5 Speed Gearbox Angle Drive and Early Spyder Chassis

[stuartgb100]

Cannot find anything in the archives on this question for the Elan.

Is there access from inside the car, to remove and replace the speedo angle drive ?

Before I strip out seat, carpet etc, I'd like to know if I'm going to find a suitable inspection hole in the chassis.
From underneath there certainly doesn't seem to be enough room, and the angle drive seems to be positioned above the centre box section of the chassis (where the front and rear "y" sections join).

I had thought of disconnecting the exhaust, propping the gearbox and disconnecting the gearbox crossmember bracket and then lowering the tail of the gearbox.
However, as it all rotates, I think the rear of the cylinder head will foul the bulkhead before I get enough clearance.

Any thoughts please?

Regards,
Stuart.

[worzel]

Hi

I think you'll find there isn't enough room with the early Spyder chassis- I'm assuming you're referring to a "Stressed Skin" item- if not disregard my ramblings. My car's fitted with a modded Type 9 - but not one of Alan Voights' conversions so I simply remove the driver seat, peel back a couple of inches of carpet and feed the cable thru the hole (2 x 2) I cut into the side to access the thoughtfully provided aperture in the centre spine section. The cable is circlipped into place- fiddly but do-able.

John

[stuartgb100]

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. I was afraid that might be the case.

I've managed to speak to Sean at Spyder, and he has confirmed that the early Spyder chassis for the Elan had no cut-out for this. There just wasn't the need, with so few (if any) 5 speed Elans on the road at the time. However, they have a +2 in the workshop at the moment, and as the Elan and +2 stressed skin chassis is the same dimensionally (from the front as far back as the start of the centre section), he may be able to give me some help. As soon as time allows, he'll get it onto the ramp and see what needs to be done.

If I get a solution to this, I'll post back details for future reference.

Thanks again.

Regards,
Stuart.

[john.p.clegg]

Stuart
Having a Plus2 with a lotus chassis and Maxi derived 5 speed box,I was able to remove the speedo angle drive with a slight removal of some fibreglass,wasn't easy (is anything Lotus) working from the top and a small extension socket..

John

[stuartgb100]

John,

The problem is not the tunnel fibreglass, but the Spyder centre box section of the chassis behind it !!

Sean at Spyder has been very helpful in confirming that there are definitely no preformed access points in their early "stressed" chassis that will give access to the angle drive unit.

However, he agrees that providing I keep well away from the corners/edges of the box section, cutting a hole should not cause a problem.

Now I just need to do some measuring and then drill a couple of pilot holes to orientate things (says he, desperately trying to remember whether brake lines, handbrake cable, fuel line, electrical wiring etc run through the box section !!!).

Ho Hum.

Regards and thanks,

Stuart.

[elansprint71]

I've got a Spyder tubular chassis and 4 speed box and would be very surprised if you can get the angle drive out; when I changed to a different ratio diff, I gave it a look and went to the pub.