Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

In theory It will mate to the zetec as this has the same bolt pattern as the LTC. The Duratec is different bolt pattern but not impossible. Spyder are concentrating on standard cars for the moment.

What has ever happened about the 6 speed Madza box Spyder was developing for the Elan. It's been well over a year since I have heard any news?

Thanks,
Frank

old hat......theyre looking at a 7 speed DSG......

Spyder are stacked out with work and have been for the last 2 years. They are too busy building Zetec Elans and restoring standard cars to be able to devote the time to perfect the 6 speed project.

It's very frustrating, I think a lot of people would be interested if it was available as a kit.

Maybe they should consider putting the project in somebody else's hands then.

Just been talking to Andy at Spyder. They just got near to getting one unit built, but they are so busy with other work he said it could be 2 - 3 years before they get back to it

Foxie wrote:Just been talking to Andy at Spyder. They just got near to getting one unit built, but they are so busy with other work he said it could be 2 - 3 years before they get back to it

so that would be 4 + 2 or 3 years build to get a first trial ? unless there are further delay...

Does anybody want a 6 speed now? Originality seems to be the name of the hobby at the moment.

Spyder fan wrote:Does anybody want a 6 speed now? Originality seems to be the name of the hobby at the moment.

I do. I just replaced the 3.54 with a 4.55 diff in my Plus 2S. It's transformed my hillclimb performance, but the revs on the motorway driving to events are now to high, even with the T9 5-speed

No rules with the formula you are competing in then?

The Mazda 6 speed ratios are no higher than a T9. The thought was that a 6 speed with a wide spread would better suit the low torque (relatively) of a twin cam engine. 4th in town between 25-35 isn?t easy with a standard 4 speed and standard engine. The low first will help with stop start traffic.

1st
?3.760

2nd
?2.269

3rd
?1.646

4th
?1.257

5th
?1.000

6th
?0.843

Thanks for that Alan.

I agree, the overall range of the Miata 6 speed and the Ford T9 5 speed are similar, but with a Miata and 3.54 diff I would have very similar first five gears as the T9 with a long 1st and a 4.55 diff, and the a 6th gear with the same overall gearing as the T9 with a 3.54 diff. This would be ideal for me.

The Motorsport Ireland regulations for Historics (The class I race and hillclimb in ) are very flexible.

(http://www.motorsportireland.com/Librar ... .sflb.ashx)

Basically, provided the geometry of the engine and suspension is original, and the car is not injected or turboed, modifications are fairly free. The big equalizer is that you are given a handicap calcaluted with regard to the average of your best times in your last 4 events as a ratio of the FTD at those events. The faster your car, the bigger the handicap. A bit like golf ! So there is everything out from 850 Minis to 4.7 Sunbeam Tigers. Great competition on hillclimbs, but you have to watch your mirror on circuits, and it's not such fun for spectators !

Spyder fan wrote:Does anybody want a 6 speed now? Originality seems to be the name of the hobby at the moment.

I THINK I would, or something more than the four-speed, as I intend to use this car for real driving. That said, I haven't driven it yet except for an ill-running eighth of a mile in first gear.

I have just had a look at this gearbox type on Ebay and indeed several Mazda gearboxes look promising.

I'm tied up with my "GTS project" at present, but if I had time, I would look at firstly the position of the lever compared to the rear of the bellhousing, the bellhousing and the size of the first motion shaft.

Spyder hardly have enough time to even answer the phone let alone rethinking a gearbox!

Frogelan wrote:I have just had a look at this gearbox type on Ebay and indeed several Mazda gearboxes look promising.

I'm tied up with my "GTS project" at present, but if I had time, I would look at firstly the position of the lever compared to the rear of the bellhousing, the bellhousing and the size of the first motion shaft.

Spyder hardly have enough time to even answer the phone let alone rehinking a gearbox!

The gearbox that Myers/Spyder use is the Miata Phase 2.5 (Mk 2.5) 6 speed. The most recent boxes that fit to the Mazda Duratec style engine are far too bulky.
mk 2.5 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Mx5-6- ... SwKVVcwwJl

Mk3 https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2017-Mazda-Mx5 ... 7675.l2644

Thanks Alan. The first advert looked indeed promising but obviously there are quite a few bits to modify!