My Elio Alternate Project Is Underway.

[Sonoran Sam]

You make life very hard for yourself, I would rather just undo the 3 nuts holding them on ....

Oh... even better. I thought they were riveted in. My cheap monitor betrayed me, yet again.

It is very much appreciated that you are utilizing "user-friendly"/ "DIY'er" style parts.

 

[Mark BEX]

And now I have lower controls arms full mounted, it's time to start on the bouncy things ...

 

[Sonoran Sam]

Is the rear wheel going to be disc or drum brake??
I learned on drum brakes (all four wheels) but was so much happier when disc brakes came along.

 

[Mark BEX]

Is the rear wheel going to be disc or drum brake??
I learned on drum brakes (all four wheels) but was so much happier when disc brakes came along.

Drum due to a much more effective parking brake than a disc. Many rear discs actually have an internal drum parking brake for this reason.

Not very important anyway, as the front brakes will be doing over 80% of the braking.

 

[Sonoran Sam]

Drum due to a much more effective parking than a disc.

I forgot about the parking brake aspect. My old work truck and newer econo-box car have rear drum brakes, I'm guessing for that reason.
You are correct, I rarely change rear brake shoes compared to front brake pads. My drum brake tool set is buried all the way in the back of my tool cabinet, rarely used... but there when I need it.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

Is the rear wheel going to be disc or drum brake??
I learned on drum brakes (all four wheels) but was so much happier when disc brakes came along.

My 2015 Ford Fiesta had front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. It's up to Bex, but I'm thinking the same for his vehicle? Disc for better braking & on wet roads, drum for parking. Given the Honda Fit source of parts I googled it, it also uses disc in the front and drum in the rear.

 

[Velhartice]

My 2007 Focus hit 150k before it got a front brake job, its now nearly 180k and still has the drum brakes it came with from the factory. It might still have the original clutch now too come to think of it. I’ll double check with my parents, I sold it to them about 8 years ago and don’t recall them ever getting it replaced. I miss driving that car a bunch, but it had downright awful front seats. Apart from that, I would also venture to say one of the best cheap cars to roll out of a Ford factory. The duratec 2.0 in it is very punchy and reliable. It loves revs, especially after I put a full exhaust, an escape 2.3 2 stage intake manifold and a partial homebuilt CAI. The transmission, chassis, and steering are just as good to make it a fantastic value for a cheap drivers car ($13k at the time) with good fuel economy. If I had gotten a higher trim (better seats) with the 4 door hatch instead of the base 2 door hatch, I might still have it.

 

[Mark BEX]

I feel a bit defeated, for a couple of days trying to make a good looking front suspension mounting, and just gave up. For the moment it's a bit agricultural, but strong and functional, will come back to aesthetics later.

Got home to find my sample seat had finally arrived (and all businesses are now open again). The seat needs a few mods, but is a good, well made foundation for what I want it to eventually be.

 

[Sonoran Sam]

but strong and functional...

Some of the best designs are simple, strong and functional. At the end of the day, it does the job and holds the "quick strut" securely! I hope it is OK to continue to ask questions...
(1) Will there be "cam bolts" in the quick strut for adjustments??
(2) What style of front wheel bearing do you think you will use?? The bolt in style or press in style??
(3) Last question is from my girlfriend, she wants to know how wide are the new seats?? The holiday season left her a bit "wider" than before.
I played your video for her and she likes the new seat design. I told her I would make a removable foot rest for her for longer trips (out of foam).
I made a (removable) arm rest for my "econo-box" out of foam and covered it with a black pillow case. So, I'll probably do similar for her "foot rest"

 

[AriLea]

...a removable foot rest...

Or something more like this maybe?
(would maybe need to work out better how to deploy and retract with the foot controled leavers...or something.
And attach it into the floor)

Although maybe the pillow or a block with just velcro will work as good for less change to the floorboard.
Velcro on the underside, stick to most carpet. (cleaning required but easier to adjust for leg length)
A DIY cardboard block filled with foam would be very light and stiff. (requires replacement maybe bi-yearly)
Paint it with interior enamel except where the Velcro is, to last longer.