Body Shell Alignment.

[silverfrost]

Need some info guys on the G body shell alignment, i remember reading on some

past posts about it but only breifly, it involved the said practice that lotus used

to have a tolerance for how the back end was aligned,

Well the problem i face is that with aftermarket wheels, and now with the rear

brake discs on the outer hubs this has increased my track width another 5mm

each side and with 9" rims on the rear the come close enough to the edge that one side i

is noticbly a lot nearer, also the mounts need reapairing, and with my upcoming

exhaust replacment i need to put the bodytub exactly where it is going to stop in

future.

So does anybody have any recomendations for doing this job, things to watch out for

and also where are the other body mount bolts!

many thanks danny.

Edited May 8, 2007 by silverfrost

[hilly]

Danny

Interestingly mine is on the wonk as well, I plan to correct it at some point.

As for body mounts, does this help ????

Hilly

[silverfrost]

Danny

Interestingly mine is on the wonk as well, I plan to correct it at some point.

As for body mounts, does this help ????

Hilly

Andy your a star, yes this willl help a great deal, as you know with our wheels

its a lot more noticable, and now with another 5mm even more so, i keep

putting it off but its needs doing now because if i set the exhaust pipes ups

and cut the mesh and move it afterwards it will be out of place

Plus im getting bloody close on one side to the arch :yes

Cheers for thew info Andy top man

JUST NOTICED ON THE DRAWING, HOLE DRILLED WITH BODY IN POSTION, I FEAR THIS TASK

MAY NOT BE AS STRAIGHT FORWARD AS EXPECTED

Edited May 8, 2007 by silverfrost

[markt]

Guys - Have a look in the area marked 12 & 14 on the diagram on your cars - Wouldn't be suprised if the body is cracked and out of alignment... Seems to be a common problem and CarlC did a nice write-up and repair proceedure that's in the Stevens room and also on Kato's site.

Had exactly the same problem on mine and I sorted it out in a few hours. Unfortunately, it didn't do any good for the apparent twist in the body of my Esprit. Have noticed this on others as well, so it's not just mine. One last thing, check the upper shock mount bushes - Mine were out by 35mm, and this caused a visual difference in how the wheels looked in the wheel wells.

Cheers - Mark

[silverfrost]

Guys - Have a look in the area marked 12 & 14 on the diagram on your cars - Wouldn't be suprised if the body is cracked and out of alignment... Seems to be a common problem and CarlC did a nice write-up and repair proceedure that's in the Stevens room and also on Kato's site.

Had exactly the same problem on mine and I sorted it out in a few hours. Unfortunately, it didn't do any good for the apparent twist in the body of my Esprit. Have noticed this on others as well, so it's not just mine. One last thing, check the upper shock mount bushes - Mine were out by 35mm, and this caused a visual difference in how the wheels looked in the wheel wells.

Cheers - Mark

Cheers Mark will take all that on board, dont like the sound of twisted bodytub

though, will have to see how it pans out, and yes the area of 12/14 does need

sorting its cracked but if i can get tub sitting correctly then i will be a

happy man and the motor should look that little bit better for it.

regards danny.

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Hi Guys if your body is out by about 5mm (do you mean it's out by 10mm so needs pushing back 5mm or out by 5mm so needs pushing over by 2.5mm) then over the length of the car it is not that far.

The bobbins in the back of the car will have to be refibreglassed in the correct place. You will need to undo the the bolts through the firewall/bulkhead ( 9 & 10) and slaken the bolts along the cetre tunnel ( 5,6,7, &8). For such a small amount I don't think you will have to reposition the front mountings but it may help to slaken then of. You will have to realign these with the car on the ground and the engine bay cross brace in position.

I hope that makes sense if not let me know and I will try to clear things up a bit better.

[hilly]

It is only a few mm out, it is just more noticable because the extra offset of the rear wheels really shows up the difference which you would normally not spot.

I have also notice that when closing the rear hatch I have to exert quite a bit of force to overcome the spring plungers which is actually bending the rear of the tub at the wheel arches.

Altering the design of the spring hatch poppers (which are quite franky rubbish) may help, but I was thinking about adding some support for the very rear of the body.

Hilly

[silverfrost]

Hi Guys if your body is out by about 5mm (do you mean it's out by 10mm so needs pushing back 5mm or out by 5mm so needs pushing over by 2.5mm) then over the length of the car it is not that far.

The bobbins in the back of the car will have to be refibreglassed in the correct place. You will need to undo the the bolts through the firewall/bulkhead ( 9 & 10) and slaken the bolts along the cetre tunnel ( 5,6,7, &8). For such a small amount I don't think you will have to reposition the front mountings but it may help to slaken then of. You will have to realign these with the car on the ground and the engine bay cross brace in position.

I hope that makes sense if not let me know and I will try to clear things up a bit better.

Cheers Troy, info greatfully recieved will give it a pop any dramas and i will

pick yuor brains again

cheers danny