Esprit V8 Gearbox
Discussion
Had this forwarded to me today from one of the discussion lists:
quote:
I can`t remember which digest it was. but someone was talking about the 2nd gear on the V8`s being a pain in the arse and not being able to obtain 2nd in quick changing. Lotus are fully aware of this problem and advise not to upgrade power above the standard 350 B.H.P. Anyone with a problem, U.K. or abroad, then you should speak to a chap called Heathcliffe Robert-Shaw at Lotus H.Q. U.K. He is Customer Services Manager. Their engineers, Mark Critchley being Head of Engineering at Lotus has said to me that the Renault box is very dated and needs to be upgraded. Apparently it is effectively a Renault 25 gearbox just beefed up and is still made in a corner of the one of Renaults Factories in France. I have also heard of people having their gearboxes replaced on the V8`s even out of warranty. I had mine replaced after only a year of ownership from new, as I lost second altogether and reverse was nigh on impossible as well. For those who have been told it is the way they drive, ignore this by your Dealers. Lotus know of the problem and due to the gearbox being roughly £6,800 plus labour fitted, it is something you should take up directly with Heathcliffe at Lotus H.Q.
That info is major league interesting! I have just had the V8 in the garage becuase of poor selection in reverse. SGT (my dealers) have said they have replaced the clutch but also said that it was only 50% worn.
I and other V8 owners I know have dealt with Heathcliffe Robertshaw and I guarantee he will not give anyone a new gear box.
When approached for compensation by a friend who has had his engine rebuilt three time, the response came " we could keep this in court for years". Customer services indeed!
Thanks for the heads up - time for my lawyer to earn more money!
Hate it - lurv it!
I've had a 2.2 turbo (1991) with the same pain to shift at high rpm from 1st to 2nd (had the car new, 10000miles), a friend of mine done some work on the internal of the transmission (the fork I believe), it was better but not as it should be....
I confirm that the gearbox is a very, very, very old unit from Renault, they use it in the R25 and others, especially in the R5 turbo (1980 !), so there is a specialist in france that remanufacture those gearbox, add a 6th gear and bulletproof it.
I don't have his coordinates here, I remember he's putting a had in the french magazine "Echappement", I'll check out later for those interested.
email me if so to remember me to post it.
For what its worth. Here is what |I know:
Indeed, the gearbox in the esprit is at best minimal handling 350HP. But understand also that I have seen several racing esprits with 400+ HP with the same tranny and no trouble. I have been racing my esprit with 500HP+ for a while and have had no trouble with the xmission. Now, most damage takes place when grinding the gears. I can be in 2nd gear and give full gas and no gears will strip, but I have no room for errors. Another MAJOR worry is the 1/2 shafts which are also weak. Lotus could designed the esprit with a better tranny+1/2 shafts, but I don't think it would be a $80K car anymore.
The Renault transmission is used in Deloreans, R5s and others. I did regear my transmission for taller gearing so that I can achieve higher top speeds. However, after regearing I still only do 196 MPH per GPS. Next step is to use a Sodoma transmission, which is a modified Renault transmission as previously mentioned here. Some of the lotus esprit GT cars where using this transmission. I may be able to get one soon to try with help from Lotus US. However, fabrication is necessary to fit the sodoma as well.
Same goes for the quaife box, It will not simply fit into the trunk like the stock transmission. Also Linkages on the quaife will not fit so you have to get the sequential gearbox which is around $18K in US and $12K in UK (go figure). There is also a modified Hewland gearbox that fits the esprit. According to the drivers this box is very clonky at low speeds.
All in all these optional transmissions are not street boxes and very loud when driven.
Johan
Team Extreme Esprit
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