Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I've been reading up on Elan gearboxes - and I was surprised to see that they varied in length.

For example the Collector's Guide (Elan and Europa) by John Bolster states:

"Two sets of ratios were available, which affected the overall length of the box and hence that of the propeller shaft..."

This presumably means that only certain ford box cases will fit each type of prop shaft?

What's all that about and has anyone got more details?

I read the same somewhere else - but I can't remember where?

"It's in the archives" oops thats someone else's line. Now whom could I be thinking of?

Please take a look at
Early vs Late gearbox tailshaft housings and Mounts
elan-f15/early-late-gearbox-tailshaft-housings-and-mounts-t19281.html

All I can think of is he was referring to the Anglia 105E box that had no synchro on first gear and used a shorter tail shaft housing and a different gear case. The Elan uses the 105 bell housing though.





Anyone else know more, Pete you have anything?

piss-ant wrote:"It's in the archives" oops thats someone else's line. Now whom could I be thinking of?

you guys crack me up.

elan-f15/lotus-west-tech-manual-line-t24170.html?hilit=lotus west

piss-ant wrote:When any of us say it's in the archives I don't see the issue. Why should folks all sound like broken records. If I want re-runs I'll go and get a tv. Gary E. Anderson

Geez I didnt think wanting to find out stuff befoer buying an Elan would be so entertaining

Regards - Sonny

We could probably do a +2 with the elan, adding all the options. Makes the future wiki easier.

Is the information correct in the context of Elan's.

All the elan's I've owned range in years from mid 63, 64, 65, 66 67 and 71 S4 have had same length rear extensions and only variances, the main case and rib's no ribs, and rear extensions ribs, no ribs, have to check pictures of S4 as it may have had later shape rear extension, the 64, 65, 67 and 71 had never been totally apart so safe the thinking they were original parts.

And I've swapped prop shafts about.

Vaughan

I'm confident there is only one length of gearbox for the Elan and +2 across all the series and years in regards to the 4 speed gearbox. There are numerous different guises in terms of cases and input shaft nose size but they are the same in terms of length. This is based on having rebuilt numerous gearboxes from Elans as well as Cortinas, Anglias, Escorts, Corsairs, and Consul Capris etc, the likes of which are related and in the same family albeit some with different ratios.

The only short gearbox to speak of - that is quite similar on first glance to the Elan gearbox - is the Anglia 997/Consul Classic 1340 4 speed, 3 synchro gearbox - however, as these aren't fitted to Elans it's not relevant to discuss, just to dismiss it!