Lotus 5 speed overhaul

[Herc]

I'm about to start on an overhaul of the top end of my 2.0L engine, so I thought an ideal time to get a pro to overhaul my Lotus 5-speed.  I know it's not the best box in the world, but I am keen to keep the car original spec.  

 

The gearbox changes OK, synchromesh OK, but the bearings are quite noisy.  So too are the intermediate gears.  I was hopin g to find someone to do a bearings / syncho's replacement - seems like parts are available,  In an ideal world I'd have the intermediate gears replaced, but I don't thing the parts exist.

 

Has anyone any experience of someone who can do this work for me? UK-based, I should add.  I remember Lotus Bits says they can do them, but I think they said they outsourced it?

 

 

Thanks

Herc

[LOTUSPOINT]

Bearings you will found by SJ Sportscars (sjsportscars.co.uk)

Other parts are difficult to find, but try "Tocus" which you will find here in the forum.

 

Regards

[eclat22]

You could speak to Alan voights gearboxes Wallasey, Merseyside,

[pbharcourt]

I know somebody in the New Forest area that regularly works on Lotus gearboxes.

I cant think of his contact number off hand but will find out for you if your interested.

[Herc]

Paul

 

Yes I would be interested in a name, since it is much closer to me than the Wirral.  

 

Cheers

Herc

[Tocus]

still have 2 gearboxes for sale (5 speed) and also 1 in spares/bits, so have many things for sale,

[Neil D.]

Avoid

 

Nicol Transmission Services

Gearboxes Kidderminster

 

Neil

[stugilmour]

Assume this is the Lotus five speed (with Austin Maxi internals) that was also used in the Elan Plus 2S/5 with slight differences?  If so, the UK based Elan guys speak very highly of Graham Boulton for gearbox service and parts.  Unfortunately I don't have contact info or location available for you.  Might be the same chap folks are thinking of?  No direct experience, just seen the name several times on our Elan forum. Might be an option.

 

Stu

 

 

Edit to add this from an older 2008 post on our Elan forum.  Sounds promising..

 

I have had gearboxes rebuilt by both Graham Boulton in Dereham, Norfolk, 01362 694367, and Alan Voigts, Wallasey, Merseyside, 0510 630 3575. Alan Voigts also does the Sierra T9 conversion for the Elan and Plus 2.

I can highly recommend them both.

 

Sean Murray

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2013 by stugilmour

[Dunc]

It is the same box.

D

[Herc]

I've just spoken to Mark at Alan Voigts Gearboxes.  He seems to think that they can do pretty much anything, and have all parts to hand.  The price soon stacks up of course.  

 

Needless to say he wasn't very complimentary about the old 5-speed box, but did feel that the noises I hear are more likely to be gears than bearings.  

 

I will report more as the saga unfolds.

 

Thanks for all the input.

 

Herc.

[Sternwhale]

Hi all, sorry to resurrect this thread but I am thinking of maybe looking at a rebuild for a 5-speed gearbox that is getting noisy, particularly in 5th. Do these recommendations still stand for parts and rebuilding? Any experiences of rebuilding a gearbox or getting one done? Thanks in advance for your help!

[mikeeech]

I'm sure they can be done at a cost. I sent mine of to voights and they quoted me more than a getrag box was from lotus bits.

[Farmer Bob]

My gearbox will be ropey I am sure, does the getrag fit Mike or does it require a different chassis? Was the getrag fitted to any other cars at the time?

[Dunc]

The getrag fits the chassis. There is very little difference between an S1 & S2 chassis and the getrag was standard fit on the S2.

The getrag was fitted to a number of cars, but with some detail changes in speedo drive/bellhousing and linkage. There are also some dogleg CR variants.

Senator/Monza 5 speed, Large 6 cylinder BMW's 528, 633, 635, 535 (pre-82), early BMW M3, early 6 cylinder xjs manual. Volvo also used a variant of it in their big stuff, but I think there were more differences than with the other cars.

Unless you have a broken getrag, I wouldn't try and source one from a different car as you dont have any bits to swap over. You are 100% better buying one from Lotusbits in my opinion....

D

[mikeeech]

As dunc says there is a small difference in the mounting of the getrag and S1 box. I replaced my chassis with an S2 chassis and so the mounts were already there. I think the S2 chassis is backward compatible (i.e. has the mounting for the S1 gearbox) but i'm not sure that works the other way round. It's not a big mod but mounting tabs can be welded to an S1 chassis.

the best I can do is the photo's below. on the white chassis you can see the getrag mounting points ahead of the transmission tunnel.

[Sternwhale]

Hi, thanks. That's all very useful.

[SGR]

Hi, I've 'lost' reverse in my 1975 5 speed manual 501 and am located in Surrey, could anyone please recommend an honest transmission specialist not too far away as well as recommend a fair price for labour and what replacement Maxi innards and the entire box may cost? Many thanks!

Edited July 25, 2017 by SGR
grammatical error

[mikeeech]

I was quoted for a rebuild of an entire box - £1400 by voights in liverpool. they have plenty of spare parts.

[SimonOmeara]

Hi there, I had my gearbox lotus  5 speed rebuilt by www.klassiktrans.co.uk. Ken is 5 minutes from where I live

and he did a brilliant Job, SJ sports have lots of spares.