Stevens Rear Hubs

[sandwer]

I know the hub carriers cost a lot, but is it possible to fit Stevens rear hubs (and of course, the discs and wheels) to the G cars, or is the chassis substantially different?

Just curious, I'm wondering why I've never seen it as a modification.

[dazmans3]

I do know that the Stevens Chassis was modified to fit the HC engine, so that Vacuum Pump & later power steering pump could be fitted. This was done by cutting out the support bar from the Left hand engine mount to the upper cross bar of the chassis, & reinforcing the Left hand corner, by the Cam pulleys.

As to whether any other parts of the chassis were modified for the later cars I couldn't say, however I wouldn't be surprised if it was. As it seams that these cars where always under constant development through there production. From variations in the gear linkage to mods to the cooling system.

I did mention this to Steve of SJ once & he basically said it was a big & expensive job because of what was needed, But on that note I have seen an S3 Turbo that had a renault box fitted with the outboard brakes ect, complete with early Stevens alloys.

Daz

[hilly]

Not all together sure if you can just bolt 'S'car uprights onto a 'G'car as the driveshafts are not the same and hence the mounting flange will be different. You can't just swap over to the later drive shafts either as the gearbox connectiona are different.

Not having seen a set of component from each car side by side it is difficult to give a yes/no answer but I am guessing not.

Anyhow you will also have a problem matching up the fronts.

If you do manage to get later rear uprights on, then as you said you would need to fit 108mm PCD wheels. However the front hubs will still be 120mm PCD and as your car is an 1981 you can't fit the later 108mm PCD front hubs on as the wheel bearing sizes are different between the Lotus and Triumph uprights.

If you had a post 85 car then you could as they use the Lotus front uprights and not the Triumph ones.

This is defo looking like a mucho pain in the arse job...........

Hilly

[sandwer]

Not all together sure if you can just bolt 'S'car uprights onto a 'G'car as the driveshafts are not the same and hence the mounting flange will be different. You can't just swap over to the later drive shafts either as the gearbox connectiona are different.

Not having seen a set of component from each car side by side it is difficult to give a yes/no answer but I am guessing not.

Anyhow you will also have a problem matching up the fronts.

If you do manage to get later rear uprights on, then as you said you would need to fit 108mm PCD wheels. However the front hubs will still be 120mm PCD and as your car is an 1981 you can't fit the later 108mm PCD front hubs on as the wheel bearing sizes are different between the Lotus and Triumph uprights.

If you had a post 85 car then you could as they use the Lotus front uprights and not the Triumph ones.

This is defo looking like a mucho pain in the arse job...........

Hilly

Yeah - I'd thought about the driveshafts, I was wondering out loud really about using the renault transaxle and drivshafts with the Stevens hubs/discs. My thinking was inspired by Punky's conversion - all he had to fab was the adaptor plate, whereas you and Danny had to jump through all manner of hoops to get the Audi stuff in.

I figured there would always be a problem with the front wheel PCD's. You can't retro fit the lotus suspension to pre-85 cars? What on earth did they do to stop that? I know the brakes are Bendix, but did the whole of the front end chassis change that dramatically that you couldn't retro fit the newer suspension to it?

[hilly]

Yeah - I'd thought about the driveshafts, I was wondering out loud really about using the renault transaxle and drivshafts with the Stevens hubs/discs. My thinking was inspired by Punky's conversion - all he had to fab was the adaptor plate, whereas you and Danny had to jump through all manner of hoops to get the Audi stuff in.

I figured there would always be a problem with the front wheel PCD's. You can't retro fit the lotus suspension to pre-85 cars? What on earth did they do to stop that? I know the brakes are Bendix, but did the whole of the front end chassis change that dramatically that you couldn't retro fit the newer suspension to it?

The thing with Punky's car is that it is a Stevens so it already has the outboard brakes and stuff, hence all he has had to do is change the engine and make an adaptor plate.

Even if you fitted a Renault gearbox to your S3 you would still need to do all the faff with the rear brakes, either fit later uprights, brakes, radius arms and drive shafts or come up with your own outboard (or inboard) solution.

Nope, you can't fit the post 85 front hardware to the earlier cars as the design is completely different.

The anti-roll bar no longer controls lower link location so the chassis has extra bits on it.

It also doesn't use those crappy trunnions...................

Post 85 set-up

Pre 85 set-up

Hilly

[sandwer]

The thing with Punky's car is that it is a Stevens so it already has the outboard brakes and stuff, hence all he has had to do is change the engine and make an adaptor plate.

Even if you fitted a Renault gearbox to your S3 you would still need to do all the faff with the rear brakes, either fit later uprights, brakes, radius arms and drive shafts or come up with your own outboard (or inboard) solution.

Nope, you can't fit the post 85 front hardware to the earlier cars as the design is completely different.

The anti-roll bar no longer controls lower link location so the chassis has extra bits on it.

It also doesn't use those crappy trunnions...................

Hilly

I knew punky's was a stephens, I forgot to qualify that with "it seems to make the ideal base car for a 'swapper' - all the stuff is there to start with". Duh - cut and paste...

Thanks for the pics, it true, a picture paints a thousand words. I can see now. I really never knew how widespread the 85 changes were - I've never been up close and personal with one.

I'm beginning to get a real appreciation of the magnitude of the task you have undertaken. You really have to make a few kits up, Andy - or sell the plans

[hilly]

I knew punky's was a stephens, I forgot to qualify that with "it seems to make the ideal base car for a 'swapper' - all the stuff is there to start with". Duh - cut and paste...

Thanks for the pics, it true, a picture paints a thousand words. I can see now. I really never knew how widespread the 85 changes were - I've never been up close and personal with one.

I'm beginning to get a real appreciation of the magnitude of the task you have undertaken. You really have to make a few kits up, Andy - or sell the plans

True, an 'S'car is an easier base to start from, but doing a big power 'G'car is more of a challange. If it was easy every one would be doing it........

If there is a market for engine swap kits (or rear outboard brake conversion stuff) then I may just think about it.

I really need to get on and finish drawing up all the bits I have made.

Hilly

Edited June 14, 2007 by hilly

[dazmans3]

Even if you fitted a Renault gearbox to your S3 you would still need to do all the faff with the rear brakes, either fit later uprights, brakes, radius arms and drive shafts or come up with your own outboard (or inboard) solution.

Also if you where planning on keeping your Lotus engine, you would have to have the Crank adapted to fit a bigger Roller spigot baring needed for the Renault G box drive shaft. & I think this may envove taking the crank out.

Daz

[bpaar]

I know the hub carriers cost a lot, but is it possible to fit Stevens rear hubs (and of course, the discs and wheels) to the G cars, or is the chassis substantially different?

Similar questions, different car....

Is it possible to fit the later G car rear hubs to an S1. I am fairly sure they will work, but would the trailing arms need to be swapped along with them?

Does a S3/turbo stub axle fit a S1 hub, S1 axles are 1-5/16" diameter.

Some day I would like to install upper links, just exploring the options.

Bill