47 Bodied Project Starts - Slightly Delayed. Big pile of bits to sort out.

[StrawberryCheesecake]

I was wondering if some people would call the standard setup semi independent, because of the limited movement of the shafts, but then I decided I was being a bit daft

So... a krypton factor type quiz... can you identify these random bits of fabricated aluminium? Sorry if krypton factor doesn't translate across the pond - it was a TV quiz show in the UK in the 1970s/80s



I really need to spread these out better so you can see them. I wonder if the big bits are shields for the fuel tanks?

The assembled one below is a race battery cage I think. No idea on the other stuff - any thoughts. I'm thinking the rectangular black frame is for the rear of the car? Support for exhaust and/or luggage box? Total guesswork though.

[BDA]

You have a real puzzle there, Strawberry! I don't think any of those bits come from Lotus. I would try to see how they might fit together and see if they look like anything. I assume the PO is not available, but since the frame is from Spyder, they might be related to it and might even be Spyder bits.

Good luck! Let us know what you find out.

[EuropaTC]

My money is on the PO throwing in scrap he had lying around his barn to clear it out, and then chuckling at the thought of someone trying to fit them   

Ok, serious mode. The flat plates could be covers for under the tanks, I've fitted similar to mine. And I can recognise something that might hold a battery but isn't standard, but as for the rest ?  that's "assorted fabrications".....   

Brian

[StrawberryCheesecake]

The previous owner is my mate who bought it from the Lotus specialist who's now retired. My mate didn't do anything to it between buying it and then selling it to me. The car was being built for racing, and I think the bits of metal are probably all custom fabrications by the specialist, and that's more likely if nobody recognises them.

A bit of jigsaw work may reveal more... I won't be surprised if they include things like...

- Fuel tank covers / undershields
- Closing panels for the chassis to create a flat floor for aerodynamics
- Maybe some sort of rear diffuser setup.
- Maybe some skid plates to protect vulnerable bits when kerb hopping (least likely I think).

I thought it might be a bit of a long shot when I posted the (bad) pictures. Thanks for the thoughts though. I'm fairly sure the one that looks like a milk bottle holder (2 pints today please!) is for a racing battery.

I agree - I'm pretty sure none of them are Lotus as well. Possibly copies of Lotus racing bits... it'll be interesting to see if Buzzer has anything similar when I see his car.

[buzzer]

I think you are right on some of them, the closing panels under the rule tank and the rest may well be under the front cross member and the central tunnel, but the flanges on the large plate are curious.

Dave

[StrawberryCheesecake]

I've not done much this evening - been ill and took the day off work, but sadly not well enough to use the day off constructively.

However, I did have a small game of jigsaw puzzles this evening, while I was in the barn feeding the security team.

Tank guards... there are definitely two of them - see pics. Does the tank normally only come down to this level, or does it extend to the bottom of the well behind the rear quarters?




The big rectangular piece is a blanking panel for the middle section of the front compartment. I'm convinced of this because the angles of the bends are right, and they're cut to work round the channels at the end of the compartment for the front lid to fit. Looks like it's designed to help the air flow out of the vent in the bonnet. Anyone seen something like this before? I'll dig out the front lid and see if that explains some of the other pieces as well.

[EuropaTC]

If those pictures are showing the guard plates at the top level of the chassis, then I'd guess that because the car was aimed at racing it has just enough fuel to get around the track in a smaller tank. On my car (TC) the tanks go almost to the bottom of the well in both sides and my protection plates are mounted externally on the underside of the floor. I don't have tank dimensions to hand but you can get the idea of how long they are front this shot.

The front plate sounds right as well, if you have a horizontal radiator I would think you're almost forced into having exit holes in the bonnet to get sufficient airflow.

Brian

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Hi Brian, thanks for the pic... I thought it might be a smaller racing tank. I think I'll be going for the standard size ones, so I might have some spare bits of ally.

I'm intending to look at the radiator and change the angle a bit if I can. It was fitted to the car when I bought it... Either that or seal off the edges and force air through it rather than round it.

[Runningwild]

The project looks great. Good luck. One question - How will the plate that the brake pedal assembly will attach to be support?  Are those plates available from Banks?  Thanks. Tom

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Good question, but I have no idea where the pedal box bits came from - could be made from a kit, or from bits that the lotus specialist (now retired) had lying around.

[RoddyMac]

The pedal box and pedals look like a carbon copy for a Lotus 47 one. I'm assuming the metal plate it bolts to is supposed to distribute the load through the body.  On the 47 they had brackets from the chassis up to the pedal box as the chassis top was exposed inside the tub (i think).   I've made up a near carbon copy of the same pedal box and I'll be making up the 47 style brackets, albeit they will bolt to the chassis (through the body).

Rod

[StrawberryCheesecake]

I did some more digging today... the pedal box looks very much like the one on the Banks website. I'm not saying you're wrong - it may well be a 47 copy.

http://www.parts.banks-europa.co.uk/photos/ch0035a.jpg



This is how it looks from inside.

[RoddyMac]

I'm certain that Banks copied the 47 pedal box.  Here's a pic of a real one:


And looking at the Chris Beadsmore resto site, he's got some good detail shots of it, though his looks like its been modified slightly:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.beadsmoore/roadtrip/19April.htm

I've made mine by scaling pictures and comparing them to the master cylinders I had sitting on the shelf. 



Out of curiosity, what is the bore size on the cylinders that you have or will be using? 

Rod

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Looks like a good one to copy!

I haven't got as far as figuring out the M/C sizes yet. Maybe 0.625 and 0.75 as a start point]

Thanks for the link to the 47 rebuild. Will keep an eye on that one.

[StrawberryCheesecake]

Did a bit of jigsaw puzzling tonight. It seems that most of the fabricated bits of ally are part of a ducting system to force air under the radiator and then up through it

Two side pieces, and an L shaped part at the back of the radiator


Through the mouth at the front - upper closing panel to force the air under the radiator


Doors - I can confirm that the sticker is correct. Couple of kilos per door, maybe less.


Does anyone know what these are? I have 4 of them. I wondered if they were door release lever mechanisms, or maybe front lid side hinges - seem too bulky for that though.