Lotus 51c question

[Chris Thompson]

I just got an engine cover for my Lotus 51c, but don't quite see how to mount it. On the 51a/b, the frame has a couple of little tabs to support it on both sides. The C doesn't. Any 51c owners out there?

[Mike Summers]

I just got an engine cover for my Lotus 51c, but don't quite see how to mount it. On the 51a/b, the frame has a couple of little tabs to support it on both sides. The C doesn't. Any 51c owners out there?

Yikes! I have a bunch of Lotus 51 questions and cannot, sorry bout that, figure out how to post a new thread or question........Help!

Mike Summers
Sacramento, Ca

[Rob McClelland]

Suggest you try sending the questions to the Lotus Formula Ford Register site at: http://www.lffr.org. You may have better luck getting a response there.

Check the Sold Car section in the Archives at: http://www.race-cars.com. There are listings for a fair number of Lotus 51's. Some have more detailed photos which may be of assistance.

I have a 61, so the engine cover mounts are different.

[Chris Thompson]

Thanks - the LFFR site hadn't posted any questions or answers in about 2 years the last time I looked. I've looked at all the pics of 51c's online, and no help. Looks like I'll have to "make do" until somebody at the track points out that it's wrong and can tell me what's right!

[Keith Laney]

Hi Chris,
you should have two spring-clips that anchor to the side of the cock-pit body-work and one that anchors down at the rear centre to the gear-box crossbar,hope this helps.If you want ring me on 269-253-2412

Happy motor-sport Keith

[Chris Thompson]

Thanks, Keith. But I think that's true for the 51a's and b's, but not the c's. The a's and b's have a couple of tabs on the sides of the frame on either side of the engine to suport the cover when it's pulled down by the Terry Spring on the back. The C doesn't have those side support tabs.

What I did was order a turnbuckle and mounts from Aircraft Spruce and rigidly mounted the engine cover at the rear. Someday one of the other dozen owners of a 51c will ridicule me, and I look forward to it....

Chris

[Keith Laney]

Hi again Chris I have just restored a 51c from the ground up,and a problem you may have ,with the cover mounted solid it could break the fiberglass,lets hope not.

All the best and Happy Motor-sport Keith

[Chris Thompson]

Thanks for your help on the phone today, Keith! It's great to have a list like this. I just made a new friend who solved a problem only about 100 people in the world would know the answer to. Just did my paypal contribution to apexspeed.

[LFFR]

Chris,

The LFFR receives very little Lotus content e-mail, but I would be happy to post something to the website, if it would only show up. I may drop e-mails, accidently, I will apologize for that, but it is difficult wading through all of the porn, viagra, herbal growth formulas and shady Nigerian bank offers. Something in the title that has Lotus, 51, 61, 69 or something that resembles a chassis or frame number would be helpful.

Carl McLelland, from Reno, is about the only person who routinely sends info. If you check the last Bulletins, you'll see a lot of his contributions. I have race reports,from him, that I plan to roll into some new web pages.

Guys, I could really use some content. I feel strange about having only things that I or RMVR folks are doing, on the website and in the Bulletin. Content.....pleeeeeeeeeeease (that's a begging please).

Kieth,

I don't see your name in the register list anywhere. Could you please send in a registration form and I'll update you and your cars info. A jpeg too, if you can.


I didn't jump in on the 51 tailpiece question, because I'm not that familar with the 51C's. As far a forum for questions and answers, I personally can't think of a better place than this. There a a lot of former Lotus owners here, that may not routinely hit the LFFR site, as well as most of the current Lotus owners. So for hitting the maximum number of Lotus owners, former owners, race prep folks...etc., this is THE place.

I have, for some time, been thinking about putting together a Lotus FF group in Yahoo Groups. We have a Yahoo Group for our Lotus Colorado Club (aka LOCO), it has proven to be an effective method for getting information to the members and for maintaining communication between the members. If you all would be interested in something like that, I'll start get & the group rolling.

Your ideas please!

You are both coming to LOG 25 aren't you?????


John Mihalich, Jr.
Lotus 61/FF/28
lffr@hotmail.com