andyblackman777 Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 Hi all, I was thinking of replacing my cast iron bell housing for the alloy one. has anyone done this, or does anyone know what additional parts I may need. Clutch fork, pivot, slave etc?? I have the dual clutch and its an early 96 so should have the alloy bell housing already but it doesn't?? Cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 The original twin-plate upgrade kit consisted of the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch, release bearing and an ECU update. In your case, you should be able to simply replace the bellhousing and move across the pivot to the alloy version, as you already have the working twin-plate clutch. The old sytle fork and slave arrangement can be used with the newer bellhousing. 1 Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave excell Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 I replaced my iron bellhousing wit an alloy one obtained in one of the lotus sales some years ago. it already had a twin plate clutch when I obtained the car. It was a simple switch with no problems. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Ace thanks guys. just see if I can track one down now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Do you have one Mike??😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 I got my last one from JAE but it was sacrificed for the X-Shift transmission swap. Maybe Joe Sulka has another. It was very reasonably priced. Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 I'll give them a try Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 I just got this reply from Geoff at Esprit Engineering. I’m now confused. Hi Andy The cars came out with a single plate clutch and a alloy bell housing. The early cars and i mean the first couple of hundred were upgraded to the twin plate AP with the addiction of the cast bell housing to damp out a harmonic vibration at idle. many people think the bell housings went from cast to aluminium in fact it's the other way. we may well have one in stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 No, that is not correct. There were cast and alloy bellhousings for the single plate clutch, but ONLY alloy bellhousings defined for the twin plate clutch. It`s clearly noted in the parts manual My first V8 was one of the early cars and had the free (well "labour only") upgrade to the twin-plate. Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 This is what I thought I wonder why Geoff thinks differently. ?? Joe from JAE seems to think I need a different slave cylinder mounting bracket. I notice that this changes at MY98.?? he has them in stock but the bracket is twice the price of the bell housing!! Also there are two types of alloy bell housing for pre and post MY98. Im thinking that maybe the bracket is not required. Dave did you have to swap the slave bracket as well?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_sekinger Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 5 minutes ago, andyblackman777 said: This is what I thought I wonder why Geoff thinks differently. Decades have past and we are all getting older.... 1 Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 Hahah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave excell Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 No. I didnt have to do anything, but just removed the bracket and clutch fork and install on the alloy bellhousing. My car had been hacked well and truly by previous garages, with the claim of a new crank (it was a -20 re grind), Many threads, mainly the 6mm ones had been stripped. the worst one was that they tried to remove the main bearing caps with a screwsdriver wedged under the mating surface, probably forgetting the bolts in the side of the block. Oh yes they forgot to remove the cam locking screws before rotating the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted February 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Thanks Dave. Sorry to hear about the poor maintenance!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted August 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 Does anyone know the difference between the pre and post MY alloy bell houses? I know the later cars had a different slave arrangement. I can get a post MY 98 Alloy bell-housing but I have the earlier car. 🤔 Thanks Andy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted August 22, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 This is where I'm at with my transaxle upgrade, I can confirm the the ball shaped pivot from the cast iron bellhousing does not fit the later alloy one. I had considered fettling (bodging) the old pivot in, but thought better of it, and am currently waiting for a later fork and the later cylindrical pivot. The slave or slave mounting bracket may also need changing or adjustment, but as those parts are external I'll cross that bridge later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted August 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 Did you have a twin plate clutch originally?? Dave above said his was a simple swap?? I'm beginning to wonder if the part number is only different because the later one came with a clutch fork??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted August 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 Just been out and looked at a spare cast iron Bell housing I have. I see what you mean about the pivot and because of that the new fork and potentially slave bracket etc. Starts getting expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted August 23, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 Yes 1996 V8 (september), I was expecting to find a single plate clutch and that the recall had been missed, but was surprised to find a twin plate under that cast iron housing. The recall for reversal of the recirculation pump had also been missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted August 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 I’m thinking it may be more straightforward to fit the old pivot to the new housing?? I’m sure it could be done. So I wonder if the difference between the two bell housings is the pivot mounting hole/slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted September 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2022 Steve , Is the mounting for the slave bracket the same as the cast Iron one? Do the bolt holes line up etc. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth trying to adapt the later housing. I haven’t purchased one…yet. Cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted September 19, 2022 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 19, 2022 My old bellhousing went to the scrapyard months ago, the slave mount had a damaged lug so went with it. I didn't think to make a precise comparison, but did take this photo of the old and new, they look the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted October 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2022 Thanks Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted December 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2022 I can confirm that these parts fit. I have the old iron Bell housing pre MY98 and the alloy one for a post MY98. Also the flange is at the same angle. As for the clutch fork pivot. The older ball end one does not fit. The base of the pivot goes in an approx 10mm round hole with a shoulder in the casing to match a flat on the pivot. The newer alloy bell housing has a slot for the square end newer pivot and a clearance hole for the M8 bolt. However the base of the slot is at the same distance from the bell housing mounting face as similar part on the older iron bell housing. Therefore the newer bell housing could be drilled to accommodate the old pivot or the old pivot could be cut to fit the newer bell housing. Pics to follow Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyblackman777 Posted December 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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