CV driveshaft conversion

[alan.barker]

Hi Tony,
Good luck and lots of driving fun in your Lotus. All of us have learnt a lot owning Lotus Elans. That's the good thing about the Forum to help others from making same mistakes.
I was lucky to visit Sydney and have CVDS delivered to my Hotel. So saved on postage and Import Taxes here in Brittany. Still not cheap but it was in Dec so like a Christmas Present "Arbres de Noel".
Alan

[alanr]

+1 for CVDS "Elantrikbits" 100%.
Alan

Hi Alan,
I assume you have now fitted your Elantrikbits CV's.
So has it actually changed the driving experience of your car? Difficult to explain I guess in words on a forum but do you really notice a sharper take up when letting the clutch out? Or is it just an inner thought in your head that what you have now is perhaps more a foolproof/safer setup regardless of the way you might drive your car? A peace of mind thing?
In other words I suppose I am asking why after many years of +2 and Elan ownership you appear to have completely changed your mind recently about Donuts versus CV's?

My +2 I think currently drives quite nicely on the Donuts and I don't notice much windup or have any issues at all with the way it drives even pushing it quite hard occasionally.
I do actually like the way it currently drives!
However the exchange rate is quite favorable at the moment against the GBP, albeit they are still expensive, so the thought goes through my head that maybe I should consider swapping the donuts out?..But why?..Is the question I still struggle with...
I am not at all concerned about donuts failing with the low annual mileage I do and I keep an eye on them very regularly. They are many years old and have no cracks whatsoever despite their age!
The Donut setup just must be kinder to the diff and driveline generally so again the thought goes through my head that if i am happy with the way my car drives and the current setup keeps the car original why should I spend the money!

Any further thoughts?


Alan

[alan.barker]

Hi Alanr,
Difficult to explain why. Things change and driving style. In the past i was a bit of a boyracer. These days a Sunday driver and lots of visits with Car Clubs ( slow driving) .
Lots of the time in 1st and 2nd gear trickling along slow fast, slow fast when you can feel the windup/elastic effect.
With the 3 different Elan +2s i've had in the past it was more noticeable due to the Car being 200 kgs more in weight.
With the CVDS none of this effect and like a normal Car.
The Doughnuts i took off are still in very good condition after many years.
Maybe i've been spoilt by the TVR 3000M and TVR 3000S i have and the smooth V6 Essex Engines.
I'm very pleased with the CVDS 100% nice bit of Kit.
Personal choice but for me between CVDS Elantrikbits and MM type it's an easy choice.
I like the Driveshafts in the USA which include Output Diff Shafts but too expensive for me.
That's the way i see it but again personal choice.
Alan