4 speed bellhousing

[2cams70]

I believe in the Twin Cam application the inside of the 105E casting is relieved slightly for more clutch clearance. The parts book lists them under different part numbers. That was certainly the case with the gearbox I removed on my TC Escort (can't confirm on Elans but one would assume it to be the same). You should not use the Anglia slave cylinder on a Twin Cam. Although externally identical the bore size is different.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=38616

[promotor]

I wonder if the mk1 escort twincam one was used with a pre-engaged starter for Australian markets with a slightly larger diameter ring gear, a different clutch unit or maybe it was a machining correction for incorrectly cast bellhousings? What part number is cast into the machined bellhousing?

There are 3 Lotus Elan gearboxes in the photo below with 105e bellhousing and there is one anglia 105e gearbox with a 105e bellhousing and none had the machining - I appreciate the photo only shows two 105e bellhousings internally but I can confirm they were all the same (The other two gearboxes are a mk2 cortina one with mk2 cortina bellhousing, and a 2000e gearbox with a capri cable clutch bellhousing) :

I've never seen a machined bellhousing and I've seen a few from all sorts of different gearboxes - I would expect the ebay purchase will be fine.

[types26/36]

NYK, you probably already know but I case you don?t, the lower left bolt (inside bellhousing) that holds the bellhousing to the gearbox goes into the oil chamber.
It is advisable to seal it with thread tape as it can develop a leak inside the bellhousing, very annoying later

[NYK]

NYK, you probably already know but I case you don?t, the lower left bolt (inside bellhousing) that holds the bellhousing to the gearbox goes into the oil chamber.
It is advisable to seal it with thread tape as it can develop a leak inside the bellhousing, very annoying later

I didn?t, thanks for the heads up

[2cams70]

I wonder if the mk1 escort twincam one was used with a pre-engaged starter for Australian markets with a slightly larger diameter ring gear, a different clutch unit or maybe it was a machining correction for incorrectly cast bellhousings? What part number is cast into the machined bellhousing?

I checked the cast in part number on my Escort TC bellhousing and it's 105E 7505B (same as Anglia). I also checked my Lotus Cortina Mk1 and Escort Mk1 parts manuals. The part numbers listed were:
Lotus Cortina Mk1: P/N = 105E 7505B (7/64 onwards)
Escort TC: P/N = 3026E 7505A (70 onwards)

This suggests there was a change through the models. Perhaps something happened when the later 6 bolt crank was introduced - flywheel dimensional change perhaps?? Or maybe the 3026E bellhousing is only associated with the 2000E gearbox?? Australian TC Escorts were the same mechanically as the English ones as the entire drivetrain was fully imported in kit form. Starter motor is the same inertia type. The only difference was that the Australian engines were SE Lotus spec. whereas the English ones I believe were just standard Lotus.

[promotor]

I wonder if the mk1 escort twincam one was used with a pre-engaged starter for Australian markets with a slightly larger diameter ring gear, a different clutch unit or maybe it was a machining correction for incorrectly cast bellhousings? What part number is cast into the machined bellhousing?

I checked the cast in part number on my Escort TC bellhousing and it's 105E 7505B (same as Anglia). I also checked my Lotus Cortina Mk1 and Escort Mk1 parts manuals. The part numbers listed were:
Lotus Cortina Mk1: P/N = 105E 7505B (7/64 onwards)
Escort TC: P/N = 3026E 7505A (70 onwards)

This suggests there was a change through the models. Perhaps something happened when the later 6 bolt crank was introduced - flywheel dimensional change perhaps?? Or maybe the 3026E bellhousing is only associated with the 2000E gearbox?? Australian TC Escorts were the same mechanically as the English ones as the entire drivetrain was fully imported in kit form. Starter motor is the same inertia type. The only difference was that the Australian engines were SE Lotus spec. whereas the English ones I believe were just standard Lotus.

Sometimes it appeared as if Ford assigned new numbers to already existing parts for their parts lists without changing anything. The only thing I can think of is that there was a good amount of time between the 105e bellhousing appearing in the mk1 Lotus Cortina in 1966 and it then re-appearing in the Mk1 Escort Twincam in 1970 (I don't think any other Ford car used the bellhousing between 1966 and 1970) so they decided to give it a part number (in the book but not on the actual part) relating to the latest model to use it ie mk1 escort 3026E.
I guess the Elans' had the bellhousing continuously from 1962 - 1975?
The 2000e gearbox came in early mk2 cortinas (Lotus, GT, 1600E) and they used a 3034E bellhousing which is a different one again and uses a different clutch slave cylinder and clutch release fork.
Still, it doesn't clear up the machining to the bellhousing and if the Australian Escorts had all the same flywheel ring gear and clutch I don't understand why it was done (the 6 bolt flywheel ring gear and 4 bolt flywheel ring gears were the same part ie 110 tooth).
Will keep my eye out whenever I look at other gearbox bellhousings.

Glad the original poster is now sorted for a bellhousing as I don't have a spare I could offer at this moment in time.

[2cams70]

The 2000e gearbox came in early mk2 cortinas (Lotus, GT, 1600E) and they used a 3034E bellhousing which is a different one again and uses a different clutch slave cylinder and clutch release fork.

I have a Cortina Mk2 parts book too. Unfortunately it doesn't list parts for the Lotus models like the MK1 Cortina parts book does. A bit weird that the Australian Mk1 Cortina parts book includes parts listing for the Lotus Cortina Mk1 even though this model was never sold by Ford Australia! Perhaps it was something to do with rules so they could race it here. We did have a locally built in limited numbers higher performance version of the Cortina Mk1 GT here - the "GT 500". Built for Bathurst homologation. Had a further tweaked 1500GT pushrod engine, Lotus Cortina close ratio alloy bellhousing gearbox, twin fuel tanks and a few other mods over and above the standard GT. Sorry getting distracted here - this is an Elan forum!!

I doubt they would have used the 3034E bellhousing on Lotus Cortina MK2 because there would not have been enough room for the larger clutch. My Mk2 manual lists two bellhousing part numbers for all non-Lotus models:
P/N = 3020E 7500A (1967) (Presumably this is for all 3 rail boxes - 2000E included)
P/N = 3034E 7500A (1968-) (Presumably this is for the later single rail box that uses mostly the same internal components as the earlier box)

I know both the Ford Escort MK1 Mexico (1600GT pushrod engine and 7.5" clutch) and Escort RS1600 BDA used the 2000E gearbox in combination with the Anglia style bellhousing. Both these models were never sold in Australia unfortunately. I have an English parts book for them though. I'll check the part numbers on Monday when I'm back at work.

Sorry to bore you guys - I read this myself and wonder if I need psychological help for being such an anorak!! I hope this information is useful to someone. My life has no purpose if it isn't!!

As a matter of interest what car is the 2000E gearbox with the Capri cable clutch bellhousing going into? The input shaft on the Capri gearbox is longer hence the bellhousing is wider than the Cortina/Anglia/Elan/Escort one.

[tonyabacus]

So to clarify given all the variations noted are we saying that only the 105E Anglia bell housing will fit an Elan.

If so, is it likely that either Ford or Lotus continued making the 105E bellhousing especially and only for the Elan up until the Elan ceased production in 1974(?). Given that Ford made changes with the MK2 engines and from the previous posts there appear to be a number of alternative part or casting numbers, that would mean running production of at least two bell housings (i.e 105E and A N Other) alongside one another. That from a production point of view does not seem to fit with Ford economy philosophy.

Anyone throw any light on this aspect

[alanr]

Any idea if a 120E 7505B bellhousing will fit an Elan and therefore take the larger clutch?
The bolt holes should be ok and the starter is on the right side and has slave cylinder holder on left.
Just need a bit of reassurance that it would be ok. My gut feeling is that 120E was Mk1 Cortina/Classic/Corsair 1500 but my memory is not what it once was and I am not quite sure?

Alan

[joe7]

From what I know, there are 2 types of bell housings for/fit Elans, etc. They both have the slave cylinder boss in the same position, offset from the front of the b/h by about an inch or so. Early ones with out the "ribs". This one will only take a 7 1/2 disc or grind it out. Second one is the "ribbed" version. This will take an 8 1/2 disc. The MK 2 Cortina b/h slave cylinder boss is even with the front of the b/h. Also, on this one the stater bung hole is larger. Hope this helps.

[promotor]

Any idea if a 120E 7505B bellhousing will fit an Elan and therefore take the larger clutch?
The bolt holes should be ok and the starter is on the right side and has slave cylinder holder on left.
Just need a bit of reassurance that it would be ok. My gut feeling is that 120E was Mk1 Cortina/Classic/Corsair 1500 but my memory is not what it once was and I am not quite sure?

Alan

As you say, 120e bellhousing is for the Corsair 1500, which takes a smaller clutch, so it won't fit. It's got ribs on it so that confuses people, but it doesn't house the larger clutch of the elan. Bolt patterns are the same though.

The 105E bellhousing was still supplied long after the Anglia 105E finished production to mostly allow large clutch engines such as the Elan's, and the 3 sporting mk1 escorts : Twincam, Mexico (which used the large bellhousing even if the car didn't come with a large clutch, although I believe some cars had the large clutch) and RS1600.

[alanr]

Any idea if a 120E 7505B bellhousing will fit an Elan and therefore take the larger clutch?
The bolt holes should be ok and the starter is on the right side and has slave cylinder holder on left.
Just need a bit of reassurance that it would be ok. My gut feeling is that 120E was Mk1 Cortina/Classic/Corsair 1500 but my memory is not what it once was and I am not quite sure?

Alan

As you say, 120e bellhousing is for the Corsair 1500, which takes a smaller clutch, so it won't fit. It's got ribs on it so that confuses people, but it doesn't house the larger clutch of the elan. Bolt patterns are the same though.

The 105E bellhousing was still supplied long after the Anglia 105E finished production to allow large clutch engines such as the Elan's, and the 3 sporting mk1 escorts : Twincam. Mexico and RS1600.

Thanks very much for that info ...It won't take the larger clutch!...that is what I was afraid of!

Alan.

[promotor]

Any idea if a 120E 7505B bellhousing will fit an Elan and therefore take the larger clutch?
The bolt holes should be ok and the starter is on the right side and has slave cylinder holder on left.
Just need a bit of reassurance that it would be ok. My gut feeling is that 120E was Mk1 Cortina/Classic/Corsair 1500 but my memory is not what it once was and I am not quite sure?

Alan

As you say, 120e bellhousing is for the Corsair 1500, which takes a smaller clutch, so it won't fit. It's got ribs on it so that confuses people, but it doesn't house the larger clutch of the elan. Bolt patterns are the same though.

The 105E bellhousing was still supplied long after the Anglia 105E finished production to allow large clutch engines such as the Elan's, and the 3 sporting mk1 escorts : Twincam. Mexico and RS1600.

Thanks very much for that info ...It won't take the larger clutch!...that is what I was afraid of!

Alan.

I think I have a 120e bellhousing - I'll try it on a T/C tomorrow for you if I have. Will let you know.

[alanr]

That would be just great...thanks,

Alan.

[2cams70]

The Twin Cam bellhousing is based on the Anglia bellhousing but with a different clutch fork pivot and slight relieving on the inside as previously advised. If you look up the part number in the parts book for the bellhousing alone (i.e less pivot) it is not the same as the Anglia. The extra relieving operation performed inside changes the part number.

120E is not the correct bellhousing.