Voights 5 speed conversion

[englishmaninwales]

I have a Voight 5 speed box with GBH gears awaiting installation into my S2. I'm doing a ground up on the car. I gave Gartrac the chassis modification diagram from Voights and they built it into the new chassis.

The Plus 2 five speed box isn't a bad box, but the change isn't great, though it can be improved and the ratios are better suited to the original family saloon for which they were designed.

My S2 is now finished and I can say that I didn't have any issues fitting the box and I can agree with what Jimj wrote previously in this thread - I'm a happy customer

Thanks for the update, I'm pleased to hear there were no issues, as I'd like to do this but I was concerned about some of the misgivings in earlier posts.

Malcolm

[Mazzini]

Makes me wonder if he changed the gearbox castings?

[Mick6186]

If you read the chassis forum topic & the workshop manual its always been a strict no no to cut & weld the chassis but it appears this is now ok if you wish to fit an 'improvement' . It is after all only a piece of metal!!

[Mazzini]

If you read the chassis forum topic & the workshop manual its always been a strict no no to cut & weld the chassis but it appears this is now ok if you wish to fit an 'improvement' . It is after all only a piece of metal!!

I dunno, but I got Gartrac to custom make my chassis, they had no issue with the cut out for the Voigt box.

[Mick6186]

I agree. I can't see a problem if a company like Gartrac, with their competition preparation experience, modify a new chassis.

[types26/36]

Back in the day I doubt Lotus sanctioned chassis repairs for a couple of reasons, typically home mechanics who bought a kit may have welded up a chassis but as we know (by dpo standards) repairs may not have been too competent.
I suppose Lotus would eventually get the blame with a bad reputation....."lots of trouble....usually serious" springs to mind but do Lotus deserve this ......I dont think so if things are done correctly.
Secondly, I am sure Lotus made money from selling parts and a chassis/frame is just another part to sell and make a profit on, I am sure they would gladly keep the parts division turning over.
Nowadays with modern welding techniques and the advance from the old oxy acetylene to the tig and mig welding I dont think it puts in as much heat so distortion is virtually eliminated.

[Mazzini]

I have a couple of the old workshop manuals for the type 26's and there is a section on chassis repairs, which was later dropped from the manual for very probably the reasons you stated!

[Terry Posma]

Hello All,

Can someone provide me with Alan Voigts email address?

Cheers.

[pharriso]

He doesn't use e-mail... give him a call...

BTW for anyone using Google etc it's Voigt without an "H"!

[greg40green]

I visited Voights workshop just after Christmas this year to have a chat about all things previously discussed.
Both partners were very forth coming with information and advised me that if I did not like the gear ratio's I could supply them with whatever gear set I wished to use inclusive of a close ratio set up.
Voights also informed me that they had fitted their 5 speed gearbox into their own Elan Sprint without problems, initially they planned to use the Elan as a demonstrator but they had very little interest in this finished proposition.

They advised that they had made modifications to the gear box breather , gear leaver , alloy bell housing / gear box casing etc.
As mentioned by others ?2,500 inc Vat is a lot of money for a mod.
I've invested in a 3.5 diff which I have just had reconditioned , I'm going to try this first before going the Voights route.
How's the MX5 conversion going , any updates?

[Mazzini]

I have a Voigt's 5 speed in my 1965 S2, it has the uprated gear ratios and a 3.7 diff, I also have a Lotus close ratio box (2.5/1) and a 3.5 diff in my 1967 S3. The Voigts box doesn't have the same gear change quality of the Lotus box (with the solid gear lever), but with this set up the S3 is comfortable cruising at 80mph, however the S2 is even better... I don't know which one I would recommend, they both have their own merits.