The Lotus Grand Tourers

Quick check - I've just taken mine off to repair some GRP damage and then refitted it - BUT of the 11 rivets along the front edge (5 in the centre section and 3 for each lamp), only 9 actually go into the bumper above - the other 2 (outermost in the fog lamp cut outs) need to be riveted through a metal tab which would overlap the very slim bit of bumper available in that area. Since the tabs on mine are i) rusted to hell and ii) missing at the other side and iii) a complete b'stard to fit anyway, can I get by without those last rivets ?

The trailing edge of the spoiler is held to the bodywork by a couple of HUGE self-tappers since the side brackets have long-since detached from the spoiler itself and the mounting bolts have corroded into place.


P.S. and iv) it's persisting down here now...
P.P.S. - where should the ice sensor be attached to the spoiler/bumper? Mine ifsjust lying in the undertay in front of the condenser.

Hmmmm - 32 views and no answers eh ? Oh well. Did 100+ miles today. "Spirited" driving for most of them, and some low-speed stuff where the spoiler grounded on a speed bump (as usual)- it seems to have survived OK.

sorry Angus I got the garage to sort mine when both side fixings parted company from the spoiler

they fiberglassed them back on and then did the bolts up and it works - not perfect but it has stayed on in place

I seem to remeber the temp sensor having a little circular clip on the back of the bumper near the large opening with the mesh

Martin

texas2201 wrote:sorry Angus I got the garage to sort mine when both side fixings parted company from the spoiler

they fiberglassed them back on and then did the bolts up and it works - not perfect but it has stayed on in place

I seem to remeber the temp sensor having a little circular clip on the back of the bumper near the large opening with the mesh

Martin

Thanks Martin - fabricating and glassing in some new brackets is on the list of things to do after we move into the new house (current lease precludes use of angle grinder to remove the existing lumps of rust). Guess I'll sort the clip for the temp. sensor then too.

Angus
Now the rain has eased just been and look hoe the ice sensor is attached.
It is held in place by a small "p"clip which is screwed to the undertray just behid the driving light.

Wayne

amarshall wrote:Quick check - I've just taken mine off to repair some GRP damage and then refitted it - BUT of the 11 rivets along the front edge (5 in the centre section and 3 for each lamp), only 9 actually go into the bumper above - the other 2 (outermost in the fog lamp cut outs) need to be riveted through a metal tab which would overlap the very slim bit of bumper available in that area. Since the tabs on mine are i) rusted to hell and ii) missing at the other side and iii) a complete b'stard to fit anyway, can I get by without those last rivets ?

The trailing edge of the spoiler is held to the bodywork by a couple of HUGE self-tappers since the side brackets have long-since detached from the spoiler itself and the mounting bolts have corroded into place.


P.S. and iv) it's persisting down here now...
P.P.S. - where should the ice sensor be attached to the spoiler/bumper? Mine ifsjust lying in the undertay in front of the condenser.

Hi Angus

So that's why there is nothing for the outer rivits to go into. What type of tabs should they be or can I get away with some home made galvanised strips bonded to the bumper. If you get any pics of the assembly could I have a look at them.

The one that I had was just a rectangular plate with a hole for the rivet at one end. The rivet goes through the plate and then through a large penny washer and the idea seems to be that the plate "hangs" on the little bit of bumper lip and sandwiches that between the plate and the top of the spoiler.

Personally, I'd prefer a galvanised strip along the top too (and along the top of the spoiler to strengthen the weak points around the rivets in the lamp cut-outs)

I took the front skirt off mine to improve access when I did the head gasket (I removed the radiator to have a leak repaired). Mine's an 85 SE and the skirt was held on across the front by 5 wing bolts with 10mm hex heads into spire clips. The outer edges were secured by 3 self-tapping screws into the underside of the front edge of the wings.