CV drive shaft conversion

[skelteanema]

Thanks Leslie,

I bought the brace from Lotus Marques in Australia, it was only AUS$35 (about GBP18) and came with the longer bolt. This will be a job to do over the Southern Hemisphere winter that will soon be upon us.

[Foxie]

My diff brace now has 2 additional mounting brackets welded on.

[Foxie]

If you grind off the channel shaped projections under the nose of the diff, it makes fitting much easier.
I can fit / remove the diff with the brace already attached.

[Breezehill]

Point taken will do

[prezoom]

Removing the casting boss makes things much easier.

[Rob1n]

Slipping the clutch was the only way of stopping the wind up. But once you have had one break you won’t go back to “rubber bands”. Mine came through the boot floor luckily I was just pulling away rather than going at any speed!
Just think of how lotus we’re thinking, even at F1 standards keep it light and cheap especially cheap maybe harsh but true me thinks.

[koobs90]

Also thinking about swapping final drive when rebuilding the rear end on my +2. Any opinions about the spidercars axles?

[Foxie]

Also thinking about swapping final drive when rebuilding the rear end on my +2. Any opinions about the spidercars axles?

Why would you want to do this ?

I have the standard Lotus/Ford diff in my +2 for nearly 40 years, regularly raced and hillclimbed, now with 170 hp. Once the original ouput shafts are replaced with forged ones like Tony Thompsons, they have never failed.

Besides they also have a very wide range of drive ratios.

I don't know if the Spider Zetec diff will bolt into an original Elan chassis, any comment, has anyone got pics/drawings ?

I actually went the other way when I fitted the complete Zetec brake system to the +2. Spyder made up a set of CV drive shafts to bolt to the original diff.

[512BB]

I think he is talking about the one donut solution that Spyder sells Mr Fox, but could be wrong. I have that setup on one of my cars and find it great, not much different from the feel of 2 donuts.

Leslie

[Foxie]

I think he is talking about the one donut solution that Spyder sells Mr Fox, but could be wrong. I have that setup on one of my cars and find it great, not much different from the feel of 2 donuts.

Leslie

I actually had this set-up before I went 100% CVs. The surge was much reduced, but the remaining donuts were still starting to crack.

[alanr]

Yes I think koobs90 is talking about the Spyder CV joint conversion which retains an inner Rotoflex doughnut but uses a GKN Lobro CV at the driveshaft outer end.
Whilst not having personal experience of this setup it is certainly a seemingly sensible option and worthy of serious consideration because it retains the cushion effect of the rubber doughnut at the differential end of the driveshaft so should mitigate any risk of damage to the delicate Lotus hanging diff arrangement.i.e.the diff case ears and the diff output shafts.
If you talk to Spyder themselves they say it is definitely the best solution. They would say that though wouldn't they!

Alan

[koobs90]

you are correct, I was talking about the one donut set up from spyder cars. Anybody have good a or bad things to say? after resto complete will be used on weekends and going to shows and occassional daily use when weather good, no racing or hill climbing. Thoughts?

[alan.barker]

Is spyder with 1 CV or 1 UJ.
With UJs you need 2 to keep the rotation "in phase". With 1 CV there is no problem.
Alan

[alanr]

Spyder conversion is one CV at the outer end and one Doughnut at the inner end.

[Foxie]

Spyder conversion is one CV at the outer end and one Doughnut at the inner end.

Just checked with Spyder. 1 CV/1 Donut driveshafts still available.

https://www.spydercars.co.uk/lotus-elan-2-final-drive/