The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hi Tony,

All is well, progress is just glacial at the moment. Small things getting done. Will try and get some updates up when I can find some time!

Neil.

Let me try and resurrect this build diary...

It looks like all/most the pics I embedded from Onedrive have all stopped working. If I try to embed as I did before, the picture doesn't appear, just a generic icon, the same as all the old links. I have changed to copying the address link for each picture from Onedrive, and that seems to be working for now, but there is no control over picture size.

I'm probably trying to do too many different things all at once, which probably complicates things a bit.

I have fitted the door beams, door locks and door skins and have them pretty well lined up for now. This allowed me to fit the window frames - on the driver's side in particular, the fit between the body and the frame is not very good. The red arrow shows how much fiberglass there is below the bottom of the window frame. The window frame is lined up as per original - there is a hole in the frame and door skin that match up.



The result is that the door seal can fit under the window frame - so would be sealing against the glass (if the window is closed).



At the "B" pillar, the seal only just catches the window frame - the only way to fix that would be to extend the fiberglass "B Pillar lip a bit to move the seal forward.



I have had a look at a few pictures online to see if "they all do that" - it seems the fit is generally not that great and most don't line up 100% with the window frames. I will adjust where necessary to ensure a better line-up - should I be aiming to seal exactly along the window frame?

Neil

I'm still seeing all your old pictures Neil, but not the ones posted earlier today.
Good to see you back and still making progress.

Me too - I can see the old photos but not the new ones. Good to hear your on the case again Neil

Pete

Well that's very weird then - I can't see my old pictures, but can see the new ones - I have no idea how that works.

I've sort of kept on the case, but at reduced speed (if that's possible) - the picture posting thing is not helping updates though - it's doing my head in....

As a test - does this image show up - it doesn't for me....



Neil.

Yep. Can see that picture.

Me also, but not some others

AndrewWebber wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 06:57 Me also, but not some others

Ditto

I have edited my post - hopefully the pics are visible now to everyone - except me

Neil.

Excel SA wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 06:35 I have edited my post - hopefully the pics are visible now to everyone - except me

Neil.

I can see the pictures in your recent post now.

Hello Mr. Excel.
Window frame position.
On my 85 Excel, the window frame positions are original, to my knowledge.
The frames are flush with the lower edge of fibreglass and have a 10mm gap between the top of the frame and the roof fibreglass lip. I believe this is the cause for many of our cars to leak water/rain as the seal between frame and door closure is not very tight, the window frame easily deflects away from the door body opening.
I have installed a D section rubber seal seated on the U section on the top of the window frame which closes the 10mm gap, seems to work.

It would be so much easier if I could post pictures without pulling my hair out, not much hair left now. If you want some pictures of the seal sent by e-mail let me know.

I propose that a Forum Guru sorts out the picture posting problem, and not under the New Member--Excel SA heading. For those of us not in UK there is no point investigating picture posting, besides the fact I have no idea how to attempt it.

Dave the cog

.
From afew years ago, the one drive sustem is playing up though
Sorry image fail again. When I added the extra door seals in 2021 I posted a how too with lots of photos from onedrive, they have all disappeared and I cant seem to get them back, sorry.

Bash

I will adjust where necessary to ensure a better line-up - should I be aiming to seal exactly along the window frame?

Your frame is definitely sitting too high. Looks to me like if the A post external finisher was fitted, you'd have another clash.
It should be possible to lower the door beam and still get striker / latch to work correctly. There is a lot of adjustment in the door skin to the beam fitting, so should be able to get door alignment back. Might be worth fitting the beam and frame without door skin as a trial.
Tony

If you are fitting new window frames I would consider lowering the frame to be flush with the inside trim sooner than lowering the door beam.

Dave the cog.

Thanks for the feedback.

I have already set up the door beam without the skin on - I set the latch at its midpoint height wise so I would have some adjustment either way - it could move down a couple of millimeters - certainly not by the "excess" amount of fiberglass that's showing at the top of the frame.

I did check last night that the frame clears the capping rail and the "A" pillar finisher - it is only by a few millimeters though at the top corner, and it opens/closes away from the finisher. I will check how much clearance I have between the window frame and the bottom of the capping rail when the door is closed.

I am not sure if the door beam should be set parallel to anything in particular? I could remove a shim or two and lower it in the front changing the angle slightly - the door to body joints line up fairly well now.

I think there is still space to lower the frame a bit on the door beam, and then just not match the holes on the window frame and door skin, but the fiberglass edge and the door frame still don't run true to each other so the door seal will always be a bit of a mess. I think a bit of shaping of the fiberglass to match and a few other adjustments should give a better fit and hopefully a decent seal.

The window frames are the original ones - they did need some panel beating and were powder coated some years ago.

Neil