sierra

[kstrutt1]

Keith,
I have a sierra 5 speed box fitted to my +2S130, as you say the box will fit
but the gearstick is approx 9 inches further back and you will need to cut a
hole in the top of the chassis to accomodate this. I have cut a circular hole
and formed a flange as per the original holes in the backbone,my car is a
convertable and after 2 years there is no evidence of cracking. Provided the
gearstick is bent forward this falls nicely to hand.
You will also need to re-shape the closing plate on the front of the chassis
backbone so that the top is an arch rather than flat.
A new propshaft is needed as the output shaft on the 5 speed is of a larger
diameter.
For the clutch housing idealy you would use one of the special bell housings
available which takes the standard Hydraulic clutch arangement and retains the
starter on the Left hand side, I have used a Left hand drive sierra part which
puts the starter in the right place but requires a unique cluth actuation
mechanism to be developed.
You will also need a sierra clutch plate and to extend the reversing light
wiring to reach the sierra switch and fabricate a new rear gearbox X member.
The only other problem is the speedo drive, the output of the gearbox is
directly in line with the chassis closing plate, A much slimmer right angle
drive is required to give some clearance or replace the speedo with one of the
electronic ones available.
Once completed though it transforms the car for everyday use.

Kevin
73 +2 S130.



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[Rob_LaMoreaux]

I saw a gearbox that would have the gearshift just about perfectly
positioned for an Elan a while back.

It was a Borg Warner T5 from some small pickup truck.

I did some checking and the '84 Mustang had the same ratios as the Elan
Semi-Close gearbox, so I keep thinking of finding a pickup T5 and combining
it with a T5 from a Mustang to get a 5 speed Elan gear box. The T5 from the
'84 Mustang is good for 265lb-ft of torque and weighs only 75 pounds. There
are other ratios used in T5s, but the '84 Mustang ratio or the Ford
Motorsport T5-A are the only ones I know of that would be about right for
the Elan.

Now I need to find out if there is a bellhousing for a T5 to go onto a ford
Kent block.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-1273
Home: 734-971-5583
Work: 734-822-9696
Fax: 734-973-1103
Home email: ***@***.***
Work email: ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.

[Briggs1]

The Chevy S-10 T5 trans has the shift lever at almost exactly the same
location as the current Elan shifter position. I have been tinkering with
the idea of getting a CHEAP S-10 T5 for practice fitment behind the Zetec
with standard Elan bell housing. I figured it would not be that difficult
to mate the T5 to the Elan bell housing. Thought a mating plate could be
developed.

I DO NOT KNOW THAT IT WILL FIT. I BELIEVE IT IS DO-ABLE THOUGH.

Working out the clutch and input shaft length would have to be dealt with.
I was keeping my thoughts to myself until I got hold of one to try it with.
BUT since you brought it up I thought I'd chime in. I have not been able to
find data on the ratios of the S-10. I figured that changing ratios would
not be as tough as changing the tail shaft assembly.

Briggs Pletcher

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert D. LaMoreaux [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 5:21 PM
To: 'INTERNET:***@***.***'
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Ford Sierra box







I saw a gearbox that would have the gearshift just about perfectly
positioned for an Elan a while back.

It was a Borg Warner T5 from some small pickup truck.

I did some checking and the '84 Mustang had the same ratios as the Elan
Semi-Close gearbox, so I keep thinking of finding a pickup T5 and combining
it with a T5 from a Mustang to get a 5 speed Elan gear box. The T5 from the
'84 Mustang is good for 265lb-ft of torque and weighs only 75 pounds. There
are other ratios used in T5s, but the '84 Mustang ratio or the Ford
Motorsport T5-A are the only ones I know of that would be about right for
the Elan.

Now I need to find out if there is a bellhousing for a T5 to go onto a ford
Kent block.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-1273
Home: 734-971-5583
Work: 734-822-9696
Fax: 734-973-1103
Home email: ***@***.***
Work email: ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.

["Joe & Linda Rau]

Regarding the moving of the gear shift forward on a t-5. I had to do this on my car. I used a chevy s-10 tailhousing on the mustang t-5. I had to rig up a speedo gearing that would work, and used the hurst s-10 shifter with with a shorted gear shift handle.

JoeR
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert D. LaMoreaux
To: 'INTERNET:***@***.***'
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 2:21 PM
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Ford Sierra box







I saw a gearbox that would have the gearshift just about perfectly
positioned for an Elan a while back.

It was a Borg Warner T5 from some small pickup truck.

I did some checking and the '84 Mustang had the same ratios as the Elan
Semi-Close gearbox, so I keep thinking of finding a pickup T5 and combining
it with a T5 from a Mustang to get a 5 speed Elan gear box. The T5 from the
'84 Mustang is good for 265lb-ft of torque and weighs only 75 pounds. There
are other ratios used in T5s, but the '84 Mustang ratio or the Ford
Motorsport T5-A are the only ones I know of that would be about right for
the Elan.

Now I need to find out if there is a bellhousing for a T5 to go onto a ford
Kent block.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-1273
Home: 734-971-5583
Work: 734-822-9696
Fax: 734-973-1103
Home email: ***@***.***
Work email: ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

How close is the bellhousing bolts on a Zetec to the the Ford 2.2L? Ford also used the T5 on the 2.2L Mustangs, so if the Zetec is the same bolt pattern a bellhousing would be available.


My feelings exactly.


There I go opening my big mouth. ;-}


The S10 ratios would probably be terribly wide, but some of the Mustang ratios are perfect. It is probably more work to change the ratios since you have to completely dismantle the unit to change the ratios. On the other handif you in there you probably will want to replace the blocker rings and bearings. T5s are easy to work on if you have access to a shop press. I've rebuilt two of them, and they both worked fine when I was done. The early ones are a little weak for a V8 Mustang especially 3rd gear, but in an Elan itwould be understressed. Also the early Mustang T5 had an alluminum input shaft for the through-out bearing to ride on that would wear until the through-out started sticking. Later ones changed the tube to steel.

Still in the future thought stage for me though...

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI USA
(734)-971-5583
***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending
adventure.

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

Cool!

What did you use for a bellhousing? I've got a couple of mustang T5 carcasses with broken 3rd gears that could be a starting point.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI USA
(734)-971-5583
***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending
adventure.