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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: nigelc on Wednesday,December 12, 2018, 08:27:11 AM

Title: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: nigelc on Wednesday,December 12, 2018, 08:27:11 AM
Hi All .. finally putting the body back on the chassis but have hit a problem. the shell no longer wants to sit down over the backbone of the chassis . I have used closed cell foam soundproofing that is 10mm thick , that seemed to be reasonable based on thickness of original material ?. Anyone else had problems , are they all a really snug fit , any suggestions before i take it off and use a thinner gauge of foam   Thanks guys
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: jbcollier on Wednesday,December 12, 2018, 09:23:24 AM
10mm sounds too thick to me.
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: RoddyMac on Wednesday,December 12, 2018, 09:24:04 AM
I think 10mm is a bit thick.  I used 1/4" (6 mm) closed cell and it was a tight squeeze.  I glued mine in sections, top, sides etc, and had the side pieces start to peel back at the top which added to the difficulty in lowering the body.  I don't think closed cell compresses as thin as the jute/horsehair pads that the car originally had. 

Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: nigelc on Wednesday,December 12, 2018, 10:22:00 AM
Thanks .. i feared that may be the case .. right off it comes again then .
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: 4129R on Wednesday,December 12, 2018, 11:01:54 AM
I had the same problem on 4688R.

The seat belt bolts would not fit in the centre of the chassis.

Use 6mm.

Thanks for reminding me. I have at least 3 more to fit.
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: nigelc on Saturday,December 15, 2018, 01:04:54 PM
Success .. lifted the body back up, old foam off , new 5mm foam on .. fits like a glove . Body finaly back on a chassis for the first time in 20 years .
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: BDA on Saturday,December 15, 2018, 02:48:06 PM
Excellent!!!! That's a good feeling, isn't it?  :beerchug:
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: Certified Lotus on Saturday,December 15, 2018, 05:10:34 PM
 :ttiwwp:
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: 4129R on Sunday,December 16, 2018, 02:56:16 AM
Success .. lifted the body back up, old foam off , new 5mm foam on .. fits like a glove . Body finaly back on a chassis for the first time in 20 years .

Where did you get the 5mm foam?

I will be needing lots soon.
Title: Re: Refitting Body .. Problem
Post by: nigelc on Monday,December 17, 2018, 04:06:32 PM
BDA .. yes , brilliant feeling

Certified .. i agree, will do pics when next at the workshop .. phone batt died when i was fitting body so sadly couldn't capture the success at the time

4129r - foam came from ebay , £25 for a 2m x 1m sheet of 5mm closed cell adhesive backed . i you want i can see if there were any direct contact details on the invoice as it may be a bit cheaper going direct rather than through ebay ?