I have the first batch of Stainless Steel channels delivered from my engineering workshop and they look to have been made to a very good standard.
This though DOES NOT guarantee that they will not need some ‘adjustment / tweaking’ to make them fit perfectly as they are all individually made by hand and welded by hand etc, however looking at them alongside an original they certainly sen to be pretty damn close, but we won’t know until they are fitted which is probably how it was in the factory anyway !
They are NOT cheep unfortunately as they stand me at 36 GBP / pair supplied to me here in Vietnam ! hence I recon if we say 40 GBP for a pair to you +2 owners on the elan web + P&P from Ireland (When I get them back there ready for dispatch early Aug) estimated at about 5 GBP to UK all other locations will be at cost to me for P&P I DO NOT make money from P&P.
I do also have some mild steel ones and they will be painted, both are made from heavier grade materials than the originals so should last a long time, but it does have to be said the SS ones are better finished off
What doesn’t sell will go on eBay as per normal, if your interested in some drop me a mail so I can get you on the list and then the rest will be for eBay or maybe sell to the ‘usual suspects’ and THEN the price will go up !!
It is the piece that 1/4 light window fits into and then joins to the door chrome frame front and back + there is anohter mounting bracket on it which I’m not sure about as I have NOT yet had mine out to see the arangement
But I have had these created from a original channel which was rotted out, I’m assured this is a common fault and they are NLA anywhere else hence I decided to get some made up to help out elan.net +2 owners.
I’ll post a picture of the them (prior to being remanufactured) so you can see and probably work it out
I just wanted to clarify here the amount of work that goes into making each one of these window channels.
It is made from 6 distinct components,
The bottom or the channel cut out in an arc shape
The two sides of the channel cut out flat and then curved to match the bottom as above once this is done they are TIG welded together to form the arced channel and then ground up to make ‘pretty’
The front bracket made and bent to 55 deg then drilled and tapped with 2 holes prior to being welded to the front of the channel base
The rear bracket made and bent to 70 deg then drilled and tapped with 2 holes prior to being welded to the rear of the channel base
The side bracket then made and a double angle of 70 & 60 Deg made in it prior to drilling the mounting hole and welding to the bottom / side of the channel base.
The whole thing is then cleaned up and the weld splatter etc removed and any sharp edges ground.
Sorry if this sounds like justification for the price, it maters not to me as I know what I was charged which I though originally was a dear cost but on reflection I would not like to make one in 304 grade SS for that amount
Thanks for the graphic picture of a totally knackered one Jon they weren’t kidding when they say they rotted out ! ( if I may I will use this in my eBay ad when selling if you have no problems with this ?)
These though should last a bit longer, you can see the difference in material thickness alone never mind being SS !
The mild steel ones though are also good and strong and will last a lifetime I’m sure
Please do remember as they are hand made they may need tweaking to fit 100% as per your originals (if THEY ever did ?) but anyone who is this far into a door should have no problems with a vice, hammer and file as may be needed
We are reaching the end of the current availability (one pair left) so as they seem pretty popular please let me know if you want me to get some more made ? as stated before they will be about 45 GBP (so long as the engineering firm do not want more $ for a pair !! ) to the UK and whatever additional cost of P&P on top of that to elsewhere
(Jon this does not effect you as you are pretty close to me so P&P will be either free if we meet up or reduced hopefully via AnPost. I may have a trip up to Clare this next time off for a look round so could look you up ! will let you know)
IF your not fast your last as they say so let me know if we need more ? working the roster I do (1 month on 1 month off) it can take considerable time to get these to Ireland, up to 3 months and my time in Vietnam is fast coming to a end so this may be the very last opportunity !
Sorry all sold, but if there is enough interest I’ll get some more SS ones made.
I do though have some mild steel and painted ones still available and these will be 35 GBP and to be honest with the additional thickness of materials used in their manufacture they will last many years