5 Speed Gearbox for Early Elan Engine?

[Davidb]

To the original poster: Have you considered putting an MGA Twincam engine in your TC? It has the benefit of at least keeping to the original manufacturer. I am pretty sure a MGA Twincam head and front assembly could be acquired. With an adapter they could be fitted to an MGB bottom end to save money and provide more capacity--a friend up here, Bill Sphon, figured out how to do it and use to race one in his MGA.

[Foxie]

I fitted my Voigts T9 in 2004, replacing a Lotus 5-speed which replaced the original 4-speed.

The original 'top hat' reverse detent shown on the website photo interfered with fitting the gearbox/engine as a unit, and is now located on the left side of the tail housing. When I had Alan Voigts make this mod on my gearbox, I discovered it now interfered with a diagonal in the Mark I Spyder chassis, necessitating replacing the diagonal with a flanged panel.

Here are pics of what I was describing: The good news is that fine adjustment of the reverse detent can be done through the side of the transmission tunnel

[Davidb]

foxie: How is the action of this gearbox compared to the original four speed?
Snickety-snick or flump, pause, fflump...?

[hbferrariguy123]

Let me begin by saying I'm not leaving an Elan as an orphan without an engine. The car the drive train came from was involved in an accident and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. I wasn't the owner of the car so I don't know any more of the car or accident, I'm just a guy who came along and bought the freshly rebuilt drive train.
As far as using an MGA twin cam engine instead of the Lotus twin cam, I already have the Lotus engine and gearbox and think it would provide for better conversation at our many local Cars and Coffee gatherings and be a hoot to drive getting there. A few years ago I had a S3 or S4 Elan Coupe so I'm a bit familiar with the engine's performance abilities and think it would make for a perfect, fun ride!
I still have a few months until I finish my Esprit project so I won't be doing anything on the MG/Lotus car until well into next year. Until then I'll continue to gather information so when I do decide what I'm going to do I'll be better equipped to make the right decision, at least for me.
Stay tuned!
Lou

[Foxie]

foxie: How is the action of this gearbox compared to the original four speed?
Snickety-snick or flump, pause, fflump...?

Snickity-snick, if anything.

I have found the reverse detent needs careful adjustment to avoid hitting reverse while looking for first on quick change-downs.

But overall it's very good

Read about it here : http://www.type9gearbox.co.uk/type-9-fa ... blems.html

[nomad]

I, with David, tend to think that other swaps would be more appropriate. I suppose just for the visual appeal at gatherings your pretty much determined but it would seem that the twin cam has enough value to someone who is in need of one that it could be passed on. In the day, as they say, a Volvo engine and trans with the Laycock overdrive was the XPAG replacement in a T series. The Volvo engine was indestructible!
I was in the Navy stationed out of San Fran during that Asian thing and at that time there was a guy running around the bay area with a TC that had a small block Chev swapped into it. At the lights you could see that frame flexing as the car sat and really notice it when he powered away. I owned a TC at the time and considered the car sacrilege!

Kurt

[patrics]

Hi
I have a new propshaft for a T9 conversion for sale. It will be going on ebay this Wednesday as long as I don't forget

Regards
Steve

[hbferrariguy123]

Hi all, I'm back with an additional question. If you recall I'm planning on fitting an Elan Twin Cam engine in my MG TC. Initially I was thinking about using a 5 speed gearbox but am leaning more towards the original 4 sped box I have. If I do utilize the 4 speed box it places the shifter approximately 10" to far forward. I was wondering if there's a similar type gearbox that was used in a Cortina or such that has the shifter located more towards the back of the box? Thanks for any and all input!

[gjz30075]

Absolutely. The remote shifter used in Cortinas is the answer although it's further than 10" back.
Should be easy enough to modify (famous last words)

[hbferrariguy123]

gjz30075 Thank you! If you own the remote shifter in the photo would you consider selling it? PLEASE!

[bitsobrits]

The single rail version of the English Ford 4 speed gearbox also had the shifter towards the end of the tail shaft housing.

I have a NOS one that I bought for it's internals, but have never used.

[hbferrariguy123]

Do you know how far further back the shifter is compared to an Elan? Will it fit onto a Elan 4 speed gearbox? If you're interested in selling the remote shifter shoot me a price.Thanks!

[gjz30075]

Sorry, it's not mine. Just a stock photo from the interwebs. Lotus Cortina had them and, I think,
Cortina GTs.