Spyder/Zetec with Steel Wheels

[DickyA]

Hello,
I?m considering a Spyder/Zetec conversion, but would like to retain the original steel rims/ko combination.
Can anyone advise on what?s involved or point me to the relevant forum section.
Apologizes, if this is a well driven road, but I?m a newbee to the forum

BTW: Thanks to John Chamberlain for recommending the forum

DickyA

[SADLOTUS]

Hi, welcome, and hope to find you a regular here.
I dont remember this subject being covered before but I would think your first call should be to Andy at Spyder cars.

[niallf]

Andy can tell you what you need to know. It's been done before though.

The Spyder/Zetec chassis is essentially the same one they use for the TC but with some mods to accommodate engine & gearbox. This means standard lotus suspension can be fitted, with a few little extra bits from Spyder. You possibly a replacement for the twin donutted driveshafts to ones with a CV joint inboard & a donut at the wheel end if you're fitting the Granada LSD, or similar.

If you pay Spyder a visit, they usually have a few cars in various states of conversion, so it's easy to see what's involved.

HTH,

Niall

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

I agree with the others advice (mostly).
If you talk to Andy at Spyder, he will almost certainly be able to provide a spaceframe & parts to suit your needs.
You don't have to go the whole Sierra suspension way, that the full Spyder job does.
You can retain your original front & rear suspension (or new Spyder replacement tubular wishbones etc.) & also the Elan Diff'.
The spaceframe you will need will only differ from a standard Spyder Elan spaceframe on the front cross member (vacuum chamber) which will have a half moon cut out to accomodate the Zetec front pulley.
The frame tubing adjacent to where the gearbox fits will have ovalised tubes to provide extra space for an M75 G/box.
The original G/box & propshaft can also be used with the Zetec engine, all that is needed is a suitable clutch, longer release bearing carrier & suitable pre-engage starter to suit the Zetec starter ring.
The whole Sierra+Zetec conversion does however beef up all of the drive train components & brakes in one swoop.
If you stick with your Elan suspension & wheels, you should strongly consider fitting stronger, better drive shafts, input & output shafts.
The front brakes will most likely also need upgrading.
For my Elan I went to Elan+2 front brakes & will now be fitting 4 pot calipers & bigger disks.

Good luck & happy hunting
John

[DickyA]

Thanks for the sound advice.

What I have is ?70 +2S [since ?74] with an Ed Winter head, steel crank from QED [Yes, really! ? I originate from Leicester and it cost ?500 at the time!] and a couple of Vegantune VJ5 cams.

It?s quite a nice drive, but I want something that looks the part and can be driven on daily basis.

Hence another based around the Zetec, but personally I think minilites look better on Mk1 Rallye Escorts rather than +2?s.

? I?ll probably get flamed for the last comment

[mikealdren]

Dicky,
I echo the comments. Even before you visit Spyder, visit their website. There is an overview of the full Spyder conversion from Practical Classics that gives a flavour of what's required.

There are people on this forum who have done conversions and a few are in progress and you can get lots of detailed help with the various options. There isn't a manual for the Spyder upgrade so you'll find this very useful. First tip, take lots of digital photos, both of your car and Spyder cars.

I'm partway through my conversion (and complete rebuild) and it's certainly a big undertaking but I'm enjoying the process and looking forward to having a car that can be used daily. Like you, I've had my original car for a long time.

Keep us up to date with what you decide

Mike

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Dicky,
I'm losing track of this a little bit.
I don't think that a Zetec conversion, be it the Spyder full Monty or something in between will produce a fit & forget Lotus for you.
To be quite honest, the description of your present Twin Cam makes it sound like a tasty piece of kit.
O.K. the resale value of it could be quite high but why go down the Zetec route when you have such a nice sounding Twin Cam?
I think that most people will agree with me that everything else bar the engine, seems to be the main source of agro in daily Elan use.
When I started rebuilding my Elan the main purpose was to fit it with a top rate electrical system & that was realised.
The Zetec bit was a bit of imaginative thinking at the time & turned everything into a major project; one which I actually enjoyed
Hope you don't mind me saying so?

I think that Minilites on Elans are the dogs danglies
John

[zeteclotus]

For an every day elan I would recomend a late 130/5. Zetecs are great fun but ground clearance is crap if you fit the correct diameter exhaust.

They are faster but its still a 40 year old car Just with lots of modern bits.

i built one with standard wheels really looked the part and went very quickly but I prefered the original in the end....

Its just not one thing or another not quite old not quite new.

not quite an elan not quite an elise