Prepped And Ready For E-series Assembly

[NSTG8R]

So, E1 looks to be marshmallow. Any bets on E2?

Probably the cheapest paint to use. I'd bet that all of the "test vehicles" will be marshmallow too...maybe even left in a primer coat if they just plan on crashing it.

 

[HonestTex]

Probably the cheapest paint to use. I'd bet that all of the "test vehicles" will be marshmallow too...maybe even left in a primer coat if they just plan on crashing it.

I assume they will paint at least one blue and one black so they can get photos of each color.

 

[Ty]

It says "Because the E-Series vehicles will be hand assembled, the panels are individually painted before they are attached to the frame and vehicle buildup begins." This means the production vehicles will have the panels attached to the frame and the vehicle painted as a whole. I thought the panels were painted first then attached to the frame.

Will the frame receive its own paint then body panel overspray will get on it? Or, will the frame and body both be painted together and thus the same color?

It says: "Once the panels are dry, they receive a clear coat, which helps protect the paint." This means Elio has a two stage paint scheme: paint and clear coat. I had assumed to keep price down, it would be single stage paint.

I see the items most frequent to replace (starter, water pump, AC compressor, fuel injectors, alternator) are behind the engine, under the long dash and difficult to get to. The exhaust manifold which seldom fails is in front of the engine and where it is more easy to reach.

I was thinking the same thing. I've replaced a lot of things in my days. I've rescued many cars from car death as a hobby/money maker. All of those cars were well beyond 100k in miles and were not in the best of shape. I can't remember the last time I had to remove anything on one of my personal cars. Granted, my vehicles are all newer but I haven't taken something out from under the hood of a vehicle that wasn't one of my buy-fix-sell cars since... I can't remember how long. Those things just last longer. I pulled a water pump off a 10 year old 4Runner back in 2009 and pulled the head off a 15 year old Geo Tracker to replace an exhaust valve (I that engine work myself to replace and seat the valve and it ran like a champ). But, I can't remember ever pulling anything off a vehicle that was fewer than 10 years old. So, I was thinking to myself, maybe the Elio won't need that kind of maintenance either. If it does, remember, the hood opening will make getting to components in the back easier anyway.

 

[Trusting]

Elio Motors Momentum v58


Body Panels, Powertrain Prepped and Ready for E-Series Assembly

Elio Motors’ Pilot Operations Center in Livonia, Mich., currently is a hotbed of activity in the building of the E-Series vehicles. In this week’s Momentum, we’re taking a look at the arrival of a shipment of body panels and engines/transmissions that have revved up our activities, so to speak.

If you recall, we have our own paint shop in the Pilot Operations Center. This means that the panels are shipped from our supplier, Molded Plastic Industries, primed and ready for paint prep. Because the E-Series vehicles will be hand assembled, the panels are individually painted before they are attached to the frame and vehicle buildup begins.

Elio Motors’ technician prepares the surface of a fender prior to painting.

Body Panels Shine in Anticipation of Assembly

After the body panel surfaces are prepped in the spray booth, our paint technician utilizes the latest in high-volume low-pressure (HVLP) spray equipment to apply the Elio’s water-based finish to the panels. Using HVLP technology is important because the technology increases transfer efficiency, providing better, more consistent coverage than conventional spray guns and minimizes messy overspray. As a result, more of the finish is actually applied to the panels, which is better for our environment, as well as being more cost effective.

Once the panels are dry, they receive a clearcoat, which helps protect the paint. From there, the panels are stored on their fixtures until they’re ready to be assembled onto the next E-Series vehicle.

The Elio’s body panels are painted with a high-solids water-based finish that is applied with high-volume low-pressure (HVLP) spray equipment to minimize waste and protect the environment.

Again, stingy with the pictures.

 

[outsydthebox]

I see the items most frequent to replace (starter, water pump, AC compressor, fuel injectors, alternator) are behind the engine, under the long dash and difficult to get to. The exhaust manifold which seldom fails is in front of the engine and where it is more easy to reach.

I am a bit confused...So, "the starter, water pump, AC compressor, fuel injectors, alternator" are under the long dash and difficult to get to.
From your description It sounds like your looking at the engine compartment of a dodge minivan.

 

[outsydthebox]

Just a guess...That "recessed area" (in the left side) looks like a good place to store the Jack. The right side "recessed area" is their for the European versions with the door on other side.

 

[Ocean9000]

Just a guess...That "recessed area" (in the left side) looks like a good place to store the Jack. The right side "recessed area" is their for the European versions with the door on other side.

Just a guess, but IMHO, the "insets" are too low to support the trunk floor, too far back to support the rear seat back and IIRC, no jack or spare tyre will be provided so they are most likely the rear sidebody attachment point(s) to the rear frame loop and may have some involvement in rear collision mitigation.

 

[Jeff Porter]

This v58 of the Momentum is a good one.

Here's a great answer to the repeating question that we get from newbies on our forum, about why didn't they just grab an existing engine as opposed to spending the time and money to develop one specifically for the Elio:

"Fuel economy is an Elio Motors’ “Must Have” and one of the key drivers prompting the company to develop its own engine, versus using an off-the-shelf power plant. Because the Elio is significantly lighter than the vehicles that are powered by even the smallest existing engines, their power plants’ DNA destines them to fall short of our 84 mpg highway target.
Keeping costs low for our consumers and making a positive contribution to the environment are just a few of the long term commitments we are striving to achieve in our journey to production."

 

[Sethodine]

I see the items most frequent to replace (starter, water pump, AC compressor, fuel injectors, alternator) are behind the engine, under the long dash and difficult to get to. The exhaust manifold which seldom fails is in front of the engine and where it is more easy to reach.

Are you saying that the E-series engine layout is different from the P5, or was the P5 like that too? (I don't rememeber stuff like that)

 

[WilliamH]

Are you saying that the E-series engine layout is different from the P5, or was the P5 like that too? (I don't rememeber stuff like that)

The P5 was like that also.