5 Speed Gearbox Help

[1owner69Elan]

I have been trying to order the Voigts 5 speed conversion (with modifications) but have had no luck so far.

1. I sent a letter to Voigts several weeks ago which presumably they received.
2. Tried calling Voigts, numerous times (landline and cell). They answer but cannot hear me and thus hang up. I am in California - I know our infrastructure is perhaps ailing but I call all parts of the world normally without problem.

Since, Voigts doesn't do email I will have to keep calling but I hate being a nuisance in having them repeatedly answer and then hang up.

Alternatively, can anyone tell me if John Esposito (Quantum Mechanics) in Connecticut is still offering the 5 speed conversion. The forum had info on this some 9 years ago, so perhaps this is dead. Emails and phone calls to John have gone unanswered.

So, I find that I have hit a dead end with these two suppliers.

I will keep trying to contact them but if anyone has any further information or suggestions it would be appreciated.

[rcfurse]

I am in the UK and have had a similar experience.
It seems to me that it is high time that someone offered a simple inespensive complete 5 or 6 speed conversion kit using a volume gearbox. Having looked around it would seem that there are two choices of box. The T5 or the MX5/Miata box. I am going to look at the prototype Miata solution later this week. As I understand it the issue with this box is moving the gear lever forward enough. In the regular Elan the centre line of the 4 speed gear lever is 440mm back from the bell housing and then the gear lever has a crank on it. . That's about 17.5". The T5 can position the gear lever at 19" which is pretty much correct.
Not sure what they did on the Miata one but will have a good look (and drive of it and report back).

[baileyman]

I keep thinking about whether something like this reversing gear

http://eliteracingtransmissions.com/cat ... verse-box/

could be modified for 1:0.80 forward instead and then slot in with a modified prop shaft in the box frame.

John

[nmauduit]

I keep thinking about whether something like this reversing gear

http://eliteracingtransmissions.com/cat ... verse-box/

could be modified for 1:0.80 forward instead and then slot in with a modified prop shaft in the box frame.

John

other companies offer similar reverse gearboxes (Nova, Quaife... no affiliation on my part), they are relatively inexpensive (less than 1 grand)

I would think you need to be standing still or just about when operating them (no torque to engage), plus the modification to switch the on position from reverse to forward would be more than just swapping a gear (in other words, considering the number of people trying to fit an overdrive to their car, if that was an option you'd see it on the road)

[pauljones]

I looked into the possible choices awhile back.

Alan aka spyderfan said the mx5 6 speed was a fair bit bigger and would need a lot of work to fit, if it could.
maybe a different choice would be an is200 6 speed from lexus.

[Foxie]

I have been trying to order the Voigts 5 speed conversion (with modifications) but have had no luck so far.

1. I sent a letter to Voigts several weeks ago which presumably they received.
2. Tried calling Voigts, numerous times (landline and cell). They answer but cannot hear me and thus hang up. I am in California - I know our infrastructure is perhaps ailing but I call all parts of the world normally without problem.

Since, Voigts doesn't do email I will have to keep calling but I hate being a nuisance in having them repeatedly answer and then hang up.

So, I find that I have hit a dead end with these two suppliers.

I will keep trying to contact them but if anyone has any further information or suggestions it would be appreciated.

I fitted an Alan Voigts 5-Speed (First one in a Spyder +2 chassis) 15 years ago. I've been using it on the road, circuits and hillclimbs since. It's a great conversion.

Unfortunately Alan never moved to e-mail, even though he has a website. He has done a few jobs for me since, but even telephone communications can sometimes be slow, he tells me he's run off his feet all the time.

Your problem seems to be the phone line quality, and not Voigts themselves. It would be a pity to pass up on a great gearbox conversion on this account.

If you like to pm me withyour details, I can give him a call.

[ericbushby]

I am also in the process of contacting Mark Voigts (son of) to see if I can help.
I will let you know If I get a result.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[bitsobrits]

I tried for almost a year, by mail, to get Voights to respond. I was simply wanting to confirm availability and how he preferred payment. Communication certainly isn't his strong suit. In the end I decided on a T5 conversion, but still find his solution as the preferred one.

[1owner69Elan]

Through the assistance of a UK based forum member I was able to indirectly connect with Voigts. So, now a dialogue regarding the 5 speed conversion is underway. Hopefully it progresses to fruition.

Thanks to all for your comments and offers of assistance.

[Donels]

I recently collected my 5 speed gearbox from Voights. They have had machining problems and supplied no gearboxes for 12 months, as a result they stopped taking orders. The problem is now resolved and they are working through the backlog. Mine took 17 months from order to collection because of the issue but the kit is excellent.

They can be difficult to contact as it?s just Alan and Mark doing everything. The only way to get them is by phone so just persevere it?s worth it.

[Chrispy]

What's the conversion worth?

[MarksElan]

PM Sent
thanks,
Mark

[mmatthej1]

As the happy owner of the 5-speed Sprint previously owned by 'Worzel', I refer you to his discourse on use of a T9 gearbox, on this thread: lotus-gearbox-f37/conversion-t19444.html