"Erik V. Berg" <erikb@elrond.sp.TRW.COM> wrote:
>>>Wow. The "no rubber bushing" shifter makes a difference!
>>>This gearbox feels like a machine tool. Very light pressure
>>>on the lever is all that is needed to feel what the sychros
>>>are doing. And when speed match is achieved, there is a
>>>crisp little click as the lever goes home. Really neat.
>Andres Sta. Maria wrote in response:
>>Should I remove the rubber bush on my shift lever (press it out) on my
>>1969 S4 Elan (45) and perhaps replace with a brass bush? I know the
>>bush was the anti-sizzle solution, but your post encourages me to
>>delete this.
>Hmmm. You're thinking that the rubber bush was originally intended as
>noise prevention?
>Could be, I don't know. But as far as I can tell, there seems very
>little disadvantage at all, to the solid lever. I was expecting
>some vibration. I thought it might be uncomfortable, to drive
>around with hand resting on the lever. In reality, I've noticed no
>such problem!
>Your brass bush idea sounds like a good one to me. If you try it, I
>would like to hear how it works out.
I saw the addition of the rubber shift lever bushing as an attempt, along with
other changes, to civilize the Elan (the Elan itself being a civilization of the
Elite) by isolating the driver a bit .... making a softer (albeit slightly less
crisp) feel. One of the early steps toward a broader market base IMO and away
from the dreaded kit car image (although it absolutely escapes me why this
should be viewed as so undesirable by some folks).
The bushing isn't really a problem but without it, one feels the operation of
the gears more directly ... I certainly prefer it that way. I've seen owners
use a solid chunk of aluminum, nylon or delrin in place of the rubber rather
than changing the whole lever.
Elans are all wonderful and fortunately, they are simple enough that owners can
usually, with a few uncomplicated choices/changes, have exactly what they want
the car to be.
Hope I'm not too naive in seeing the Elise in a similar way.
Rod
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