Lotus Elite/Eclat 5 Speed conversion Question

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Hi All,

I have been toying with the idea for quite a while of putting a 5 Speed Box in my +2.
It's just too wearing on the Motorway to be Honest. Need to have the option of getting
those Revs down.

Since genuine Elan 5 Speed Boxes are near impossible to find these days , I was looking at
the Elite/Eclat 5 Speed Box option, which I know has been done quite a bit.

I know these Boxes require a bit of modifying.
What parts need to be sourced in addition to the Box?
Can any parts from the 4 Speed be used?

Not worried at this Stage about what's involved in swapping a 4 Speed with a 5
(I read up on the other Forum Posts about that already).

I just really wanted to know what's involved in modifying an Elite Box ready for
installation in a +2.


Ian

[gjz30075]

Only the gearbox can be used. The bellhousing, tailshaft, propshaft, mounts, are all wrong for our Elans. Very
hard to source individually. Your best bet is to keep looking for the most complete package you can find.
At least it should have the bellhousing and tailshaft.

When I bought my 'box, it didnt' have a bellhouing or propshaft. The propshaft is easy as it's mostly an
MGB piece, shortened a bit. I got lucky with the bellhousing. A friend of mine thought the same as you ,
and purchased an Elite box with a modified 4 speed bellhousing, ie, it had the back end modiifed with an
adapter plate brazed to it. He abandoned the project and I bought the bellhousing. It needed an additional
3/4" plate added to the back and it needed to be concentric. My machinist did the concentric changes and
I needed to figure out the clutch fork fulcrum height. All a bit tricky but it's in the car now and working well.

[john.p.clegg]

You could put a little time and money into altering the tail section

elan-mods-f31/altering-eclat-elite-sppe-box-fit-elan-and-plus2-t22322.html#p136174

but it won't fit into the chassis centre section..

John

[pauljones]

http://www.alanvoigtsgearboxes.co.uk/index.php/products

Have a look at that, no affiliation to me.

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Thanks for the Link.

I have heard of those Guys before, but Feedback for the Box as I remember wasn't all good.
Might have a lot to do with the price, which I think was ?1400 + a few years ago!

I will for sure give them a call though and get the latest.




Ian

[Foxie]

Hi All,

I have been toying with the idea for quite a while of putting a 5 Speed Box in my +2.
It's just too wearing on the Motorway to be Honest. Need to have the option of getting
those Revs down.

Since genuine Elan 5 Speed Boxes are near impossible to find these days , I was looking at
the Elite/Eclat 5 Speed Box option, which I know has been done quite a bit.

Ian

I will be putting my Lotus 5-speed up on eBay in the next week or so. I had it rebuilt in 2004 by Alan Voigts as it had a noisy bearing. It's been sitting in my garage ever since then, when I fitted the Voigts T9 5-Speed.

I also have a standard Lotus 4-speed which has to go.

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How have you found the Voigts T9 5-Speed in use?
Has it been reliable? Gear Change ect?
How is the T9 compared to the original Lotus 5 Speed?
Or was the original 5 Speed to Shot for a fair comparison?

Just curious, why did you go for the T9 if you had your original 5 Speed re-built?

Incidentally, do you have a price in mind for your 5 Speed? Or you just prefer to
let eBay do the Bidding?

Have to say though, that the T9 looks very neat next to the Lotus Box in your Photo. Looks quite a bit smaller.
Could also be interested in your 4 Speed (if it works) if I can't obtain a 5 Speed.
One way or another, I need my 4 Speed overhauled or replaced. It sounds like a bag of spanners in a washing machine!.
Hence why I am investigating Transmission options.


Ian

[Donels]

Just a note on Alan Voights 5 speed conversion. The current cost is around ?2500 and timescale is around 12 months.

[pauljones]

Have you considered a swap to a 3.54 diff?
I have this with my 4 speed box, it does lower the revs down but i have to change to 3rd if i want quicker pick up. More torque would be nicer.
Gears 1 to 3 are fine.

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It did cross my mind about lowering the Diff Ratio, but I thought finding a 3.55:1
might be difficult and I would prefer the 5th if possible.

I did have a long Chat with Alan Voights today (Really Nice Guy and very Knowledgeable)
about his T9 and yes I can confirm it works out at just under ?2500 but that includes VAT and includes a complete Clutch assembly.

His back order waiting time is currently about 6 Months.

Now I've had a chance to sit down and think about it, it's not really to bad
considering the amount of Time to research and develop this Box.
Probably to expensive to do for the sake of it, but if your Box needs attention anyway,
it might be the right time.

I think I feel a Purchase coming on!


Ian

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Amazing how Time fly's!

Almost a year has gone by since my first inquiries into the Elite/Eclat 5 Speed Conversion.

In the end, I decided to go with the Alan Voigts T9 5 speed.

The Box and Installation Kit arrived last week and I thought it might be of Interest to
Forum Members contemplating a 5 Speed Conversion.
I have no connection with Alan, I'm just reporting my findings here.

Alan has obviously been continuing to develop the T9 and this latest incarnation is a lot
neater than the original.
Gone is the old Spring Housing which used to stick up on the Top. Not sure how or where Alan has hidden this.
The Gear Stick is also much neater.

The workmanship and casting of the Bell-housing and Tail Shaft appear excellent.

The Chassis does have to have a small modification to allow room for it to fit though.

Photo's attached for reference




Ian

[gjz30075]

We appreciate the followup. What ratios do you have? What mod is needed to the frame?

[alanr]

Hi,
Can the necessary modifcations to the chassis to enable the gearbox to fit be done with the body on?

Alan

[1owner69Elan]

How long was your wait for the Voigts box after you placed your order?

[Foxie]

Amazing how Time fly's!
<Snip>
Alan has obviously been continuing to develop the T9 and this latest incarnation is a lot
neater than the original.

Gone is the old Spring Housing which used to stick up on the Top. Not sure how or where Alan has hidden this.
Ian

The reverse detent spring is now on the upper left hand side of the tail housing. (Top right hand corner of the open bay in the pic)

This interfered with a strut on the original Spyder chassis, but I understand the later Spyder chassis has a plate which gives clearance. Spyder made up a flanged plate for me which I welded in, to replace the strut. I cut a circular access hole in the tunnel fibreglass and chassis bay plate to be able to adjust the reverse detent bias without taking out the gearbox. If it's too loose and you can get reverse when looking for first, too tight and you don't get reverse at all.