Q - Clutch
A new clutch was fitted with the engine gearbox upgrade. The splines on the Getrag are different to the Lotus unit, so you have to change the driven plate. I also used the 2.2 cover plate.
I also replaced the release bearing, which is now a plastic unit. It didn't appear to fit quite as well as the original item, but seems fine in use.
The clutch cable was also replaced as they are notorious for sudden failure. I always carry a spare since the RAC man can always change it, but is very unlikely to source one when you need it!
Options:
Replace the cable with a hydraulic line. As done on the Excel, but the Excel has a very different body moulding in the pedal box area, so it would be a difficult conversion. Any one done it?
Remove the point of failure for the cable. The problem is the fact that the cable bends 180 deg. around the pulley and eventually fails ( the pulley can also fail!). The solution is to make a bracket that reverses the pedal action so that the bracket can pull directly on the cable and not via the pulley. Someone out there has done this mod and I would like to see some drawings of the bracket. If it works, every Elite/Eclat should be modded, but why didn't Lotus do it?