Each transmission requires it's own unique bell housing. So if
you find a transmission from a Toyota or BMW source, you will
still have to find a matching Lotus bell housing. Or have a
machine shop/ welder do considerable modification to make the
original bell housing mate up to the new transmission.

You will also need a clutch disk that will fit the different input
shaft splines.

The Getrag will work with the existing clutch cable, but the
Toyota is set up for hydraulic clutch actuation. If you go
hydraulic, then swap the pedal box from an Excel into your car.
Using the cable will require fabricating some sort of abutment to
anchor the cable to the bell housing.

Of the three transmissions, the Austin Maxi based Lotus gearbox
that you have now is the smallest and lightest. I question
Benjamin's comment that the Toyota box, at 78 lbs, is half the
weight of the Lotus box. It's actually the largest and heaviest
of the three, but still an excellent choice. But that's a
detail... don't get lost in the weight issue. They are what they
are.

The Getrag is the model 265 that was used in some BMWs as well as
othere cars. However, note that the 265 was built in several
versions. Most had integral bell housings, and one had a
separate gearbox and bell housing. You want the separate gearbox
so the Lotus bell housing can be installed. I do not know the
specific makes and models that used the separate gearbox version.
MetricMechanics.com is a BMW transmission specialist... talk with
them.

Also note that the 265 came with different internal gear ratios,
so shop around for one with the Lotus ratios. The version Lotus
used had a rather tall 1st gear. Lotus only used it with the 2.2
liter 912 engine, which has must more low end torque than the 907.
The tall 1st worked okay with the 912, but might be less than
ideal with the low-torque 907.

The Toyota W58 5-spd was produced with an cast iron housing or an
aluminum housing. You want the aluminum version. There are
also different shifter locations and input shaft & housing
lengths, so you need to shop for the one that fits properly.

Of the three gearboxes, the Toyota probably has the best gear
ratios for the Lotus engine. However, it's also the largest
gearbox, a very tight fit into the Elite-Eclat chassis, and
requires the most work to make it fit (the Excel chassis backbone
was widened a bit to make more room for it). It can be made to
fit into the Elite-Eclat, but some cutting on the chassis is
required.

Neither the Getrag nor the Toyota W58 are simple drop-in
conversions. Both will require chassis modifications, including
cutting and welding. The easiest way to go with eithere
conversion is to purchase the complete package froma S2.2
Elite-Eclat or from an Excel. Talk with Mike Taylor at
LotusBits.com.

My Lotus-Maxi gearbox is also in need of repair and I'd like to
avoid putting money into a weak transmission. But given that the
Getrag and Toyota transmissions aren't exactly drop-in swaps, I'm
thinking that a modern 6-spd might make the required work more
worthwhile. Like one from a Mazda Miata (MX5) or Honda S2000.

Regards,
Tim Engel



----- Original Message -----
From: Benjamin Perrault
To: elite_186
Cc: lotus4seaters@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 3:13 AM
Subject: Re: [lotus4seaters] Getrag gearbox in 1975 Elite
>
> You can install the Toyota box of the excel....
> I did it with mine....
>
> but...
>
> a.) You need the bell housing (from an excel)
>
> b.) you need to fabricate mounts to make the gearbox fit.
>
> c.) Drive shaft need to be modified.
>
> Going getrag, you still need to fabricate mounts and
> acquire the bell housing, but it tends to fit a bit easier
> then the toyota unit all for all.
>
> I feel the toyota unit is the best box - smooth shifting,
> super durable, easy maintain (at least in the US), and
> weighs in at only 78 lbs (with bellhousing!!!) which makes
> it less then half the Maxi unit and a lot less then the getrag.
>
> If your in the US, the hardest thing of the swap is the
> bell housing, with getting the actual gearbox fairly easy.
> I've head the UK, this problem is flipped.



On Jun 15, 2009, at 1:01 AM, elite_186 wrote:
> I'm considering to change my original Lotus 5-speed
> gearbox with the Getrag unit on my Lotus Elite, specified
> in the Excel. Although it has been revised no more
> than 10.000 miles ago, 2nd and 3rd cannot be selected
> without noise and sometimes even need doubleclutching
> to be used at all, thus spoiling all the fun ;-)
> I take it the Getrag unit is more solid and I've never heard
> any complaints by BMW drivers. Is it hard to change
> the original unit with the Getrag box? Are there any
> changes needed to the clutch or the mountings on the
> chassis? And which type of Getrag unit do I need?
> Is it otherwise possible to install the Toyota box of
> the Excel?