W.M. GRIFFITHS
Barrister
UMBRELLA CHAMBERS POSTAL ADDRESS:
1st & 2nd Floors, “Old Umbrella Shop” PO Box 1925, Launceston 7250
60A George Street, Launceston Tel: (03) 6334 2922
Tasmania Australia Fax: (03) 6334 2819
DX: 70175, Launceston Mobile: 0438 132 970
Email:
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Dear Steve
RE: CV DRIVE SHAFT CONVERSION KIT
I am sorry for the long delay in replying to your request.
I bought my Plus 2 in 1975. By now I have fairly much got the hang of it!
I have made a number of minor modifications to it but a most worthwhile one was made in about 1978 after suffering the results of a flailing half shaft when one of those wretched donuts let go!
As a replacement I installed a pair of sliding half shafts with a universal joint at each end.
The sliding half shafts were adequate but they were certainly very heavy and it took quite a while to grind away the noses of the four universals so that they did not bind when the rear suspension was fully extended.
The conversion served me well until about the end of 2011!
At that time, one of the universals finally failed and rather than replace it I obtained a pair of CV drive shafts from the Lotus Marques.
The result is that there is now considerably less weight and considerably less friction in the output shafts; moreover the installation of the replacement parts was really quite an easy job, the instructions being clear and the parts having been exceedingly well designed and manufactured.
I might add that I obtained a similar conversion for my Aston Martin a few years ago, converting it from the original sliding half shaft and twin universal arrangement (the Aston was not originally equipped with donuts!) to an output shaft and CV joints – precisely the same system provided by Lotus Marques but manufactured by Aston Martin.
The benefits I experienced with the Aston were precisely the same as the benefits I have since found with the Lotus.
I should add finally that the Lotus has on occasions been busy – it has competed with considerable success in Targa Tasmania and in other competition from time to time over the lengthy period that I have had the joy of owning it.
The car has recently, and for the second time since I have owned it, been repainted and had a complete engine overhaul, together with the refurbishing of the dashboard and the manufacture of a new crash panel above it.
It was time that it had a birthday since it is now 25 years since I did the earlier work which was part of a body off restoration.
Steve is to be congratulated for his workmanship and for his dedication to the marque.
Kind regards.
W M GRIFFITHS