The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hey guys - what is the distance between the rim of the steering wheel and the top of the instrument binnacle on your Elite/Eclat? It's so long since my car was in one piece I can't remember and it seems very close.

Thanks

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 08, 2024 23:17

Hey guys - what is the distance between the rim of the steering wheel and the top of the instrument binnacle on your Elite/Eclat? It's so long since my car was in one piece I can't remember and it seems very close.

Thanks

Pete

Some good internal shots on this advert

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1603391

Thanks Stu. It looks quite close on those photos as well. There's some adjustment on the column but not much - I'll take some measurements when I get the fan heater on in the garage

Pete

Hi Pete, I'm working away (without it) this week, will get a measurement and post on Saturday.

Andy

Great - thanks Andy . The reason I'm asking is that I have made my own electric steering column from scratch and although I'm pretty sure it's the same dimensions at the top as the old one the wheel still seems close to the binnacle.

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 10, 2024 15:18

Great - thanks Andy . The reason I'm asking is that I have made my own electric steering column from scratch and although I'm pretty sure it's the same dimensions at the top as the old one the wheel still seems close to the binnacle.

Pete

Coincidentally Pete, I'm just finishing a similar project in my 'Europa'. Based on Vauxhall Agila motor with a control box from a Company called '213 Performance'. Installed and tested with good results 'statically', not yet road tested as some way off having rear brakes after the transaxel change to Audi/Getrag...

Andy

AndrewWebber wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 10, 2024 18:07

Pete Boole wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 10, 2024 15:18

Great - thanks Andy . The reason I'm asking is that I have made my own electric steering column from scratch and although I'm pretty sure it's the same dimensions at the top as the old one the wheel still seems close to the binnacle.

Pete

Coincidentally Pete, I'm just finishing a similar project in my 'Europa'. Based on Vauxhall Agila motor with a control box from a Company called '213 Performance'. Installed and tested with good results 'statically', not yet road tested as some way off having rear brakes after the transaxel change to Audi/Getrag...

Andy

I'll check out 213 Performance - thanks.

Pete

Hi Pete on mine (1978 503). 'Original steering wheel and column'. Measurement is approximately parallel with the column. I'd say 45mm from 'back' of the wheel rim to nearest point on dash binnacle.



Hope it helps.

Andy

Great - thanks Andy. Mine's 43 in the same place so OK. Gap wider on nearside and narrower on offside of course.

Pete

That's really close! So how come that leather isn't covered in fingernail gouges, like mine is? Since I have neither the time nor enthusiasm to repair/replace the leather, I filled in all the gouges with black Sharpie over New Year, so at least they don't show up so horrendously (leather is dark grey, so it's a close-ish match).

I'm probably going to fit a Momo wheel I have in the shed - it's about 30mm smaller in diameter and hopefully will work well with the electric power steering set up - I can chose the hub to suit then. It will, however, make the instrument panel harder to see so some remedial action required there - may fit some 80mm gauges like the Excel to create a bit of space for the other gauges - we'll see

Pete

Project creep Pete hard at work project creeping his own projects - as well as everyone elses'

Neil.

rbgosling wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 15, 2024 13:45

That's really close! So how come that leather isn't covered in fingernail gouges, like mine is? Since I have neither the time nor enthusiasm to repair/replace the leather, I filled in all the gouges with black Sharpie over New Year, so at least they don't show up so horrendously (leather is dark grey, so it's a close-ish match).

I have short fingers and nails! but as for the first 148,000 miles of it's life, I'm not sure.

Excel SA wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 15, 2024 15:46

Project creep Pete hard at work project creeping his own projects - as well as everyone elses'

Neil.

I can't leave anything original - not in my nature!!

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 15, 2024 19:07

I can't leave anything original - not in my nature!!

Pete

Mr Chapman might have liked you.