Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I`m getting lots of enquiries re. how I find the Voight etc. Despite having a rebuild of my 4 speed in my S3 Elan only 2,000 miles before I acquired a 5 speed from a +2S/5. It seemed OK so fitted it with litle trouble. The change was not as good but having the 5 th gear was really worthwhile. We do a couple of continental rallies and other stuff each year. 3rd and 5th became increasingly noisey so I decided to go for the Voight this winter. In July on the Rallye des Alpes, with the hard useage 2nd became noisey, but, worryingly, sometimes not !! We made the finish in Marseilles without a hitch, not a thing went wrong. Dave at High Peak Classics in Buxton looks after my car.
On the return journey, near Dijon, I lost all drive except in 4th, but we soldiered on. A bit tricky getting on the ferry !! So Voight ordered and arrived in 3 weeks, ?1500 plus VAT (ouch). Dave fitted it and it wasn`t as straightforward as Voight implied but I`ve done about 100 miles with it and I`m really pleased. The change to 5th seems a bit awkward, needs getting used to, but otherwise the change is silky smooth and the ratios seem perfect. Highly recommended.
Voight`s number is (0)1516303575.
Jim

I have a Voigt five speed box in the car about a year now. First to second can be a bith notchy when cold, but the rest of the gear changes are faultless. Fifth gear is great for reducing noise when cruising. The clutch is amazingly light.

The installation was not quite as easy as Alan Voigt's fitting instructions give the impression of being. However, his support and backup were first class, and I recommend the conversion.

John Larkin wrote:I have a Voigt five speed box in the car about a year now. First to second can be a bith notchy when cold, but the rest of the gear changes are faultless. Fifth gear is great for reducing noise when cruising. The clutch is amazingly light.

The installation was not quite as easy as Alan Voigt's fitting instructions give the impression of being. However, his support and backup were first class, and I recommend the conversion.

re the notchy change, when these 'boxes were originaly fitted to sierras, Ford issued a recall to change the oil from ep80 to 75w90 semi synthetic because of notchiness, have you got the right oil in it? I know of a couple of people who used to run them on ATF (not for long though!)

Does anyone have the Voight gearbox fitted in an elan or plus two with a Spyder spaceframe (Mark 1, without the recent changes for the MT75 'box)?
I already know that the Lotus 5-speed doesn't fit, so maybe this could be an alternative.

Cheers,

Ron

Ron

I dont understand your statement about a spyder chassis not fitting a Lotus 5 speed box. My plus 2 has had this combination for the last 12 years without a problem. The chassis even came with mounting holes for both the 4 and 5 speed boxes rear mount in the same way the late model Lotus chassis did.

John
Redline MTL synthetic gear oil is very good at elimination of notchiness in the change especially when cold.


Regards
Rohan

Ron

I dont understand your statement about a spyder chassis not fitting a Lotus 5 speed box. My plus 2 has had this combination for the last 12 years without a problem. The chassis even came with mounting holes for both the 4 and 5 speed boxes rear mount in the same way the late model Lotus chassis did.

John
Redline MTL synthetic gear oil is very good at elimination of notchiness in the change especially when cold.


Regards
Rohan

Ron,
The 5-speed Alan Voights box does (just) go in the spyder chassis,with some alteration,which is easier to do with body off.I think Sean Murray? has already done this mod.Mine is fitted,but i have a different engine and moved it forward slightly for an easier fit.Alan himself would be able to give you updated fitting instructions.
As Rohan says,the spyder chassis comes with mounting points for four and five speed,although opinions vary as to the usefulness of the lotus five speed!
Martin

This is very interesting!

I bought the Spyder frame around 19 years ago, and I was always under the impression that it would only fit the 4-speed box. Unfortunately the source of this info is lost in the mists of time.
(Yes, it's a VERY long restoration. You know the story, work, house moves, more work, kids, etc, etc)

Still, I don't think I'd like to go down the Lotus 5-speed route if the Voight box will fit. Body and chassis are together at the moment, so any chassis alterations will mean taking the body off again. Drat!

For now, I think I'll just get the car running with the 4-speed box and plan for the 5-speed in the next year or so.

Cheers,

Ron