Hello Jeff,
TTR stands for Tony Thompson Racing, an English shop run by Tony Thompson,
who has been campaigning a 26R for several years and probably has had the
most experience with the model in Europe. He sells standard Lotus
galvanized frames and also what he calls "26R" frames. These look like the
standard Elan frame but have a great deal of gussetting and strengthening.
Tony says they are made more accurately than the Lotus item, for which
reason h refuses to galvanize them (heat distortion). I prefer them to
Spyder frames because of historical reasons (Elan frames -- the precursor of
the Lotus monocoque -- are supposed to be sheet metal), but this is a
personal choice.
TTR also has many goodies for the Elan:
magnesium rear uprights, bell housing, differential cover, wheels
aluminum gearbox tailcase, differential nosepiece, upper rear strut
mount (w/ spherical bearings)
a-arms, either nylon bushed or rod ends
aluminum radiator
lightweight aluminum knock-offs (spinners) and hubs to suit
aluminum front calipers with larger discs
lightweight body sections
narrow rear springs to accommodate the wider magnesium rims
Koni and Spax adjustable dampers
If you get carried away, you might have very little original on the car. An
expensive proposition, so be careful.
I can photocopy his catalog and mail it to you, if you are interested.
Regards,
Andres
Manila
Lotus 23 and 45
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Cocking <jeff@cocking.com>
To: A. Sta. Maria <atocha@globe.com.ph>
Date: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 1:15 AM
Subject: RE: Elan restoration update
>Andres,
>I have a quick question. Who is TTR? You indicated having a frame and
>suspension pieces from TTR. What services or parts do they provide? Where
>could I find them? Ok....three questions.
>
>tia
>
>jeff cocking
>
>69 elan 45/7960 (major suspension pieces currently being bead blasted.
>Major envy since I'm a long way from a rolling chassis.)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-chapman-era@autox.team.net
>[mailto:owner-chapman-era@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of A. Sta. Maria
>Sent: Saturday, January 30, 1999 8:11 PM
>To: Chapman Era; Lotus List
>Subject: Elan resyoration update
>
>
>Just another note to update everyone on the progress of work on 45/8439, a
>1969 Elan S4 damaged in March 1998 at a vintage event.
>
>My new TTR uprated frame (Tony Thompson says 26R spec) is now a rolling
>chassis. The steering rack has been redone and installed, and all
>suspension pieces installed, with 250 lb springs in front and 150 lbs at
the
>rear. The suspension still needs to be aligned, and, with adjustable rod
>ends all around, this will be a more complicated task than before. I used
>to have nylon-bushed Spyder front arms and toed-in rear A-arms from TTR,
so
>all I needed to do during the last restoration (in 1997) was check front
>toe-in. Now I can adjust camber and toe in at all corners. And when the
>cars is complete, I get to weigh the corners (am trying to get a group in
>the club to contribute toward the purchase of digital scales). The fat
>front a-arms and beefed-up frame give the appearance of an Elan chassis on
>steroids.
>
>The LF corner (a light version to compensate for driver weight!) has been
>grafted on to the body and minor cracks from the crash mended. The body
has
>been trial-fitted to the frame, and holes drilled and tapped into the
frame.
>The body is scheduled for the paint shop this Saturday. Oh yes, we fitted
a
>26R differential air scoop on the RH rocker panel and bonded in a
fabricated
>aluminum tube for the ducting. I still have to decide how to introduce the
>ducting to the differential. Through the sloping panel behind the seat or
>on top of the differential hump, ala TTR's 26R?
>
>QED has advised that my new steel engine is on the workbench. This should
>have an aged L block and the new QED head casting. This was delayed
>somewhat, but I am hopeful that QED's reputation will indeed result in a
>fine, strong, reliable engine. Just 40 DCOEs and standard ignition on this
>one, to address our vintage race regs. I hope I can get this delivered
>easily. It's a long way from England to Manila.
>
>Since I do the work on the Elan (except fiberglass, painting, and the
>engine) and plan again on a complete, concours car. not a stripped-out
>racer, completion is still months away. However, my best friend's TR4A is
>now being completed by a professional shop, and he prefers to drive a Mini
>Cooper S, so when the season opens next month, I get to share the TR4A with
>our pretty club secretary, Sophie. I hope her lap times will not be much
>better than mine. After the crash in the Lotus, I can only take so much
>embarrassment!
>
>Regards to all,
>
>Andres
>Manila
>Lotus 23 and 45
>
>
>
>
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