The Lotus Grand Tourers

I am gathering the parts and knowledge (well yours to be fair) to proceed towards Lotus' famous dance the: "Chassis Swap"
I know that the chassis is almost a bolt on (just not the same bolts on the same spots ) but I am wondering about the tracks? Are they identical? The front and rear is of a totally different form on each animal so if one bolt GNK Elite wheels on the Excel chassis will the tyres patch be on the same spot for both configuration?
Am I being clear????

Accortding to Graham Robson, the wheelbase is identical but the track is slightly different:

Elite S1:
Front track: 4ft 10.5in
Rear track: 4ft 11in

Excel:
Front track: 4ft 9.5in
Rear track: 4ft 9.5in

ATB Richard

richardw wrote:Accortding to Graham Robson, the wheelbase is identical but the track is slightly different:

Elite S1:
Front track: 4ft 10.5in = 148.59 cm
Rear track: 4ft 11in = 149.86 cm

Excel:
Front track: 4ft 9.5in = 146.09 cm
Rear track: 4ft 9.5in = 146.09 cm

ATB Richard

Is my conversion in red correct ?

Elite wrote:

richardw wrote:Accortding to Graham Robson, the wheelbase is identical but the track is slightly different:

Elite S1:
Front track: 4ft 10.5in = 148.59 cm
Rear track: 4ft 11in = 149.86 cm

Excel:
Front track: 4ft 9.5in = 146.09 cm
Rear track: 4ft 9.5in = 146.09 cm

ATB Richard

So if I am correct, if one put an Elite body on an Excel chassis the wheels will be inset by 2,5 cm in the front and 3,77 cm in the rear! And that would be 0.7 cm worse if Elite wheels were to be fitted... Front wheels would then be 3,2 cm inward and rear one by 4.47 cm. (that you would have to split in two and report to each side) so it's 1.6 cm less in front and 2.23 cm for the rear on each side!

Make sense?

Well first of all you can't use Elite wheels on Excel hubs. Elite wheels have a PCD of 100mm, while Excel hubs are around 114 (from memory). Second, I don't think the difference in track is really noticeable - the Excel and Elite bodies are very similar and I have an Excel chassis under my Elite and I've never noticed a difference. I guess you could always use spacers if you wanted.

ATB Richard

Well half right... the GNk Elite are 114.3 like the Excel one. I made a ref guide of all the Lotus wheels to be sure.
http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... =17&t=8137
So do you have the Speedline 15# Excel wheels? Could you check the under arche wheel clearance for me if you have time, that would very valuable to me! I am trying to compute my next move
Thanks

Yes you're right about the wheels - I was speaking to Mike Taylor at Lotusbits who confirmed that the S1 wheels (GKN turbine) were 114.3 PCD and only the S2.2 Elites with Speedlines were 100 PCD. You learn something new every day! He also says that the track if you use the later 15 inch wheels is more or less the same as the Elite. The figures Robson was quoting were I think for the early (narrow body) Excel which still used 14" wheels.

I have the Speedline 14 inch wheels with 114.3 PCD fitted. My car's also on adjustable coilovers so I'm not sure any clearance figures I can give you would be relevant. If I can help otherwise, let me know.

ATB Richard

I've always looked at Excel chassis'd Elites and noticed the narrowness of track straight away!

Sorry if being a nerd but a difference of that amount is obvious, spacers would be essential to restore that four-square stance a nicely set up Elite/Eclat has (and on 14" rims please! No 15"Excel oddities )

Simpatico

I recall my old Elite had a more 'planted feel' compared to my current Excel SE ...I didn't realise until now that the tracks were so different ..so my recall of the Elite's different character begins to make sense to me.
In pure Lotus design terms, I prefer the idea of the Elite's rear single trailing arm suspension with inboard brakes and I'd just put up with the frequent maintenance. The Elite's chassis rear bridge corrosion issue isn't insurmountable either I guess

I'm very interested by the possibility of an Elite bodyshell on an Excel chassis and running gear, so I spoke with Mike Taylor whilst at the NEC about the work required to transplant an Elite body onto an Excel chassis. If I understand correctly there is a need to modify the Elite shell at the rear to fit onto the Excel chassis / suspension plus a number of smaller tweaks. Might be worth asking Mike if you plan to go this way. I would love to see how you get on.

This is going to be a Restaurant Racer. It is going to be to cars what a Cafe Racer is to motorcycle you get the idea! i already have the Cafe Racer
So I am not concerned about mods, I just want to race the underdog and show that this car could mix with the tin can saloons of the era. I will try to document the build, but I am crap at that as I enjoy bulding/racing a lot more than reporting.
I promess to cross the chanel once it's built and attend a track day at Goodwood or Bands hatch if some of you are going also.

Lovely bike Elite - I love those BMWs done as café racers . Looking forward to seeing the Elite as well!

Pete

Merci Pete... I hope I will not disapoint you with the Elite then.

Elite,

Nice BM. I have a Mono version in white with flat bars. I've twin plugged it and changed the barrels and pistons to Sienbenrock 1000cc ones. So I applaud your obvious good taste and can't wait to see the car version!

Phil

Thanks Phil, they are fun bikes and sound awesome. My last toy is a "she"... Boston Whaler Outrage 21.4 1980 alias the Banana boat - nicknamed: Beemyguest

I got her as a wreck and it took me 2 years to put her back on the water, finding parts was a nightmare

My last 80' project will be the Elite, but it won't be on the road any time soon.