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I have posted questions, looked for threads, and have finally decided to just drill into the side of my car and make the exige side ducts fit my 05' elise. People have said that the ducts would not fit, or that the clam is shaped completely different, but I believe that the process can be done. In fact, I am not even going to remove the current fins and will use them as a mounting point for my upper brackets. Please tell me if this is crazy and mechanically not sound. I figure 3 self tapping screws per screw mount should hold this thing together through any kind of vibration. But I only had a minor in mechanical engineering, so...
First, I purchased 2 exige side ducts, 2 mesh side duct grills, and 2 lower mounting brackets from lotusgarage.com . Lotus Garage - Body: Front & Rear Clamshells & Fixings, Exige
Specifically parts 8,9,21,22,10 and another 10.
Edit: See post #27 of this thread for the diagram
Chuck Risen, mentioned later, helped out and ordered the screws and washers that match the front access panels. Specifically six pieces of parts 5 and 6. Lotus Garage - Front Services Access Panels
Although they weren't delivered within a few days, ordered 2/12 and received on 2/22, I expected some delay on the parts and I was given order status from Lotus Garage. So :up: to Lotus Garage for clarity and a well packaged box of goodies. Those guys are hard to contact by their website's posted phone number. Email seems to work best.
Attached are pictures of the scoops using blue tape. I was trying to position them correctly before making the big plunge and driving self tapping screws into the clam. I don't have the mesh screens glued in yet. I am going to send the scoops, engine covers, ac, and console off to Chuck Risen once I get things lined up.
Edit: I will be using 1/4" nylon rivets to replace the self tapping screws for the lower bracket. The plastic rivet shown in the pic is to have its head grinded to a "D" shape to save space for the mesh. DO NOT USE SELF TAPPING SCREWS IN FIBERGLASS. Drill holes and uses rivets.
I tried to duplicate the single top bracket from the exige pictures that I have seen. I realized after 2 hours of forming, that individual upper brackets would be easier to align. Those took much less time and I found that both sides should be fabricated together.
First, I purchased 2 exige side ducts, 2 mesh side duct grills, and 2 lower mounting brackets from lotusgarage.com . Lotus Garage - Body: Front & Rear Clamshells & Fixings, Exige
Specifically parts 8,9,21,22,10 and another 10.
Edit: See post #27 of this thread for the diagram
Chuck Risen, mentioned later, helped out and ordered the screws and washers that match the front access panels. Specifically six pieces of parts 5 and 6. Lotus Garage - Front Services Access Panels
Although they weren't delivered within a few days, ordered 2/12 and received on 2/22, I expected some delay on the parts and I was given order status from Lotus Garage. So :up: to Lotus Garage for clarity and a well packaged box of goodies. Those guys are hard to contact by their website's posted phone number. Email seems to work best.
Attached are pictures of the scoops using blue tape. I was trying to position them correctly before making the big plunge and driving self tapping screws into the clam. I don't have the mesh screens glued in yet. I am going to send the scoops, engine covers, ac, and console off to Chuck Risen once I get things lined up.
Edit: I will be using 1/4" nylon rivets to replace the self tapping screws for the lower bracket. The plastic rivet shown in the pic is to have its head grinded to a "D" shape to save space for the mesh. DO NOT USE SELF TAPPING SCREWS IN FIBERGLASS. Drill holes and uses rivets.
I tried to duplicate the single top bracket from the exige pictures that I have seen. I realized after 2 hours of forming, that individual upper brackets would be easier to align. Those took much less time and I found that both sides should be fabricated together.
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