Exige grill

[JohnD]

I am contemplating cutting out the bonded in front grill and replacing it with and removable one. I wondered if anyone else had done this? My thoughts were to leave, say, 6 tabs of the old grill in place for mounting and then use fasteners with a gril cut to shape and some edging similar to that used around the diffuser. The fact that it seems fairly straight forward suggests that I might be missing something. It just seems a bit much to take the front clam off just to get at the tow post and the radiator mounts, both of which need stripping and re-finishing.

[sjw]

I must say I would be very interested in how you get on with this.

After only a few months, my Exige grille and tow post were rusting, and I succeeded in complaining to Lotus, and they agreed to have new ones fitted. I duly took those for stove enamelling.
JCT then unfortunately sent the car to their (external) body shop who proceeded to not fit either, stating that they couldn't get them to line up correctly, so they powder coated the originals, and needless to say after a year or so, the rust is coming through again.

Just to say also that the Body Shop (most will know who I am talking about) managed to scratch the body work (mildly expected), break the windscreen, bolt the hard top down as if cylinder head bolts (probably de-laminating it), and scratch the inside of the headlights.

[yasmar]

I must say I would be very interested in how you get on with this.

After only a few months, my Exige grille and tow post were rusting, and I succeeded in complaining to Lotus, and they agreed to have new ones fitted. I duly took those for stove enamelling.
JCT then unfortunately sent the car to their (external) body shop who proceeded to not fit either, stating that they couldn't get them to line up correctly, so they powder coated the originals, and needless to say after a year or so, the rust is coming through again.

Just to say also that the Body Shop (most will know who I am talking about) managed to scratch the body work (mildly expected), break the windscreen, bolt the hard top down as if cylinder head bolts (probably de-laminating it), and scratch the inside of the headlights.

Don't ever use this external firm if you are of a nervous disposition....allegedly

[JohnD]

Thanks for the replies and the heads-up. I intend to do it myself if I can get a reasonably good looking mesh or an equivalent that works. It seems odd that the Exige item is bonded in, whereas the Elise one clips in. Anyone know if there is a reason for this?

My intention is to fit it with some quick release fasteners so that it does not have to have the tow post hole in the centre. Could even use the tow post as a mounting bracket.

That's the idea anyway - just researching the right materials and solution.

[PaulT]

JCT then unfortunately sent the car to their (external) body shop who proceeded to not fit either, stating that they couldn't get them to line up correctly, so they powder coated the originals, and needless to say after a year or so, the rust is coming through again.

That's a shame Steve cos when Byron fitted my stainless bracket (made by a very kind NYLOC person) he fitted it without bother and greased it - still looks exactly the same 1 year on.

[sjw]

That's a shame Steve cos when Byron fitted my stainless bracket (made by a very kind NYLOC person) he fitted it without bother and greased it - still looks exactly the same 1 year on.

Exige grille is bonded in place... clam off and chisel to remove

[JohnD]

Exige grille is bonded in place... clam off and chisel to remove

Hardly the best design is it?

Good to have feedback before I start cutting!

I think I can best cut it out with a dremmel around the edge of the existing grill and without damaging the bodywork.

Option A - I will leave some tabs of the old grill to use as mounting points and the the new one will be thin enough to mount over the top. Main difficulty seems to be finding some suitable mesh to make the new grill out of.

Option B - Failing that, I will see how neatly I can cut out the old one as near to the clam as possible, find some thin rubber or alloy edging strip and make up some new mounting brackets. Six fastners should not show up much if painted the same satin black.

[Dennis]

You S2ers have lost me can I have a picture so i can see what you are all concerned with

[sjw]

Hardly the best design is it?

No, not much different from the same stuff used by Lotus back in the '60s on the Elan. 50 years of development

I think I can best cut it out with a dremmel around the edge of the existing grill and without damaging the bodywork.

If you are destroying the current grille, once you have cut near the bodywork, it may bend back out of sight.

Option A - I will leave some tabs of the old grill to use as mounting points and the the new one will be thin enough to mount over the top. Main difficulty seems to be finding some suitable mesh to make the new grill out of.

It isnt the same opening, but would an Elise plastic grill go anywhere near ?

You S2ers have lost me can I have a picture so i can see what you are all concerned with

Best i can do at the moment, not particularly showing much rust, but a year on, its getting through

[albutch]

Nice fly collection

[SimonE]

Nice fly collection

You S2 lot

[Dennis]

That is glued in, whihc mupet decided to do that

Seriously that is a stupid idea

My thought- cut out the standard grill, make some small brackets for each side of the hole and bond to the clam, drill 2 holes in the tabs that stick out slightly then get new grill cut to size and put a screw through the grill into the tabs

NB I have a patent pending on this

[softlips]

If using Dremmel to remove leave some tabs to fix the new grill to rather than bond new in

[Mark H]

You will still have to remove the clam to replace the towing post as you can not get to the bolts with the clam in situ.

[JohnD]

You will still have to remove the clam to replace the towing post as you can not get to the bolts with the clam in situ.

I take it the bolts you can see from the front are the nuts and you still have to get to the back to take them out? . They do try to make it difficult at Lotus, don't they.