New Front Clam - What to look for??

[acacb]

Hiya, well as many of you know i've been having trouble with my car as it was involved in a hit an run, but today should finally be the day i get it back.

Its had a new front clam fitted and i just wanted to know what i shoudl be looking for when i collect it from the garage, ie, size of pannel gaps, how to know if its a good fit?? ect

Thanks

Anna

[Shug]

Key is consistency - panel gaps on an elise can vary, but shouldn't vary along their own length. Run a pinkie down them and see if they tighten up or loosen up. Paint is the other thing - look at it outside, get a good reflection on it and check for smoothness (no 'orange peel' effect)

Sadly, the only thing you can't check for is whether the paint will bubble, if there's been too much moisture when re-spraying - but make sure you have a long enough warranty on the work that if bubbles do show up in the finish when it gets hotter, they know you'll be back to get them fixed as it would be caused by bad prep.

[acacb]

aww thanks for that Shug,

[Shug]

Probably clearance for the door to open (although you don't need to be able to drive a boat through it) - check that, by the way, that when you open the door, the clearances at the front aren't too small.

3-4cm sounds bloody huge!

[BiggestNizzy]

3-4cm sounds bloody huge!

It is huge !

[Shug]

It's not Arnold Shark that's put it back together or something?

[acacb]

Hahaha no, although the insurance wanted me to go there, but sadly for me i opted for WIllowbrae, I had heard good things about them but i've had shocking treatment - they've had my car for 88 days!! when i was orignally quoted 7-10.

Yeah i thought it was abit excessive!

[Shug]

Strange - Willowbrae are usually tip top - nothing to do with Lotus not having clams? (that's the usual hold-up and not really Wilowbrae's fault) I'd be surprised if the shutlines are off - get Craig at MMC on the case if there's something not right - he's usually well on top of stuff like this.

If in doubt - post photos of the bits that concern you (instructions in the gallery how to do this, if you don't know)

The car should be as good as (if not better than, if my experience of willowbrae is anything to go by) factory, or it's a case of 'hand it back and try again'.

[acacb]

Thanks for advice, got the car back, gap fixed, good colour match.
Nah wasn't to do with not having clams, accident was in august, car taken to willowbrae november, can returned end jan.
Door was knocked out of alignment in the accident and has been tightened, still not right though, going to have the window adjusted next week - any other suggestions?

Soooo glad to have it back, off some an evening of driving now to set me up for day of driving tomorrow : D