AB Shift Cables

[Doc Fizzix]

Installed the AB cables, since I had replaced the cables on my other Elan so I was very familiar with what had to be done and got right after it in no time at all, it only took me about an hour to remove the old ones and replace with the new cables. VERY NICE! These cables are a MUST upgrade, they are made of a much better quality and the shifting feels real nice (although my car is not running yet so I will have to wait and feel them on the road). Now for the shipping, there was a little problem getting the cables and it took almost a month but this is not normal and in the end they had to send a second set and that set came in four days, AB Motorsports and Will were a very big help and more than patent with a vary bad customer (me) who was not very patent waiting. I owe Will and AB Motorsports a big apology. Thanks so much to Will and AB Motorsports they are the best!

[tweetdriver63]

OK. I'm new to the party. I just bought my first, and hopefully last, Elan two days ago. ... Hi everybody!

The biggest issue I have is the shifting. There's a lot of play in the shifter, and it's tough to get into gear sometimes. It often takes three or four attempts to get into reverse, for example, and third can be tough. I often have to force it into third. There's a little grinding in there too, so maybe I need to adjust the clutch cable?

I've read this whole thread, and I have a couple of questions.

First, understand I'm a novice. I have some experience with the Isuzu Impulse, since my son and I rebuilt one about two years ago, but none with the Lotus.

Can I adjust out a lot of the play and uncertainty in my shifter? I read one post dealing with adjusting the cables to move the shifter more toward the left on a left-hand drive car. Mine seems to be over toward the right more than I would expect. That poster said it not only moved the shifter more vertical in third, but it made it shift enough easier that he said it was like a new tranny. Is this a good place to start?

Also, a short-shift kit would be awesome. Can anybody point me in the right direction for one of those, and maybe a repair manual?

I'd appreciate any help I can get from you guys. You sound like you know just about everything there is to know about these little rockets. In the area where I live in Mississippi, these hicks don't even know what a Lotus IS! Although, if I weren't happily married, I can tell it would be a lot easier to get chicks with this car.

[Ghost]

Your first move is to register and download the workshop manual from the LEC site. This gives you the best starting point for any work on the Elan!
If your 'shift' cables are in OK condition, they can be adjusted to centralise the gearstick with a bit of trial and error. See workshop manual.
The original Lotus shift cables have a plastic collar that is attached to a bracket in the engine bay with a large 'C' clip. This collar eventually breaks off, leaving you with no gear selection. This has recently happened to me. The option then is to replace with Lotus shift cables or with AB cables. You will see from many threads on the subject that those who have fitted AB cables rate them very highly, as do I. The AB cables can be ordered from WillB, on this site, as he is the agent for AB cables. To change the shift cables is a very 'fiddly' job and there are plenty of threads on the installation.
There are two 'short shift' kits available at the moment. One from AB, and one from an LEC member Dave (see Dave's short shift thread).
I think the AB kit can be obtained from WillB and Dave' kit can be bought directly from him. I have installed Dave's kit, which is cheaper and easier to install than the AB kit, but gives the same end result.
Hope this is of some help, and I am sure many other members will add their comments.

Steve