Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: rjbaren on Monday,October 07, 2019, 08:53:45 PM
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Does anyone have the dimensions for the front felt pad that sits on top of the front cross section of the frame? The body has been off the chassis previously and the front felt is not there. I bought the rubber padding from RD Enterprises but not the dimensions.
Thank you
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I don't think it's critical. I think it was a little bit smaller than the 'T' but I think you can make it the size of the 'T.' IIRC, the pad on the 'T' is two to three times as thick as the pad on the backbone. I'm speaking of the TCS but I would guess it's the same for other TCs and the S2.
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I saw in a post recently that Sherman Kaplan has one on his Twin Cam Special. I would like to know the size. I was not aware there is a difference in thickness. I can't find any mention other than felt, in the manuals.
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I would certainly defer to someone who's buid was more recent (mine was twenty years ago). Certified, any comments?
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Hi,
I've attached a couple of pictures of what it looked like on my 73 TCS. Hope that helps.
Bart
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Bart, your pictures are a lot better than my memory! Was the pad on the 'T' thicker than on the backbone or did I get that wrong too?
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I think the pad was the same thickness on the spine and the T section, there was a heavier piece that covered the Y section though, I think the idea was to protect the brake lines that were routed round there.
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I'm glad you corrected me on the 'T' pad piece. Yup, I remember the heavy piece at the 'Y.' In fact, I retained that piece when I built my car.
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ha ha me too, figured I'd never be able to get a new one :)
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I would certainly defer to someone who's buid was more recent (mine was twenty years ago). Certified, any comments?
I don’t have the measurements documented. I just cut the pad to fit and glued it in place.
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Hi:
Sherman here. I used the remnants of the main pad to make the part that goes on the T. So instead of one long piece I have two pieces that are butted next to each other. The original pad was the same thickness as the pad on the main part of the chassis. I don't think the exact length or width is critical. On my car the original pad on the T section was not glued down, but I decided to glue the new one. Also there is a two piece pad on the other end of frame. It is much thicker than the main pad. Mine was not glued down and I'm going to leave it that way. Please see the attached picture. Please let me know if you want any additional photos.
Sherman
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When you put the felt on the chassis, make sure the seat belt mountings to the centre of the chassis line up with the holes on the fibreglass shell.
I had too thick, and I had to compress the shell on the chassis using G clamps on the hole in the middle.
Too thin, and you have to jack up the shell from underneath to get the holes to line up.
Best to do this as soon as the shell goes on the chassis, so you can easily adjust thickness of felt if needed.
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Attached are some photos of the closed cell urethane pad I applied to my 74 TCS - I used contact cement to hold it in place.
Tom
74 TCS - 4605R
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More photos
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More photos - OK, so I don't exactly know how to do this
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One last photo
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I used self adhesive 10mm closed cell neoprene. I cut mine to fit and had no problems. I do recommend a very high quality tape for the joints. I used Gorilla. When I put the body back on it was a snug fit so any thicker and it wouldn't have worked.
Word of caution. Use some tape to stick the locking nut to the end of your speedo cable, you may not notice if it drops down inside your chassis until its too late and then it really is too late. .
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Thanks Gmg for the tip on the speedo cable.