Hi
It's "relatively" easy to move the lever position. Basically it's a cut and shut operation involving a bit of alloy welding and some machine shop precision engineering.
There are a couple of options- the one in my own car is the simplest and as I prefer to keep it simple I'd say it's probably the best and cheapest way to go about it.
There are at least 2 other ways to do it that I know of and have personally seen but each becomes more complex and the end results don't work any better in terms of shift quality etc. They're also a lot more expensive to achieve.
I wouldn't even attempt to try to describe on the forum what's needed- the best way, if anybody wants more info is to ring me on 0151 480 8400 and I'll go thru it and no- I'm not trying to sell anything- the work involved doesn't make it worth doing conversions as a business.
Price if you do the work yourself-
Used gearbox- around ?50-75 (best to try to get hold of one out of a 2.8 engined car since 1st is higher than boxes from smaller engined Fords).
Gearbox overhaul- ?200-300 from the trade plus cost of machining down the input shaft to fit the spigot bearing (probably around ?30 or so if you dismantle the box yourself and take just the input shaft to the machine shop).
Propshaft- about ?140 from GKN (new)
Clutch friction disc- about ?80 from DemonTweeks
Clutch pressure plate- use the std one from the 4 speed
Bellhousings- options- "Rocket to BDA" alloy used if you can persuade the old Ford rallye boys to search their workshops for the few lying around gathering dust- about ?120-130
or- new one on the internet ?350
or- Ford RS2000 alloy one and modify it for the hydraulic clutch- probably all-in at around ?200 or so
Speedo cable- custom one from Speedy Cables- probably ?30-40 I imagine or use a 2nd hand Sierra one (?5) and graft on the instrument fitting end from your existing elan speedo cable
Gearbox rubber mount- use the std one you already have
Gearbox support bracket- has to be a custom one but max cost should be no more than ?20
Gearbox oil- special from Ford- ?15 per litre (wouldn't advise using any other)
Clutch arm pivot post (the one inside the bellhousing)- you MIGHT need to have a special made- about ?20
Once you've all of the bits it's straight swapover- I did mine (or most of it) over a weekend and a week later was back on the road.
Last point- somebody sent me a private e-mail about my previous post- unfortunately I don't seem to be able to use his e-mail address so if he contacts me direct on
[email protected] I'll try to reply to his questions.
John