Was difficulty getting clam off NOW She's alive!

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:18 pm

Got all the bolts out but one fecker is locked tight, the one at the a post bottom in the below diag. Mashed up one dremel bit removing it and ground as much as possible off, still not enough. Maplins tomorrow for new dremel bits.

Anyone got any tips for me ?

Work planned is as follows:

Replace radiator
Replace headlights (again)
Possible replace headlight brackets (again)
Hammerite new brackets
Fit new tow bar
Fix earthing issue with lights (new earths for both headlights)
Polish up the drivers lights as bonded crud on them
Hammerite grills
Tidy up airhorn install
Fit new battery (0063 Halfords)
Install new battery retaining doofer

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:22 pm

Did you try turning it using a center punch or Tap ?

lot's of WD or diesel tonight let it seep in. although if you have ground it all away you may not be able to get any purchase on it

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:54 pm

Mine just went round and round, I cut the clam a bit. Then I hit a Vectra and it went away...

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:02 am

Indeed, just cut a slot in the clam so that it will pop out from underneath the bolt; don't be tempted to angle grind it off - the heat generated will melt the clam causing much more damage than just cutting a slot with a dremel or just a carefully applied chisel.

Cheers,
Robin

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:47 am

robin wrote:Indeed, just cut a slot in the clam so that it will pop out from underneath the bolt; don't be tempted to angle grind it off - the heat generated will melt the clam causing much more damage than just cutting a slot with a dremel or just a carefully applied chisel.

Cheers,
Robin

Oh cock.... we were careful to feel it to make sure not too much heat was generated. Half off already, might try the chisel again.

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:03 pm

Dremel's OK - they're like 0.0001W or something - but a 500W angle grinder will deliver a significant amount of heat in a very short amount of time (at an approximate rate of 500W ...)

Cheers,
Robin

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:07 pm

Well calm came off tonight, as did the rad, fekc me those screws were pish and rusted away. As were the jubilee clips on the rad.

Good thing I checked th fan before refitting (after angle grinding the bolts that held housing on the rad as the nuts terminated in nasty square rusted nuts) as the fan was seized solid. Feck knows how long that has been like that, explains the 130 a few weeks back.

Off to Elise parts to source a fan and a few replacement plastic rawlnut things for the rad cowl housing.

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:04 am

Good effort

Oh the joy of corroded fasteners

When you reassemble use some duralec between the fasteners and the rad housing (Campbell has my spare tube I think, but I'm sure by now he has sourced and fitted the relevant bolt, so it should be available).

For all the clam fastners I suggest a load of copper slip on each of them - makes it much easier to get them out next time.

For the rawl nuts at the bottom of the A post I would be inclined to knock them through (you can remove coin trays to recover them) and replace the shim with a small metal plate with two nuts welded to it; you can then bond that to the cill and it should last a few years. Alternately just leave them in there and only use what still works - there are more bolts than required I am sure

Cheers,
Robin

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:44 pm

And found this!

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:22 pm

New rad, rawl nuts and full SS bolt set for the S1 ordered from Elise parts, who says I don't spend money on my car ?!

jj · Post by jj » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:25 pm

Sanjoy wrote:New rad, rawl nuts and full SS bolt set for the S1 ordered from Elise parts, who says I don't spend money on my car ?!

Man, that must of hurt!

What does that writing on the arch mean? Testing a new "flesh" colour?

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:38 pm

Meant new rad fan, all in £126.72.

S1 Alies Trial ?

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:28 pm

Sanjoys car was originally pink!

Post by **campbell** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:33 pm

robin wrote: (Campbell has my spare tube I think, but I'm sure by now he has sourced and fitted the relevant bolt, so it should be available).

Arf, that'll be right. Nonetheless, the tube of stuff is obviously available while I sort my life out, so let me know if it is required at any point and I shall deliver.

Campbell
(slow and distracted faction)

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:29 am

That makes me want to take my front clam off