WTB: Lotus 352 transaxle w/o bell housing

[jbcollier]

WTB: Lotus 352 transaxle w/o bell housing

I'm looking for a good set of 3.56 ring and pinion gears.  Other internal parts may be useful.  Don't need the special Lotus bell housing.  I'm in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada so from anywhere in NA is fine.

[Blitzen]

Hi John,

I’m in Calgary.  I stole the output shafts for the NG3 but everything else is there.  I assume the gears are okay but have not checked.  You can call/text me at four oh three 874  4 7 8 9

[GavinT]

Is there a hint of cut 'n' shut in the air, JB? 

[jbcollier]

Maybe, if I can find someone who can do it.

The 352 uses the same main cases as the 365 so the diff gears are on the same centers.  I have a Lotus 365 and they have a slightly low 1st gear (3.6x as opposed to 3.46).  If I switched over to the 3.56 from the 3.78, first would still be fine (3.4 equivalent) and 5th (0.81 equivalent) would be 3200 rpm @ 70mph (112kph) as opposed to 3500.  I can already pull most hills in 5th so it should work out pretty well... if I can find someone to do the work!

[jbcollier]

All good.  I'll be buying Blitzen's 352.

[GavinT]

Good luck finding someone . . and I don't mean that sarcastically. I've said this before but I think there was a now retired guy in Scotland that used to cut shafts which I perhaps read about on Aussiefrogs.

Not totally sure about this but I think the Lotus 365's were more or less the same as the R12 Gordini.
Later versions came with the 3.46 (1st) as you say and I believe 2nd was a little different as well (2.24?) . . but anyway.

It's crossed my mind that if the Europa had been delivered with something resembling a close ratio box like the Elan, no one would be chasing a 5-speed box.
But installing a 3.5 diff in a 365 would be neat and I'd love to see an update if it happens.