4ster Posted April 3, 2005 Share Posted April 3, 2005 No, I am not trying to lobby for support in the perennial debate with the cycle wing aficionados but wonder whether anyone can tell me whether the rather unsightly brackets situated about 1/3 up my wings here are really necessary. I have seen cars with & without but would rather not remove them and risk the wings coming loose, if that is a possibility. If they are there to prevent flexing, then it hasn't been altogether successful as there are stress cracks along the surface. Albeit after nearly 20 years of use. Any thoughts as to whether they can come off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ster Posted April 3, 2005 Author Share Posted April 3, 2005 Hyperlink doesn't seem to work so please try this: http://gallery136735.fotopic.net/p11468193.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 I remember on my old clamshell car ('97 vintage which didn't have that additional support) that the wings were held on with M5 screws except one near the back which, from memory, would have been M8 or even M10 and I think was a rivnut into one of the chassis members. They were, obviously, also supported at the front by a curved extension to the headlamp bracket but I just wonder if the bigger fixing into a chassis member was substituted for the central support on newer cars. Just a thought maybe. Brent 2.3 DURATEC SV. In the final weeks of gestation. SVA booked. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 My old 91 car had clamshells, but never had the supporting brackets. They never fell off in 13 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old captain slow Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 My 1996 car doesn't have them - mainly track use and no probs. C7 CDW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 But is that because they had the one larger diameter screw near the back? Brent 2.3 DURATEC SV. In the final weeks of gestation. SVA booked. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old captain slow Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 I'll have a look tonight. C7 CDW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ster Posted April 4, 2005 Author Share Posted April 4, 2005 Thanks everyone, I will also look tonight at how mine are fixed at the rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ster Posted April 4, 2005 Author Share Posted April 4, 2005 Rearmost bolt is exactly the same as all the others (M5?) and does not appear to go into a chassis member. Does this mean that it would be unwise to remove the brackets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stewart Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 My 1996 car does not have the support brackets and when I bought the car from Caterham in 1998 I had the car converted from cycle wings! 😳 Caterham did not put brackets on and the wings have never fallen off or come loose! I do have some star cracks but I think that is due more to stones flying up from the wheels. I have two larger bolts on mine, one halfway along the side and one at the rear most position of the wing. Tony Weales book "Lotus Seven Restoration/Preparation/Maintenance" states that the value of the stay is questionable and it is sometimes omitted. I have only seen very old sevens with wing stays. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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