2005 Lotus Clamshell Removal

[@Little6]

This is probably the most detailed video on removing front clam shell. If you can also do a video on radiator removal it will be awesome. Thank you so much.

[@gaza2322]

This video has taught me never to remove the front clamshell on my Elise. Leave it to the pros. Thanks for the video - your patience is impressive - so many screws to remove!

[@patrickvanrinsvelt4466]

I invested in a set of Allen head sockets that can attach to a drill. I have little Tupperware type containers to hold the different groups of fasteners to make it easy to put back together. Great, detailed video. I was holding my breath at the end. What carcass? You going to do the rear? Your front suspension looks pretty minty... What do you do to keep it looking that good? I take mine out every week at least to do errands and take the loooong way home.

[@ratcat7668]

Thank you. I plan to take my front clam off on the weekend, my radiator is leaking but not a lot, enough to be annoying, slightly different being a 2004 but very similar. I bought a Jeep with a dead rat up on top of the gearbox near the engine, but by the time I bought it, it was pretty much just a skeleton.

[@mikeyp86]

Doing a radiator replacement on my Elise this weekend and cannot thank you enough for the video as this will be my 1st attempt at clam removal! If you see this - drop any hints for the radiator please :)

[@Amberdogproductions]

good video man. As soon as I grow some balls I'm gonna have to pull the clam to get a look at that darn front crossover oil line. Small leak on drivers side somewhere.......

[@ADDAutoguy.]

Try removing the inner fender liner to have a look. You should be able to access the fittings from there, I think. It's been a while and I'd need to watch my own video over again to be sure! 😆

[@1183newman]

i seen people with rear clam hinges, also a few with front clam hinges. If i bought another elise i would def get conversion done for the rear clam and maybe front.

[@jamespowell2924]

Great video and it will help me prevent the mistakes that you made. I think I will use painters tape liberally to prevent potential scratching during removal. Didn't realize when first watching that you were after dead rat. Did you upgrade horn to louder while in there? If not already member you should join Lotustalk. Thanks for making video!

[@ADDAutoguy.]

I did not upgrade the horn but I did replace the radiator since I've heard the originals are prone to failure. Need to go through my footage to see if I recorded enough for a video!

[@Verichai]

Very helpful video, but the segment starting at 30:50 was physically painful to watch. Imagine the next owner of the car, knowing that the previous owner removed the front clam by single-handedly yanking on it, damaging the fiberglass and raining spacers and who knows what else down into who knows where? Definitely a two-person job...appreciate you letting other learn from your mistakes.

[@ADDAutoguy.]

Yeah it was not the best idea. Should have waited until I had help. I had assistance when putting it back on at least! While the clam was off, I reinforced the area in the middle near the windscreen where there were minor cracks from this abuse (but no breaks). It had damage/chunks missing up front from the previous owner hitting stuff so the clam wasn't perfect to begin with. As for the spacers- none were lost! Remember I counted them before removal. 😉 Next owner will likely be my offspring or a wrecking yard so no worries there! 🤣

[@Verichai]

@@ADDAutoguy. Fair enough! Again, good of you to share so others can learn. Enjoy the car, they're incredible and only appreciating!

[@mark-kf3md]

Do you have a video for removing the rear clamshell ?? Never ever ever use a torque wrench to remove lug nuts and other fasteners.

[@ADDAutoguy.]

Yes I know this but thanks. It's still sound advice for others who see this. The torque wrench I was using here is broken. So now it's a ratcheting breaker bar! And no, I haven't removed the rear clam. Haven't had a need to thankfully!

[@mark-kf3md]

@@ADDAutoguy. Ok that makes sense now. Any chance you need to remove the rear clam and could do a nice detailed video of that? Thanks

[@lancedolan]

@@ADDAutoguy. I also have a broken torque wrench that is not a breaker bar. All good m8

[@lesterbeedell9725]

It seems a lot easier to remove the clam on a series 1 Elise You just remove the service compartment hatch in one piece

[@claudiodueviti]

Thanx for this video and for being so brave. I am not sure thought the assembling is simply the reverse; I mean , a few parts needs to be aligned for sure and the click clack sound when eventually it detached from the body let me think that a bit of jiigling has to be done to re-align everything before bolting. Anyhow, thanx for this everything but annoying video.

[@rotatingdriveline3466]

Hah I wonder how long that rat was there!

[@lunarthespacecat7772]

this vheicle is daily drive and sitll hasnt lots its value i dont understand appreciation and depreciation to any degree. cus desireabiltiy is person to person and a group of people and lot of is largely manipulated.