Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Certified Lotus on Sunday,January 08, 2017, 02:00:13 PM
-
My friend Bruce has an ingenious way to keep his valuable Lotus center wheel caps adhered to the wheels!
-
Pretty clever. I never had any problem with mine, but "never" only lasted a year or so with the Europas I've had with stock wheels. A good method of affixing the centers to the wheels is a requirement. I wonder why not glue them on though...
Speaking of wheels, one thing you might not know is that after long service, the lug holes can get wallowed out a bit causing vibration. It might be something for you to think about down the road.
-
Don't laugh, but I take mine off when I drive the car.
-
Maybe you should have a set for driving and another set for displaying! ;)
-
Maybe you should have a set for driving and another set for displaying! ;)
Now that is a great idea. Only problem is, last time I checked I couldn't afford two sets.
-
I might have complete set lying around. They're forty years old but they might suffice for driving. I'll let you know.
-
YES! Thanks for sharing. I took mine off after loosing one :(
-
OK here the story
Driving my new Europe for about the 3rd time I came home and found on of my center caps was gone.
Checking the others I found about the only thing holding them on was memory?
Some owner use tape, some glue them on and some just take them off!
There has to be a better way?
A visit to the Home improvement store for 4 #6/32 X 3/4 flat head screws and 8 nuts an aluminum bar 1/2" wide X 1/8" thick.
I pried the Lotus emblem off with a small screwdriver and drilled a 9/64 hole in the center of the caps and countersunk the holes so the screw is flush in the cap. I put red loctite on the screws and installed them in the caps and tightened them in place with one nut. I then cut the aluminum bar onto 4 2" pieces and filed them to fit into the back of the wheel down to the rim in the center and drilled a 9/64 hole in the center of the bar.
As the emblems where out I gave my caps a quick paint job.
I installed the emblems with a few drops of clear silicone. I then put a drop of blue loctite on the end of the screws and installed the caps on the wheels. From the back of the wheel I put the Aluminum bar in so that I could lightly tighten the 2nd nut and hold the caps in place.
I now have center caps that are locked in place and look factory and can be easily removed for tire/ wheel service.
-
Anybody have an extra center cap as only now have 3?
-
Bruce, you came up with a great solution! I have 8 wheels and none of them had center caps. Had to buy all new ones.........
-
If anyone is looking for the Lotus emblems to fit the center caps, I found this. I have not ordered from them.
http://www.signdezine.co.uk/vinyl_graphics/proddetail.php?prod=3D-Domed-Gel-LOTUS-black-chrome-wheelcenter&cat=108
-
They seem pretty clear that they won't put Lotus or any badge that looks like Lotus on there, only custom designs...
-
Right you are. When I found this site a year or so ago they sold these with the Lotus badge. Looks like things have changed. They probably were contacted by the Lotus lawyers.