One explanation for the difference could be new springs vs. sagged old
springs. BTW I would interpret early and late Elans in the context of
springs as Weber cars (S1, S2, S3) vs. Stromberg cars (S4, Sprint).
S4 Elans sit a little higher (or did when new).
Rod
Subject: Elan front springs
Author: "Erik V. Berg" <erikb@elrond.sp.TRW.COM> at CCGATE
Date: 7/29/98 9:32 PM
Andrew, on Tue, 28 Jul 1998 you posted (to Lotus-Cars):
> Sorry to send this to the whole list but have had problems with my
> e-mails and needed to thank Lars-Olaf for the information he sent me
> on Elan front springs. Regards
Andrew, did you get a response about this from Ray Yang? Assuming not,
I've copied his messages below:
Ray commented:
> Greetings Andrew/Erik:
> I have some stock front springs that are off the car and I'll measure
> them when I get home today. If my memory serves me, aren't these
> lengths also mentioned in the DBE catalog?
And then,
> I measured one of my old stock S2 Elan front springs, and it came out
> at 16.5 inches. I also checked the Dave Bean Engineering catalog and
> find that it lists a free length for the stock front spring at 16.1
> inches (early Elan) and 16.75 inches (later models). I am not sure
> how they define early versus late (possibly at the S2 to S3
> changeover?).
> Perhaps this early/late distinction is why you have two lengths as
> well?
Andrew, could you post any other related comments that you received
privately, to chapman-era? I think others here might be interested
in this topic too.
Regards,
Erik Berg
Los Angeles
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