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Elan 5 speeds

To: "chapman" <chapman-era@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: Elan 5 speeds
From: "phil.bradshaw" <phil.bradshaw@clear.net.nz>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 97 05:43:02 PDT
Hi All.

I have been idly following this thread with a passing interest - but a
couple of things come to mind that have kicked me into action - oh oh...

1. Caterham 6 speed - I dunno if this is the Quaife unit or not - I
ass-u-me it will be the Quaife unit - why reinvent the wheel, especially in
a low production vehicle? I will have a check of my Caterham sales manual
tonite - see what it says. The cost is detailed somewhere. Maybe it will
give us a clue.

2. Nissan 5 speeds - I bought a Datsun 180B SSS 5 speed (dunno what you
Americanski call it - 1973-77 ish 1800cc 2 door sport model of the 4 door
sedan) - also used in 1600 and later 2000 cc cars. Has dogleg 1-2 change. I
hoped to put it into the Anglia - figured R above 1 ideal for manoevering
tests (zipping between 'garages') and I often do 5-4-5 on the road or 3-2-3
on the track (or is it 2-3-2!?) (1-R-1 on a bad day!)
Anyway - very large diameter integral bellhousing (I assume 26 Ounce is
worse) that was going to be a total pain in the butt with the 1600 4AGE.
However - given my 3A auto tranny bellhousing foray (kicking myself now for
leaving it at the yard - 12 bucks going price....) I have wondered about
chopping the Nissan bell housing off at the front plate (where the input
shaft goes in) and making a custom plate that replaces the stock one and
ties it to the auto bellhousing. Can similar be done for a Ford bellhousing?

3. My main interest in the Nissan box was the dogleg gear pattern - having
driven cars with it, I love it. Dunno how strong it is, but the rally boys
used to run with them. Then again - in the Leitch 4AGE/20 valve with T-50
box and 4.44 diff on 195/60 x 14 tyres - with a redline at a conservative
7000 - under a ton mph who needs fifth? Dogleg 2-3 still a pain, but I
often chop down to third at 60 mph (third is good for about 80 mph). Note -
this is road use, not circuit. Now I have T-50 for Anglia I dunno if the
Nissan box is worth the hassle. Also not really sure if it will handle the
grunt of the supercharged motor.

4. Armed with trusty tape measure I will measure the 180B box tonite. Oh
yeah - and the 5 Speed attached to the Nissan FJ 20 2 litre 16 valve I
acquired last week for free that is lying around. May as well measure up
the W-50 as well. Pity the T-50 is in the Anglia. 

Why is it that what I regard as a hobby my Fiancee regards as an obsession!?

Warning - once the mountain of crap in your garage reaches critical mass,
more arrives - independent of your own efforts!

Regards

Phil Bradshaw
Auckland NZ

$100 wonder - 1981 TA 45 Celica - Lowered etc etc
1992 Leitch Supersprint 20 Valve Lotus 7 Replica - 64,000 miles...
Anglia 105GZE Supercharged 4AGZE Clubcar Project

phil.bradshaw@clear.net.nz
64-9-4455509 W/Fax
64-9-4437055 H


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