Gearbox mount

[jbcollier]

I have a ‘69 Lotus Seven S3.  Sometime in the past, a PO removed the stock gearbox support and had two sections of square tubing added.  This probably was part of a “improvement kit” sold by either Arch or DSK.  I’m looking for a replacement mount.  It is not the same as Caterham used.  The photos below show the old mount next to a Caterham mount.  The last photo shows the two back to back.  Any idea where the mount I have might have come from?

 

 

 

[jbcollier]

Apparently, it's a mount from a Ford Anglia (105E), Consul, Zephyr, or Zodiac mk2.

[fotsyr]

Elan S1 mount from Bean or Rd.

[jbcollier]

Thanks for the suggestion but, unfortunately, not the same as what I have.

[MV8]

Fwiw, I think you nailed it down to the anglia part. I'd probably go back to standard.

[SENC]

The pictures look like the early and late gearbox mounting solutions.  I would think yours, in 69, would be a late mount - but I may be wrong on the transition date.  I'll see if I can find my notes on that for the Elan (can't imagine Lotus differentiated if they didn't have to).  If I'm right about the transition being pre-69, perhaps the PO needed to replace the tailshaft extension and used an earlier one?

[SENC]

Adding a couple of pictures and notes - may or may not be helpful to you depending on what you have (and what Lotus actually did 😀 and what the PO did).

 

Following are pictures of the tailshaft extension from my 69 Elan and its wedgeshaped mounting point.  This required the bottom mount in your first picture.  As I understand it, Ford started making this version in around 1962 and Lotus used this version in Elans starting early in (beginning of?) the S2 range, so sometime in or after 1964.

 

 

 

Following are pictures of the tailshaft extension from my 65 Seven, showing the flat mounting point.  This tailshaft extension was manufactured in 1964, as I recall.  This version required the top mount in your first picture (when used on Sevens).  It was also used in S1 Elans, thoughbit required an additional fabricated part for mounting to the Elan chassis.  As I understand it, Ford continued making this version until the Anglia was dc'd in 67.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 6 by SENC

[jbcollier]

At one point in its life, my Seven had its riveted-in mount removed (holes are still there) and square tubing welded in to support the gearbox.  They also did some bracing in the front.  Everything fits together very nicely so I think it was a reinforcement kit from either DSK or Arch -- they both offered "update" kits back in the day.   I have the early style tail housing -- or did, dropped on the floor and broke (insert sobbing emoji).  I have an alloy replacement coming but may just weld it back up.

[SENC]

8 minutes ago, jbcollier said:

At one point in its life, my Seven had its riveted-in mount removed (holes are still there) and square tubing welded in to support the gearbox.  They also did some bracing in the front.  Everything fits together very nicely so I think it was a reinforcement kit from either DSK or Arch -- they both offered "update" kits back in the day.   I have the early style tail housing -- or did, dropped on the floor and broke (insert sobbing emoji).  I have an alloy replacement coming but may just weld it back up.

Yes, I'd have been sad, too - but you get to go lighter!  Does the alloy version have the flat mounting point?

 

I can't remember for sure, but I think I ended up finding my mount by searching Anglia and Consul Capri parts sites.  It could have come from the 105e club.

[wdb]

I have the wedge-style mounting point on my tailshaft. I got a new rubber mount from RD.

[EdWills]

Hi JB. My 1969 Lotus Seven Series 3, purchased from a great gent in Edmonton (I'm the third owner), had the 116E gearbox with close ratio gears and the pre-uprated 1600 c.c. Crossflow engine - 681F and 2737E block connected by a 105E bell housing and 7 1/2 inch clutch.  The car had been fully built at Lotus and exported to the concessionaires just outside of Toronto (a number of fully completed Series 3 Sevens entered Canada this way, and as you probably know, a number arrived in Edmonton at Anglo Canadian Motors).. My car is  L.H.D.  The 116E was also fitted to the pre-crossflow Mk1 Cortina and the Lotus Cortina according to Paul Davies in his book on four cylinder Fords.. The early 105E and 109E boxes fitted in Ford vehicles only had synchromesh on the top 3 gears.  After 1967, all boxes came with synchro on all 4 gears.  My gearbox had the rubber mount that you show at the top in the first photo. It seems that the gearbox output shaft housing was available in 2 types to take either of the insulating rubber mounts as shown in the additional great photos from other forum contributors.  The gearbox mounting cradle, as you and others note, was riveted in the tunnel.  The hole for the rubber insulator mount in my cradle had become very large (the car was actively auto slalomed and raced by the second owner).   Unfortunately, he didn't always check the tightness of all the major engine and suspension bolts!  I purchased a new bracket from Caterham in 1970, and they had drilled a slotted hole to allow for side-to-side adjustment of the gearbox.  When supplies of the 116E ran out, Lotus started using the 2821E box (incorrectly known as the 2000E).  Near the end of the run of Series 3 cars (1970), the 2821E may have been substituted for the 116E.  I have a complete build story from Cars and Car Conversions (July and August 1969), where one of the magazine's staff built a Series 3 for the magazine.  It was fitted with the 2821E box.  The Series 4 (1970 onwards) likewise was fitted with the 2821E, and when used with the twin-cam engine, the twink clutch at 8 inches diameter., and the twink bell housing, a special metal adapter had to be added extending the clutch release bearing to allow the clutch to operate correctly.  Tony Weale details the part number in his book. The later rubber insulator as you show below your original, was used for the 2821E and the 116E according to diagrams in the Autopress Ltd., Ford Cortina 1967-68 Autobook by Philip H. Smith (U.K.), depending on the output shaft housing used.  Caterham/Arch produced the reinforced metal bracket with triangular sides to fit in the tunnel area which was welded to the chassis.  It incorporated a welded bottom rectangular tube to allow the rubber mount to be bolted to.  Weale advises that the 116E was used on the Seven from 1962 to 1971, and the 2821E from 1966 to 1970. He does indicate that the latter box was used by Caterham up to 1980.  Cheers,  Will

[jbcollier]

Interesting, sounds like yours and mine are closely related.  Mine was sold in Toronto, built-up, LHD, and GT engine.  I'm also the third owner as well.  Must have been the first owner who fit the triangulated gearbox mount.  Unfortunately he had dementia at the end and some of its history is unknown.  It's certainly a joy to me.  I'll drive it until too frail or demented as well, long may that be.