Mike Braun wrote:
>>> Sometime ago there was a discussion about 5
>>> speeds for the Elan.
<snip>
>>> Now, I cannot vouch for any of this one way or the other, but my
>>> own 2cents is that, while most early Elan owners would love one more
>>> cog, the gear ratios in this box are not properly spaced for a
>>> "sporting" box. The closeness of ratios is one of the things which
>>> gives the Elan its race car type feel.
I responded:
>> Yep, I kinda agree with you, both in general and in specific details.
>> The Lotus-Austin 'box seems to have more disadvantages than advantages.
>> So are you interested in potential Elan 5 speed options? There is a
>> group of us investigating some other candidates.
Then Dave Billings requested:
> I would guess that most of us on the list would like to benefit from the
> information you dig up. Please post your findings.
Ummm... well, I've wanted to be low-key about it, because the work is not
anywhere near done yet, and there are a few folks on Lotus-Cars who (with
some real justification) believe this whole idea to be sacrilegious. So
consider me to be wearing my Nomex at this point. :-)
As Rod Bean, Mike Braun, and others have pointed out, the Ford three-rail
4 speed (especially in close ratio form) sets such a high standard that it
is not easy at all to come up with 5 speed candidates that would provide an
improvement, overall. In particular, the combination of compactness, good
ratios, solid design, and extremely direct shifting feel of the Ford
three-rail gearbox, make it a really tough act to follow!
On the other hand, there are a few of us die-hard lug nuts who have always
thought that a good 5 speed gearbox is the only thing missing from the
26/36/45 Elan that keeps it from being the "perfect" sports car (please,
let us not start any holy wars... this is *purely* my warped personal
opinion). A 5 speed Elan gearbox has been on my personal "holy grail list"
for nearly 15 years now. This is kinda like religion, politics, or sex...
certain strongly held ideas one has, are unlikely to ever be dissipated by
the direct application of logic. ;-)
But seriously, at the moment, it appears that the best candidate for a
"vanilla" flavored 26/36/45 5 speed gearbox conversion may very well be the
Ford T9, AKA the Sierra 5 speed.
This is a swap that has actually been undertaken by various folks, so there
is some accumulated knowledge about how to go about it. The bellhousing is
not a problem... it is available from various sources. This conversion
would not be without potential pitfalls, however. Prominent among them is
the shifter location. Also, the ratios are not up to par, in stock form.
David Drew David.Drew@barclays.co.uk has provided some interesting info
recently, about a UK company capable of addressing both these T9 issues
effectively. They are BGH geartech, and among other things they are
responsible for the first 6 speed 'boxes that came in Caterhams. They are
serious Ford gearbox specialists. If anyone wants to contact them, their
phone number is 01580-714114.
What about other candidates? I keep hearing rumors about Alfa-Romeo 5
speed 'boxes in Elans. I don't have much knowledge of the different
species of A/R gearboxes, but if the close ratio GTA gearbox will fit, then
in my opinion it moves to a close second behind the T9. In fact, I think
it might easily move to the head of the class, if it didn't require a
custom bellhousing to be made. Does anyone know how people who have
adapted A/R gearboxes to Elans have dealt with the bellhousing? Is an
adapter plate approach possible?
Regards,
Erik "sorry about the length" Berg
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