Has anyone used the 3rd 4th and 5th gear ratio’s from Elise parts?
I would like to make my gearbox more useable and i’m thinking of using these ratios with either a 4.462 final drive (147mph top speed) or a 4.917 (133mph top speed).
I’m also looking at a LSD just for fun plus looking to increase the bhp to 210 more from my VHPD if it’s possible.
Your view’s please. 
In my experience, oem Exige ratios were spot on for road/track - 2nd especially good (are Eliseparts ratios different?).
Increasing to “210bhp more” maybe a problem… 
But wat about the diff ? Uncle P?
[quote=Mr Pesky]In my experience, oem Exige ratios were spot on for road/track - 2nd especially good (are Eliseparts ratios different?).
Increasing to “210bhp more” maybe a problem… [/quote]
The Eliseparts ratio’s are made by Quaife and shorten 3rd 4th and 5th. I find 5th to be a waste of time when it’s .85 with the 4.2 final drive.
As for increasing to 210bhp, it’s not a problem, there’s a guy that can do this in his garage in MK for me.
So is there anyone that’s done this mod or can advise me on my options?
I find my ratios seem too long. But then my lack of hp probably makes the gears feel longer!
I find my ratios seem too long. But then my lack of hp probably makes the gears feel longer! [/quote]
So it’s not just me! I find the problem is working out how short to go. 147mph top end is a safe bet but I think i’m going to go for 133mph.
I have the Quaife top 3 ratios in my S1 and it makes a big difference.It closes up the gap between 2nd and 3rd particularly and makes it much easier to stay in the power band.
The ratios are definately too long on the standard CR gearbox. The UCR would be much much better with the VHPD.
Not on many UK tracks, mon ami eg Oulton, Donington, Silverstone - could just be my driving style though!
I found that on the GP at Silverstone I only use 3rd and 4th. I feel that more use of the gearbox would help. After using a gear calculator i’ve decided that my best option is to go for the Quaife UCR gear set with a long first gear and the OEM 4.2 final drive. Hopefully this won’t be to loud with the straight cut gears.
Not on many UK tracks, mon ami eg Oulton, Donington, Silverstone - could just be my driving style though! [/quote]
I was thinking more about road driving. We dont have highways to impair our hearing. The UCR would be closer to the ratios of the S2. The CR is ok on the elise where the rev limit is lower. And what is the point of using 1 or 2 gears in a whole track or on the road when having fun? Might as well put an automatic in
I’d love a UCR, but even then I’m ntot sure I could live with it at road speeds… my little car is loud enough as it is… it’s just bearable, and I think a UCR would make it less fun.
Gear whine is like a real video game but not too loud.If you can stand the normal S1 noise it just makes it better!
You understand the S1 magic. Lotus should never off worried about noise or using lots of fuel. I think they should have tipped the scales more towards the raw side when the built the S1. Maybe there was to much red tape. I can’t wait until the box a engine are done. I think it will really improve the car but not take it too far.
I run the UCR on the road in my S1 and don’t have a bad word to say about it! It is the Lotus modified gear set originally produced by Quaife for the 340R and is helically cut so not too noisy (well not anything like a straight cut UCR gear set anyway!). If anything, there is a notable resonant point at about 4000rpm in each gear when the whine reaches a crescendo
First gear is quite long but, IMHO, 2nd-5th are perfectly spaced for fast A/B road use. Mororway transits are assisted by ear-plugs!
The Lotus reference is LLOTAC05255 and cost �1903 from Lotus when my car was new in 2001. However, it is no longer available as I discovered when I had the box rebuilt last year (at 19000 miles). Fortunately, Quaife, the original manufacturers came up trumps with the required parts!
Does anyone else run the same?
I could only find the straight cut option on the Quaife website. Was the helically cut set on the website when you bought it and do you have the ratio’s to hand that you have in your box?
Thanks for your reply mate.
Not on many UK tracks, mon ami eg Oulton, Donington, Silverstone - could just be my driving style though! [/quote]
2nd ‘was’ great! Overtake/out of corners from 40 to 83 mph!.. never used 5th on track however so that tells a lot… (about the size of the veg I think!)
Fluffy,
A copy of the original Lotus press release can still be found here:
http://www.340r.net/news/ultraclose.htm
Al D
I think that the Quaife gears are not straight cut but not as extremely helical as the normal gears which is why the whine is there but not bad.My gears cost about �1000+ fitting-bargain!!
I phoned them today about this and a guy there said that they are very loud. It’s hard to know if people that work at these places really know there products.
I also asked about the 340R UCR gear set and I was told that they are no longer avalible.
Do I risk the Quaife set 
I want the ratio’s but not the noise. It’s a lot of money to end up with something you don’t want!