Elan Sprint Donuts?

[elanbaby]

Merry Christmas Elan-net!

In contemporary Elan Sprint test articles the reduced rotoflex windup was always praised. This was the result of stronger and stiffer rotoflex couplings and stronger diff mountings, they said.

The press seemed to be totally pleased with the drivetrain behavior of the new Elan Sprint.

I drive an S4SE where some windup is present. Not much though. Definately not enough to think of investing in a cv-conversion.

But if there where stronger rubbers...
Are there different rate rubber donuts on sale nowadays?

What did they change about the diff mounting? My Elan has an galvanised Lotus chassis. Is upgrading from S4SE to the standard Elan Sprint final drive possible and which parts are needed?

Thank you,
Juergen

[MintSprint]

As far as I am aware, the you can only obtain 'Sprint' specification donuts from specialists, these days - they don't supply the pre-Sprint couplings any more because there would be no advantage in fitting them. The quality of rubber in modern couplings is a bit variable, though.

The diff reinforcement on the Sprint basically consists of a section of steel angle running between the two upper mounting lugs of the alloy diff casing. Still readily avalable from specialist suppliers, and easily fitted to earlier cars.

[mikealdren]

If I remember correctly, the original donuts didn't have the metal stiffening plates between the mountings, the only metalwork was where the bolts go through. One the sprint donuts came out, they stopped making the earlier ones - there was no poimt in them.
Mike

[elanbaby]

Thanks for the replies!
In between I?ve been searching the archive and - shame on me -
everything about donuts has been discussed in length and depth before.

It was mentioned though, that the build quality of new donuts may vary.
As I?d rather not like to test them all, does anybody know where to get the good quality ones?

I live in Germany but would place an order in England or the USA as well.
Shipment rates USA/Germany seem to be a lot less than England/Germany. Strange; so much more water in the Atlantic ocean than in the Channel...

[nebogipfel]

does anybody know where to get the good quality ones?

Not sure it's possible. I suspect most of the donuts sold these days are from the same source.

Paul Matty in the UK was supposed to have been working on better ones but the last I heard they had failed in testing.

I think although initially a biggish cost, the best solution is CV joint driveshafts, the benefits of which have been discussed many times on this forum.

Mine, supplied by Susan Miller, (UK 01728 603307) are one of the best things I did to the car.

[pereirac]

I think the 'original' Elan donuts are Hillman Imp ones and the later ones, with the extra metal plates, were reputed to be racing imp ones?
When I originally brought my Sprint it had a mixture of donuts..

[gordonlund]

Juergen

Look at Lotus Elan.net/Things in Common/Dave Bean Rotoflex Couplings.

This topic was covered to death at this section

All the best

Gordon