2007, 10:31 AM

how the hell did that happen. LOL. sorry.

PhoneBoy · 08-27-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark16q

Maybe put the Blackwatch Racing side protectant film over it? I have it and like the way it looks, and would be a cheap "fix" if you're into it.

Mark

I wish I had those on before this happened.

PhoneBoy · 08-27-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash G

Lotus just called. They'd like their car back now. You can go ahead and just drop it back off at the dealer... and walk away.

.

No way! They can't have it back

PhoneBoy · 08-27-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTEC

Did you pick this up near a construction site or just a random road?

Just a random road.

PhoneBoy · 08-27-2007, 10:44 AM

Guys over at the corvette group say I should have it chromed or just put one of those fake bullet hole stickers over the hole. LOL

Blue Devil · 08-27-2007, 10:51 AM

God that is a ugly dog. Looks like a Gremlin. Hope it's not your's and if it is I'm sorry, but it's true.

08-26-2007, 07:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
PhoneBoy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Posts: 1,038	Cheap curb feeler mod - with pic! In case anyone is interested on how to do this, here is how: Cut a piece of approx 10 inches of 1/2" rebar or, just do as I did and find a piece laying on the road. Now this is the difficult part: Drive over it so it pops up and puts a hole in your car, lodging it just in front of the rear wheel. This may take some practice, but I was able to do it the first time! Now park with confidence! Did this mod on Friday and left for the weekend. After thinking about it over the weekend I've come to the conclusion that the car looks better without the rebar hanging out the side. Anyone have any suggestions on a good repair shop in the Twin Cities that can undo this mod? Caution: In hindsight, curb feelers would probably work better on the passenger side of the car so don't make the mistake I did and have it on the driver’s side. Also, my car has the prototype so the guys at Sector 111 better not even THINK of copying my prototype design. Attached Images __________________ '06 Lotus Elise - Solar Yellow, Touring, Hard Top, Star Shield, microMIRROR, Bootie, and ChaseCam '07 Yamaha WR250F '05 Dodge Grand Caravan CV '04 Toyota Sienna '02 Ford Explorer '98 Mariah Shabah 180

08-26-2007, 08:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
macdady2424 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,324	Dang, sorry to see that. Maybe if you pull it out with tweezers and put a band-aid on it, no one will notice. __________________ 225 TTQC & 05 Elise

08-26-2007, 08:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mark16q 2 seats max Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Posts: 469	Maybe put the Blackwatch Racing side protectant film over it? I have it and like the way it looks, and would be a cheap "fix" if you're into it. Mark __________________ '95 Miata M Edition. '05 Arctic Silver..Nitrons, Arqray Twin Muffler, SectorIII bar, carbon console and shift knob, Schroth harnesses, GUT spoiler, tie rod reinforcement, and lots more....Sold

08-27-2007, 05:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
ZTEC Third Eye Open Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,786 Images: 3	That's Funny and Sad - I am glad you have a sense of humor about it, I agree that the Rock-guard would be a good fix unless you want to get into paying a deductible. Did you pick this up near a construction site or just a random road? __________________ GO: Vision Function Stage II Intercooled Bliss with Charlie's ECU magic and Ronin's Tenacity! STOP: DBA 4000's, Porterfield R4! TURN: Nitron S/A's Toyo RA1's 225/245 on Rota's! Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad.

08-27-2007, 06:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,860	Curb feeler? Sorry, I thought it was a kickstand. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

08-26-2007, 08:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cardinal Ex and future Lotus owner Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metro North Boston Posts: 4,111 Images: 8

08-27-2007, 08:34 AM	#12 (permalink)
fastscutr Chicken Engineer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: westminster, ca Posts: 81	how much does it weigh? __________________ 05 Elise laser blue LSS 67 Datsun WPL411 07 Yaris Liftback 5 speed 80 Vespa P200, Malossi kit, 8% od, JL pipe, Vortex carb

08-27-2007, 09:18 AM	#14 (permalink)
Icedog_16 I drank what?!? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,220	Sorry to hear. Man, that sounds like the kind of crap that would happen to me! For instance, what are the odds that while riding a motorcycle I can run over an object that turns out to be a key in the middle of the street, and which results in a flat tire, and that key happens to belong to one of my father's secretaries?!? I should have charged a finder's fee!

08-27-2007, 10:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
shay2nak I'm bored...yawn... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,460	how the hell did that happen. LOL. sorry. __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190*X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 Lotus Exige S310 '08 Acura TSX 6-speed support WTC 2!

08-27-2007, 10:44 AM	#19 (permalink)
PhoneBoy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Posts: 1,038	Guys over at the corvette group say I should have it chromed or just put one of those fake bullet hole stickers over the hole. LOL __________________ '06 Lotus Elise - Solar Yellow, Touring, Hard Top, Star Shield, microMIRROR, Bootie, and ChaseCam '07 Yamaha WR250F '05 Dodge Grand Caravan CV '04 Toyota Sienna '02 Ford Explorer '98 Mariah Shabah 180

08-27-2007, 10:51 AM	#20 (permalink)
Blue Devil Satan is my motor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Crownsville, MD Posts: 335	God that is a ugly dog. Looks like a Gremlin. Hope it's not your's and if it is I'm sorry, but it's true. __________________ Cheers 2005 MB, Red interior, sport/tour packs, stage 2 exhaust

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