Changing swept winged 7's

[ninemill]

How easy is it to change a Lotus 7 replica car from having swept wings to the shorter cycle wings?

No offence to any of you with swept-wing cars, they're just not my cup of tea! If it's a fairly easy process to change them over it would increase the number of suitable cars (2nd hand btw) available to me to buy as I could get a swept design and change it to suit me.

Cheers guys

Tom.

[Graham.J]

A doddle

Remove old wings, buy brackets and wings from Tiger Racing/Westfield/Caterham, fit new brackets, fit new wings, place PistonHeads.com MUVVA DECAL over the holes left by the swept wings.

And Robert's your Fathers Brother.

>> Edited by Graham.J on Friday 10th October 13:19

[mark b]

Totally agree, easy life. I also don't like the swept type and would change a car as soon as to cycle type.

If you want a set of Carbon Fibre cycle wings, I know a man who can for very reasonable money! Proper job too, pre preg carbon, not the crappy wet lay up stuff.....

Mark B

[sagalout]

But you are left with a series of threaded holes down the side panel......

[ninemill]

The good thing is I suppose the holes left by the swept wings aren't so much of a problem because it's fibreglass and not metal which would normally go rusty on a normal car.

How many rivet holes do the swept wings have? Would they leave a line of holes down the length of the body? and what is the best way to cover these up? I doubt a PH sticker that long would do much for the look of the car!!

[Graham.J]

I think my swept wings had about 4 or 5 holes made in the body.

Click here to see what it looks like with a PH sticker on.

Graham

[Justin s]

My pre-lit westie came with swept wings on and the bolt holes all 'bolted' with round headed bolts which I painted.When I got the car re painted,I bought a pair of new(actually shop soiled) cycle wings from a locost parts place, because the others had cracked where they are bolted on.I found westfields price of £60 each laughable and these were £20 delivered.They had surface scratching but were getting painted.I also didnt drill these and fibreglassed a metal strip with 2 bolts showing through under the wing.So much better with no nasty bolts showing and no possible cracking of the wings.The side panels were then repaired with stranded fibre paste stuff,filled and painted.I'm sure you could do this and then just get a colour made up at Halfords to match the body colour and a small artist brush and fill them in.

[ninemill]

Thanks for the info guys, It doesn't sound too tricky at all, I'm sure I'll be able to manage it!!

And nice motor Graham, the sticker idea works a treat!

Tom.

[richolaf]

A friend of mine converted his Westfield and covered teh holes up with some plastic side trim forma Micra, it actually looked pretty good and sticks on!

[traction]

I think the weight of that hanging basket is pulling your guttering down.



Ta.

[ninemill]

mungo said:

Don't know about Westie's but Caterhams are alluminium!

I think I prefer ones with plastic sides, rather than alloy, sounds like a lot less work to keep them looking good as well!!

I thought alloy sides were just an option on all the 7 variant kits?? I'm sure I've seen Caterhams with GRP sides?