new steering wheel and v5 switcher mounting

[MattDon]

i might be backing up the wrong tree but i realy want a smaller steering wheel and i have a few questions

1 is this the right adaptor

2 how big is our standard wheel (362mm???) and what size would you recommend for a smaller replacment

3 id like to fit one of these is it possible and what would i need to do?

4 cant anyone tell me if they think it would be possible to use the buttons above to switch a v5 with?

5 also im like to get the wheel retrimmed in colour coordinated leather but im not sure if its possible with the steering wheels with finger bumps, am i worrying over nothing?

was thinking of using buttons on one side for the switcher and the other side for something else, although im not 100% yet, one possible idea is for an adjustable exhaust id like to have made up, or possible aux lights.

tell me if im crazy, but i think this would be fun.

[ailwyn]

4 cant anyone tell me if they think it would be possible to use the buttons above to switch a v5 with?

You would have to come up with an electronic black box that could translate the button presses into mimicking the turning of the switcher dial. This might also require re-working the daughterboard that the V5 sits in.

[MattDon]

ah not as simple as id hoped then...

[Ghost]

If you go to a smaller steering wheel, you will find that at low speed, the steering is noticably heavier.
I had a smaller wheel fitted, but changes it back for a standard (32cm or 13") Momo wheel.
An adapter plate is needed to change from the standard Nardi wheel to a Momo wheel, as the fixing holes are in a different position.
I bought an adapter plate off Ebay, and there is a thread on the site which gives some photos of the installation.

Steve

[MattDon]

thanks for the info but are you sure the standard wheel is 320mm or is the nardi wheel different from my standard wheel? i dont have an issue with heavier steering at low speed, i dont intend to go alot smaller than standard maybe 25mm or so. as far as the adaptor goes would you check the one i found on ebay in the first post and see if its either the same or comparable to the one you got.

[lotusgirlmarie]

there are a few of us that went for Elise wheels. I love mine and would never go back

[RichardK]

Agreed Marie, I love the Elise wheel, I think if you were clever ( unlike me) you could get remote buttons into it as well. It takes slightly more effort in steering but the only "drawback" imo is that when you swap to another car the steering feels ridiculously light!

[MattDon]

i saw the elise wheel on a few cars but im not sure that it suits the interior. but how is it to drive, the elise steering wheel is 320mm which is 42mm smaller that the standard uk se wheel right?!?!?!?

[RichardK]

To drive it's fine, my wife's unassisted Chevette was way harder - I've retrimmed my seats and matched the suede on the centre panels of the new seat covers with the steering wheel.

The main reason I swapped was that I wanted more room between the legs and the bottom of the steering wheel.

[MattDon]

thats the reason i want to change it, not much spare room for a big 6'3" bloke. am i right about the sizes?

[RichardK]

Yeh 6'2" and fighting to keep the weight under 100Kg this Christmas......think I'll loose that one!

[dapinky]

Yeh 6'2" and fighting to keep the weight under 100Kg this Christmas......think I'll loose that one!

Same height - and i lost the weight battle a while ago!

The Elise wheel gives me the gap between thigh and wheel which means i can get my hands all the way round it with ease - steering not too heavy (Angie can manage it at parking speeds).

All in all, one of the easiest swaps around (20 mins or so) and when coupled with the rear seat spacer removal and short shift kit is the best 1 1/2 - 2 hours spent to make it a comfortable drive for someone my size.

[MattDon]

im 100kg too, done all the things you mentioned, but im yet to fit the short shift as im saving up for ab cables.

[rip]

im 100kg too, done all the things you mentioned, but im yet to fit the short shift as im saving up for ab cables.

You'll love the short shift. It makes a huge difference. I've still got mine on the longest setting until I get some AB cables for myself.

Your steering wheel picks up all dirt from your hands, even sweat will probably stain it. Consider this before committing to have it re-covered in a different colour.

Have you got the V5 board yet? Moates changed their control switch, the first 2 recipients of which quickly suffered failed ECU's which ESM believed was a result of the new switches drawing too much current. So if you do go for an alternative switcher, be very careful.

[MattDon]

no not got the v5 yet, im hoping the issues get sorted before i order one, i guess i could always just go for standard chip if its an issue, i just like the idea of having a sencible driving setting and a fun setting, i also liked the idea of being able to switch quickly between the setting hence the questions about buttons set behind the steering wheel. i did consider a bracket to hold an analog switch behind the wheel but that would defeat the object and i would be just as inclined to fit it into the dash. ive been trying to temp my garage to fit the short shift but they just dont seem to want to and its not something im realy upto, ive already dropped a die into the hole below the gear lever in my brg
im still hoping to get hold of the cables and try to tempt dave, or anyone else who's capable....

[RichardK]

Yep - I received a reply back from Alan yesterday that he was still working on a solution to the switcher issue - could have narrowed the problem down to the new cable. I can't wait.

If you don't have one try and borrow a pulling tool for the steering wheel - after two months of soaking with WD and three hefty blokes pulling on the damn thing we just counldn't shift it -had to buy a pulling tool.....I also had to swap the boss over too ( maybe I got an early elise steering wheel.....) The good thing is that you can just recover the centre (and possibly fit remote button too)

Dave fitted my short shift in less than 30 mins ( my local mannie wouldn't tocuh it) - the quick trip up to Whitely Bay via Aberdeen was a blast! My AB cables are sitting in the boot.......waiting for the originals to fail first. Looks like a pig of a job to fit. And the short shift made SUCH a difference to the car. Not quite Mini Cooper but close. Everyone should fit a Dave short shift, the shift was the only thing that disappointed me when I had my first Elan in 91 - it took me two visits to the Lotus garage before I realised that it was meant to be that way! I think the advice is not to do both ( cables and shifter) at the same time - too many set up variables. Get the shifter in now and enjoy!

[lotusgirlmarie]

I think it suits just fine...I'm not sre if anyone has noticed but the wheel is slightly off centre. This makes it easier to turn at low speeds.

[MattDon]

your right it does, the picture i was thinking of had a lighter coloured center, it might even have been blue.

[rip]

I thought Dave had stopped making his short shift kit?
I have the AB one. It is more expensive but is adjustable, with 3 different settings. It is also still available.
It is apparently different to fit too. For the AB, the gear selector box has to be removed. This may ring alarm bells, but is actually very easy.

[MattDon]

i dont know if dave still makes them but i bought mine about a year ago just after i bought the car, im nervous about fitting it myself as the elan is my only car and id hate to bugger it up, thats why i though my best bet was to bribe dave or someone else whos done this before and knows what theyre doing.