The problem with the new development parts is the ability to use and test.
But...If he wants to make it for the Esprit V8, i can let him borrow my stock main shaft...just to help the V8 community.
I also think the main shaft is more of a problem in the V8 than the Deloren or the 4cyl Esprit ??
I have a GTO engineering upgrade on mine -- its tested - proven & works !
Truthfully I have thought about trying to extend the market to the Lotus community as well. Right now this shaft is made as a direct drop into the DeLoreans transmission (the Renault 369). That being said, to my knowledge there are very few differences between the Renault 369 and the UN1-016/026/027.
I know that the 027 has the double tapered roller bearings on the end instead of the double angular contact ball bearing that the rest of the UN1s and the 369 have. Still, I believe the ID of those bearings is still 25mm so that shouldn't make a diference.
Otherwise the only question would be the gear ratios. As long as the gear ratios are the same for 1st, 2nd, and reverse (the gears cut into the input shaft), it should be the same. The 3rd, 4th, 5th, and differential ratios should have no affect on whether or not the input shaft works. Below are the ratios that I have been able to gather (if someone can confirm the esprit ratios it would be nice).
369 Gear Ratios
DeLorean DMC-12
1st - 3.364
2nd - 2.059
3rd - 1.381
4rd - 1.057
5th - 0.820
Rev - 3.182
Dif/Final - 3.444
UN1 gear ratios:
Esprit SE, S4, S4s, V8
UN1-016 026 & 027
1st - 3.364
2nd - 2.059
3rd - 1.381
4th - 1.037
5th - 0.820 - (V8 = 0.76)
Rev- 3.546
Dif/Final - 3.889
So the only concern it looks like could be reverse. I'm not sure if the ratio is altered by a different number of teeth on the input shaft, intermediate gear, or the output shaft reverse gear (the one on the 1st/2nd gear selector coupler).
Can anyone confirm for me how many teeth are on the input shaft of the Esprit input shaft reverse gear? Mine has 11 teeth (same number as 1st gear). I'm hoping that it is the same (and would hope so since the concensus is that the GTO shaft works in both Esprits and DeLoreans).
The only other question then is with regard to the reverse gear input shaft design. some pictures I've seen looks like the teeth on the Esprit transmission are extra long, as though the intermediate gear does not ever disengage the input shaft. Can anyone confirm this or if it is needed? Thanks!