Anyone fitted an MX5 gearbox to an Elan?

[DavyF]

My 2+2 gearchange spoils the driving experience, the gear stick has no free play or slackness, but does not change gears easily. My wife drives an NB MX5 which has a gear change, I know the MX5 box is long, but has anyone fitted one to their Elan?
My son and I fitted an MX5 engine and box into an MG Midget, he wanted the engine to be mounted as far back as possible, so we modified the gear lever position by moving it forward by about 100mm.

[mbell]

Is your box a lotus 5 speed? If so put it in gear and remove the gearstick. You'll probably find the plastic parts are failing or have failed.

[DavyF]

Is your box a lotus 5 speed? If so put it in gear and remove the gearstick. You'll probably find the plastic parts are failing or have failed.

No it's the 4 speed box.

[Lotusian]

Your box clearly isn’t right.
Don’t mess about with other boxes, just get yours rebuilt by someone who knows what they’re doing.
I see from your profile that you’re somewhere in the UK, but you don’t say where. I’m sure other members could recommend somebody local to you if they knew where you are.
Ian

[2cams70]

[

No it's the 4 speed box.

The 4 speed box normally has excellent shift quality. Don't bother changing to an MX-5 box if that's your aim. Something is wrong. If it's notchy and difficult to get into gear it could be a clutch rather than gearbox problem. Does it graunch when shifting into reverse?

[DavyF]

Your box clearly isn’t right.
Don’t mess about with other boxes, just get yours rebuilt by someone who knows what they’re doing.
I see from your profile that you’re somewhere in the UK, but you don’t say where. I’m sure other members could recommend somebody local to you if they knew where you are.
Ian

I live in N. Ireland. If I wanted to I could rebuild the gearbox myself, I was a mechanic for 37 years and have repaired / rebuilt hundreds of race and rally car engines and boxes.

Thanks for your advice.

[DavyF]

[

No it's the 4 speed box.

The 4 speed box normally has excellent shift quality. Don't bother changing to an MX-5 box if that's your aim. Something is wrong. If it's notchy and difficult to get into gear it could be a clutch rather than gearbox problem. Does it graunch when shifting into reverse?

No noises when going into reverse. I am going to take the box out and strip it, in case there is an internal problem.

Thank you for the reply.

[2cams70]

No noises when going into reverse. I am going to take the box out and strip it, in case there is an internal problem.

Thank you for the reply.

Sounds like the clutch is probably OK in that case. I'd suggest that before you remove the box you give it an oil change using the correct grade of oil. If you don't know the history of the car who knows what type of oil it has in it currently. It can make quite a difference and is simple to eliminate as a cause.

[DavyF]

No noises when going into reverse. I am going to take the box out and strip it, in case there is an internal problem.

Thank you for the reply.

Sounds like the clutch is probably OK in that case. I'd suggest that before you remove the box you give it an oil change using the correct grade of oil. If you don't know the history of the car who knows what type of oil it has in it currently. It can make quite a difference and is simple to eliminate as a cause.

That is good advice, I will let you know the result.

Thank you.