I just finished up installing TurboPhil's ClamHinge in my car, and I did a timelapse (with timecode) of the entire install - you can check it out here:
YouTube - Lotus Elise ClamHinge Install Timelapse HD
If you want to view the HD version, you'll need to go to the YouTube page for the video and click the view in high quality link just below the lower right of the video to see the HD version - not quite the 1080P I shot, but the next best thing.
For those of you who have been thinking about getting the kit - here are my thoughts and experiences installing it:
First off, the packaging and instructions are top notch - I'm not sure what I was expecting, but since it's something that's going out to a relatively small number of people, I certainly wasn't expecting how professional it was. I did the install with a friend of mine, but both of us are computer guys, so we're much more likely to be working on servers than cars - that's why you see us referring to the instructions so often. That being said, if we can do it, probably just about anyone could - it just takes time. The couple times I got stuck I emailed Phil and he even called and went over things for me - very helpful and really appreciated. The typical install time I believe is supposed to be in the 4-8 hour neighborhood; in reality it took us probably 4 full days, but much of that was getting some tool or fastener that I didn't have. It also took us longer because we extended the cables, move and build a mount for the laser jammer in the back of the car, etc. The timelapse really only shows time in the shop, and really the bulk of it was done in about 12 hours.
A couple hurdles that we ran into that literally cost us hours was that the manual was missing a page (which means two pages really, front and back) - the rest of the manual was really well written with great pictures, so we were really stuck since we thought we were missing something really obvious. That's the primary reason we're stuck at the back of the car for so long, since we weren't sure how to mount the rear delete - I mounted it correctly, we tried hinging but with the wrong technique, so we thought it was wrong, so we removed and mounted it under the rubber used to isolate the exhaust, hinged it correctly, but then couldn't mount the diffuser because it was too low, had to remove and correct, etc, etc.
I also hadn't realized that it was designed to use a new battery (the 625), so that delayed things a bit as well. Phil's working on a battery relocate that would put it in the same place as in his car, which I originally was planning to do as well, but as it turns out the VF SC kit relocates something there, so that's a nogo - instead we just routed the wires so I could hinge it with everything connected (I will be uploading high resolution photos for those interested at some point).
I could hinge it originally without the battery or cables hooked up and some of the interior parts out, but I haven't been able to do it myself yet since everything was fully put back together - for me that's not really a big deal, since someone is always around, and it's a simple task (my GF normally helps me). When the top is off, from sealed up to hinged takes only a couple of minutes, definitely less than 5 mins.
Hopefully the timelapse gives you some sense of the difficulty of doing the install - one of my other camera's has gone MIA, so I'm down to one so was only able to do the long shot. I will be doing the same sort of timelapse for my VF SC install, which I'm starting on today, so expect that soon - for it I'm playing with the camera being mounted on the ceiling, with a much better view of the engine compartment afforded by the hinge mod.
All and all worth every penny and an awesome mod for any Elise!
YouTube - Lotus Elise ClamHinge Install Timelapse HD
If you want to view the HD version, you'll need to go to the YouTube page for the video and click the view in high quality link just below the lower right of the video to see the HD version - not quite the 1080P I shot, but the next best thing.
For those of you who have been thinking about getting the kit - here are my thoughts and experiences installing it:
First off, the packaging and instructions are top notch - I'm not sure what I was expecting, but since it's something that's going out to a relatively small number of people, I certainly wasn't expecting how professional it was. I did the install with a friend of mine, but both of us are computer guys, so we're much more likely to be working on servers than cars - that's why you see us referring to the instructions so often. That being said, if we can do it, probably just about anyone could - it just takes time. The couple times I got stuck I emailed Phil and he even called and went over things for me - very helpful and really appreciated. The typical install time I believe is supposed to be in the 4-8 hour neighborhood; in reality it took us probably 4 full days, but much of that was getting some tool or fastener that I didn't have. It also took us longer because we extended the cables, move and build a mount for the laser jammer in the back of the car, etc. The timelapse really only shows time in the shop, and really the bulk of it was done in about 12 hours.
A couple hurdles that we ran into that literally cost us hours was that the manual was missing a page (which means two pages really, front and back) - the rest of the manual was really well written with great pictures, so we were really stuck since we thought we were missing something really obvious. That's the primary reason we're stuck at the back of the car for so long, since we weren't sure how to mount the rear delete - I mounted it correctly, we tried hinging but with the wrong technique, so we thought it was wrong, so we removed and mounted it under the rubber used to isolate the exhaust, hinged it correctly, but then couldn't mount the diffuser because it was too low, had to remove and correct, etc, etc.
I also hadn't realized that it was designed to use a new battery (the 625), so that delayed things a bit as well. Phil's working on a battery relocate that would put it in the same place as in his car, which I originally was planning to do as well, but as it turns out the VF SC kit relocates something there, so that's a nogo - instead we just routed the wires so I could hinge it with everything connected (I will be uploading high resolution photos for those interested at some point).
I could hinge it originally without the battery or cables hooked up and some of the interior parts out, but I haven't been able to do it myself yet since everything was fully put back together - for me that's not really a big deal, since someone is always around, and it's a simple task (my GF normally helps me). When the top is off, from sealed up to hinged takes only a couple of minutes, definitely less than 5 mins.
Hopefully the timelapse gives you some sense of the difficulty of doing the install - one of my other camera's has gone MIA, so I'm down to one so was only able to do the long shot. I will be doing the same sort of timelapse for my VF SC install, which I'm starting on today, so expect that soon - for it I'm playing with the camera being mounted on the ceiling, with a much better view of the engine compartment afforded by the hinge mod.
All and all worth every penny and an awesome mod for any Elise!
