new member

[rascott]

ahh!
i'm getting a better feel for what can work. thank you.
i am not surprised about the steelies not being "real", and triumph was suspected, and they do fit(5",btw- stamped). too different than pictures i'd seen, so hubcaps would be guessing, to me....
i had seen those cosmics on CL (they style kinda like those tc's u gave me), and it makes me think of the 8lb "race" panasports.
not DOT certified doesn't mean they are unsafe...........?
those vto's seem like they would work- i'm not very good at looks- but they would look different.
appreciate the ideas.
any thoughts on tire sizes front/back?
richard

[BDA]

DOT certification may mean that they went through some extra testing or even just some extra paperwork. I'm not sure I would worry about it unless someone comes up with a good reason.

Those Cosmics are a common replacement for steel wheels - to the point where some probably wouldn't consider them unoriginal. Panasports are pretty common too.

The VTO wheels I saw by surfing around looked nice too. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them.

The TC had 175/70-13 on the front and 185/70-13 on the rear with the Lotus Brand wheels. Those would probably be fine but someone with an S2 could probably give you a better size recommendation.

[rascott]

gotcha.
i didn't realize that was a stock arrangement- that would use those 13x5.5 alloys front/rear?
was that to correct a bit of oversteer?
richard

[jbcollier]

Same size all round on a S1 or S2.

[rascott]

thanks.
still planning on 175x70x13's.
richard

[jjbunn]

thanks.
still planning on 175x70x13's.
richard

I am envious of your lightning progress with your car! I am getting closer to having mine on the road, and just replaced the tires to that end - I found 175x70x13 at America's Tire for the princely sum of $37 each ... they are "Barum Brillantis" which is apparently a make by Continental. How bad can they be?!

[rascott]

never bought a new set of wheels before, but what the heck, and it seems the 175's are pretty common.
also a big step up from the stock 155's, but i know no different.
i've been seeing progress on your end also. kudos.
my strategy has been to start making it do what it was made for, then start fixing it as i go.........
i'm pleased with my little drives, as they direct the project.
finally got a muffler on it that will make the locals happier.
i need to figure out how to put the windscreen in, then figure out my doors. i'll be seeking advice about that(noted your recent experience?).
the rains are coming, and the tarp doesn't replace windows and weatherstripping very well. the bucket acts like a bucket.
mabe i can look at the front brakes before the next wave blows thru- they are not releasing very well(i have kits), plus pull the hubs to see what's inside..
mabe windscreen, wheels and brakes and i'll try some hyway speeds by the end of January.
mabe a "daily driver" by june.....
mabe it will look o k by 2020. mabe haha.
here's what "the lotus" looks like tonite.

richard

[rascott]

questions regarding windscreen installation:
i have the windscreen, and the rubber gasket/filler strip material.
i was told i would have to "miter the corners" of the gasket, which kinda made sense on the phone, but now that i look at the material....
am i making 4 mitered strips out of this material?
or trying to notch out the inside to make it stay one piece with the ends meeting in the middle(probably bottom?
sealer seems important for either method, and that bostik sealer must be real good. what is it? silicone?
i've only dealt with a one piece formed gasket window install once before, but that was simple.
i see the rear window uses similar material, but doesn't need the mitering- probably forms o k(esp. w/sealer)?
any hints?
richard

[jbcollier]

What is the engine type number on the exhaust-side, block alloy ID plate? 8xx-xx? Does it have a pulley on the flywheel side of the engine?

[rascott]

it's an 821 block. cam driven pulley must be what you refer to?
unit 54-1846.
view of the renault...


here is some gasket....

Richard

l8tr121815
took a stab at the windscreen.
cut that gasket into four pieces, and decided rtv silicone would do as sealant.
when the circus ended, a windscreen was in place.
it was/is a mess.
i will look at it again tomorrow.

[Grumblebuns]

Never having done a windshield before, I've always (appears wrongfully) assumed that the windshield rubber gasket was a preformed single piece similar to the door opening gaskets. I have a windshield installation in the near future myself so it looks like some research on my part is going to be required. Richard, check the Knowledgebase for 20 plus years of experience from other owners on installing windshields. There is a link to the KB on this forum's homepage, left side.

I also want to see some pictures of how your windshield install came out.

Joji Tokumoto
Fallbrook, Ca   

[BDA]

Here is yet another place I wimped out on my car. I called a windshield guy to install mine. He warned me that there was no warranty - actually scared me a little - but it was fine. I had the latest (at the time) version of the "chrome" plastic windshield seal. It doesn't leak. Now the doors...

[rascott]

i blunder along blindly sometimes.... hoping i'll figure it out before something breaks.
things started out o k.

gooped pieces i made fit windscreen opening(probable mistake), and then spent hours trying to make things fit.

ended up in place and looking o k from about a mile....

locking strips and corners are special looking.

mabe there is some other trim that covers around the 'screen(?) or what's with the rubber flap?


a one piece gasket would be nice.
next time will be better.
i will make the gasket strips fit the windscreen, instead of the opening. mabe that's the ticket.
i may be able to salvage the material, but it will still make the 'screen "proud", as if trim of some sort is missing......
i will try to have some helping hands, next time also.
this seems like a marginal method of windscreen installation because of the cutting. one could get good at it, but really.....
i'll try it again later, remembering "3rd times a charm".
richard

 

[BDA]

Too bad. The chrome strip looked really good. Better luck next time!

[rascott]

ha ha.
it looked better last night..
well before dark, i had realized this was going to be just a learning experience, and felt free to make crude adjustments.
the opening is bigger(obviously), but by being cut to fit the opening, the gasket was too "big" to grab much glass
i suspect it will fit the window better next time, and i'll see how much body it grabs.
mabe i'll learn something else then.
still wonder what that flap is for, on the gasket. good dirt trap...