My Voigt 5-speed conversion

[1owner69Elan]

Regarding the fixing of the gaiter. There is a thin metal plate with small screws at each corner which holds the gaiter in place affixed to the tunnel. I could never get the rubber gaiter to stay and converted to a leather one. Can't see how the stock rubber gaiter would cover the T9 shift lever very well.

[gjz30075]

Steve, that looks like an original console. If it's in good shape throughout, I'd get another console and make
a new hole.

[gjz30075]

I found newer gaiters are slightly smaller in diameter and don't fit the tin plate very well. It's easy to make
a new tin plate with a slightly smaller hole to fit the new gaiters.

[1owner69Elan]

Thanks for the update.

Good tip on loosening the filler plug before fitting.

If you would, what is the height of the gear lever ball, vertically from the console as well as the horizontal distance from dash?

Interested to see what the difference is with the stock shift. The impression is that the Voigt is taller.

7 1/4" from the console to the top of the ball.
6 1/4" from the face of the dash to the front of the ball.

Is this measured while in neutral?

[steve lyle]

Is this measured while in neutral?

Yes.

Let me know how that compares to stock - thanks.

[1owner69Elan]

Thanks for the update.

Good tip on loosening the filler plug before fitting.

.

The tapered gearbox filler plugs can always be a challenge with the limited space between the chassis and the gearbox and their tendency to jam in place overtime. I rounded off the one on my Elan about 6 months ago and still cannot get it to shift despite using every technique I know including head and chilling and chisels. I was planning on pulling the engine to remove the gear box to remove the filler plug and do the longest gear box oil change time in history before the engine failure I had at the last race meeting meant the engine was coming out anyhow.

cheers
Rohan

The filler plug on the Voigt T9 is indeed a recessed hex head. I removed it easily (not in the frame) and put it back finger tight, for later.

[1owner69Elan]

Is this measured while in neutral?

Yes.

Let me know how that compares to stock - thanks.

5-5/8" from dash
6" from console

So, the Voigt shift is ~5/8" further back and ~1-1/4" taller measured at the ball.

Also, not sure about the throw between the two. Obviously, the taller lever will only accentuate any differences. Wondering if the extra leverage is useful(needed) to overcome the detents of the T9. We will know more when you drive it.

[1owner69Elan]

Heard back from Alan regarding my missing gearshift plug, still not received after 3 weeks.

"Plug is plain aluminium interference fit 14.2 dia. 6 to 7 mm deep. We smear a little locktite on and tap home."

He is sending two more. In the meantime, I have ordered locally a VW aluminum core plug, of the proper dimensions, in case Alan's still don't show up.

Part no: 113-101-118-D-VAG

Turns out this part is discontinued. Ordered some 9/16" aluminum round bar stock to make my own plug.

[alan.barker]

It's easy to make a Gaitor from a piece of scrap leather on an old Singer sewing machine.
Some off cut bits from eBay and the colour you prefer.
Alan

[Mazzini]

Heard back from Alan regarding my missing gearshift plug, still not received after 3 weeks.

"Plug is plain aluminium interference fit 14.2 dia. 6 to 7 mm deep. We smear a little locktite on and tap home."

He is sending two more. In the meantime, I have ordered locally a VW aluminum core plug, of the proper dimensions, in case Alan's still don't show up.

Part no: 113-101-118-D-VAG

Turns out this part is discontinued. Ordered some 9/16" aluminum round bar stock to make my own plug.

I have a NOS plug. Happy to put it in the post, but I suspect you can have made one by the time it'll arrive in the US.

[1owner69Elan]

Thanks for the offer of the plug, Rob. The mail from the UK to the US seems to be at a crawl right now.

If I don’t otherwise get this little thing sorted I’ll get back to you.

[steve lyle]

Steve, that looks like an original console. If it's in good shape throughout, I'd get another console and make
a new hole.

Greg,

Is the tradeoff here an oval shifter hole vs $180 for a replacement console? Or is there something else you're thinking of that I'm missing?

Thanks,
Steve

[gjz30075]

Not a good tradeoff, really. I just like original stuff.

[elanner]

If the standard gaiter is too tight take a look at an MG-B gaiter, part number BHH-2049. It's what the previous owner fitted to my Elan and it works and looks fine.

The MG uses a clunky chrome surround for the gaiter. It isn't appropriate for an Elan so you need to cut a fixing plate suitable for the tunnel. Easy enough.

Nick

[1owner69Elan]

Providing some more information for the record.

With the apparent taller shift lever supplied by Voigt compared with the original 4 speed, I investigated using one of the Quaife short shifters. Here, attached, is the information supplied by Quaife for their a) short shift bent and b) extra short Caterham, both for the T9.

Since a good portion of the vertical portion of the T9 lever is below the Elan console, some basic trig calculations indicate that the Quaife short shifters are indeed shorter and closer to the dash than the stock 4-speed position. I used Steve's photo of the Voigt T9 shifter within the console hole to that indicates that =~4.5" of the vertical portion of the lever is below the console. This represents most of the vertical portion on the Quaife shifters (4.8").

It also appears that the Voigt shift lever knob position is actually closer to the stock 4 speed compared to the Quaife shifters, especially if you shorten the threaded portion at the top of the Voigt lever. It appears that Alan did indeed try to replicate the stock Elan location.

The Quaife shifter knobs will be substantially lower and closer to the dash than stock. The short version will be rather stubby and the Caterham (extra short) barely above the console. The short version might work but it will be noticeably shorter than stock and there might be a problem with knuckles hitting the dash in first/third/fifth/reverse. The Caterham seems to be a "non-starter" at only a couple of inches above the console.

What was misleading about looking at the Voigt lever on the uninstalled gearbox is that when located in the Elan chassis so much of the lever is below the console level and not visible. Thus, the effective (visible) length of the Voigt lever is reduced.

My conclusion (for now) is that I will leave well enough alone and simply clean up the Voigt lever's chipped paint. The messy weld will be hidden by my boot (gaiter). And shorten the threaded portion for the knob.