49 replies to this topic

[vocky]

If you wanted to make your own side mount then the vectra adaptor might be a little simpler because it is taller than the Astra version, thus the DIY mount would be shorter and more flat.

[Doctor Ed]

fyi, i finally got my hands on a set of Europa mounts, and on first look, its really not a whole lot different to a how a Corsa VXR gearbox mount, mated to a std F23 VX220 mount looks

 

the holes dont line up exactly 100% between the VXR gearbox side, and the F23/VX220 side, but its pretty damn close, and only a matter of elongating a hole here and there (and not my more than a few mm)

 

ill dummy it up properly this evening and measure the heights/offsets, but its pretty damn close from first impressions

 

 

[vocky]

it won't fit, you need the astra vxr adaptor which is £20 or so from the dealers

[Doctor Ed]

im not sure youre following what i have in mind

[vocky]

you are thinking that the corsa adaptor mount and the F23 vx220 side mount can somehow work together, they don't   

[Doctor Ed]

going to have to disagree for the time being 

 

didnt get a chance to properly measure the offsets tonight, but theyre soooo close its not funny. heights are identical, reach looks identical, fore/aft offset looks within 5mm. ive had retail 'performance parts' that have looked worse/required more work to fit

 

the 3-hole mount patterns between Corsa M32 and the VX F23 are within 1-2mm overall, and considering that the corsa has something like M12(!) fasteners, the F23 mount holes would need to be milled out to size regardless (for which there is miles of room/meat)... so theres heaps of scope to fine-adjust the exact end position of the F23 chassis-side mounting hole.

 

plus the F23 alloy mount is about 1/3 of the weight

 

ill jig it up tomorrow

[Doctor Ed]

So, jigged it up... Absolutely doable, lines up incredibly well Compared to the Europa mount on the Astra-m32 base, The 'starting location' of the VX-f23 mount on the Corsa-m32 base is: - the same height - the same lateral offset - approx ~20mm offset to the rear Using the inboard most mounting hole of the Corsa base as a pivot, and rotating the f23 forward the needed ~20mm, and the 2 remaining holes are out ~3 to 5mm. Given the alloy vx-f23 mount is simply a huge chunk of alloy, milling those 2 holes is a piece of cake, with plenty of material to spare. A couple of hi-ten washers, or if you want to be really fancy, a CNC cut load spreader plate under all 3 holes, and that's it. Certainly by far simpler than remanufacturing an entire Europa mount from scratch

[RichEuropaS]

Hi Ed,

Could you put some photos up please.  

 

Very interesting.

[Doctor Ed]

 

 

[vocky]

you do not need to change the z22se alloy engine mount, the steel version shown is for the z20let engine.

[Doctor Ed]

yeah, i realise that, I received it all regardless when i bought the gearbox mount, so took a photo of whats there for 1:1 comparison

Edited by ed.oates, 09 March 2016 - 09:41 AM.

[Doctor Ed]

PS, Neil, youve got the original rear gearbox mount on yours dont you (Europa part, but not lotus specific)?

 

dont suppose you know/can see if theres a part number in the casting/stamped on it?

 

its gotta come from somewhere (other than lotus - who presently dont have it) but figuring out where is a challenge!

[Doctor Ed]

Update... Nope, I take it back... It's just a touch further out than my first jig suggested. After my lot of measurements, I thought, "yep, I'll do it this way" and use the lighter alloy mount myself. So I jigged it up 'properly' to set some machining points, and lo-and-behold i was a few mm out. It's certainly still doable, just not quite as neat as I'd first speculated. Me - I've gone back to planning on using the std Europa mount myself

[vocky]

The rear mount is lotus only, just like the vx220 part.

[Doctor Ed]

i had a hunch it might not be - given its a cast alloy part (very large manufacturer OEM style) and other lotus ad-hoc solutions were welded steel

[Duncan VXR]

On the gearbox mount I laser cut some suitable thickness plate steel, cut and drilled some solid bar steel before welding to plate making the adaptor plate which retained the oem turbo mount and bolted through the both into the box Have a pic on phone if I get time will try to upload Not sure where I put the drawing I did, may still have a laser cut plate in garage DG

[FLD]

Might be an odd idea but why not pattern and cast a new side adaptor piece? It's fairly easy and probably quicker than 'making one fit'. It'd also be fairly easy to pattern a copy of the rear mount if you can get a borrow of an oem one.

[Doctor Ed]

not unthinkable (am considering casting the upper gearbox mount)

 

this rear gearbox mount though... not exactly growing on trees

[FLD]

Yeah. Need a friend with one to borrow and copy. Pattern with a shrinkage factor and we could churn em out!

[Doctor Ed]

Anddd... finally got some 2006 Europa S M32 gearbox mounts. Part numbers too (not that it helps much)