The Lotus Grand Tourers

Guys

Is there a difference between the fibreglass headlight pods on our cars-i.e. Eclat, Elite, early Excel, widebody Excel?

Our car is a very early widebody. It has clearly been heavily messed with during it's life and whilst repairing the bodged headlamp lift mechanisms, I have discovered that one pod seems to be misshapen in it's fit.
Its fine when down, but when up, appears lopsided and its impossible to adjust the height correctly.

Anyone know?

Thanks.

The parts manual gives different part numbers for pre- and post-'86 Excels. No idea about Eclat or Elite, but I'd anticipate them being different to Excel (but maybe not to each other).

The Elite/Eclat are definitely different to the Excel. I haven't seen an early TR7-activated Excel pod to know if there is any difference between early/late Excels.

Pete

Pete Boole wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2020 17:59 The Elite/Eclat are definitely different to the Excel. I haven't seen an early TR7-activated Excel pod to know if there is any difference between early/late Excels.

Pete

Do we know what the differences are Pete?

rbgosling wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2020 17:12 The parts manual gives different part numbers for pre- and post-'86 Excels. No idea about Eclat or Elite, but I'd anticipate them being different to Excel (but maybe not to each other).

Thanks-interesting. I'm assuming that if there was no physical difference then the part number would be the same. I wonder what the difference is?

All my car's molded parts are etched with the chassis number last 4.

Are there any markings on yours?

Is it anything to do with an incorrectly mounted bobbin?

Johnwindwood wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2020 18:01

Pete Boole wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2020 17:59 The Elite/Eclat are definitely different to the Excel. I haven't seen an early TR7-activated Excel pod to know if there is any difference between early/late Excels.

Pete

Do we know what the differences are Pete?

The profile of the top surface is different to reflect the difference in bonnet shape - the Elite bonnet has a lowered central section, the Excel has a raised central section. Because the early Elite pods were vacuum/spring operated there are up/down buffers built into the front lower lip. The steel bar that the vacuum pod pulls on may be in a different location to reflect the motion of the vacuum actuator.

Are you sure all the components of your pod are there? The early TR7 link-rod appears to have quite a complicated set of adjustment components at the pod-rod end (although I haven't seen one). The later Toyota operated pods have no "up" adjustment (although the bracket that holds the pivot ball has slots where it fixes to the pod) and the "down" adjustment is made by altering the length of the operating rod.

Pete

Did you resolve this one John? I've now got both Elite and Excel pods if you need photos.

Pete

Hi Pete. Not yet resolved no- My pods are both flat topped but I'm convinced they are a different shape. They look fine down, but definitely wonky up. Detail pics of the differences might help me to track down the problem if you don't mind?

I've given the pods a good looking-at! Bearing in mind these are from an Elite/Eclat and an Excel with Toyota lift motors.

This is the Elite:



The arrows indicate bits that are different. The Excel doesn't have the bump stops. A lot of Elite pods have the corner on the right chopped off - they obviously didn't fit well and that was rectified in the Excel. The inside upper edge has a different profile to follow the bonnet better.

This is the Excel:



This is a side shot on the Elite:



Again the arrows show the differences. The bottom edge is trimmed differently. The pivot is in a slightly different place.

There aren't any other obvious differences. It almost looks like they just modified the original moulds!

This is the Excel:



Hope this helps. Let me know if you want any more photos John.

Pete

Thanks Pete. Ours being a "crossover" 1985 MY DOES have the adjustable bump stops because we have the Lucas motors. I think we need to get a pair of matched pods from a car of the same age to be sure. Pretty certain that our odd pod is not from the right age of car.