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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Sherman Kaplan on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 02:51:45 PM

Title: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: Sherman Kaplan on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 02:51:45 PM: I'm getting ready to send my block to the machine shop and have a question regarding the number plates which appear to be screwed onto the block. If the shop hot tanks the block will these plates be destroyed? I know that hot tanking will destroy aluminum such as the jack shaft bearings. What are these plates made from? Can or should they be removed?

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a machine shop in Northern Colorado? Denver would be fine, but Loveland or Fort Collins would be great. I do have the name of a shop, but if anyone has one they have used I would appreciate any referrals. FYI I have sent the head to John McCoy at Omnitech, but would like to have the block machined locally.

Thanks,
Sherman
Windsor, CO
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: 4129R on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 03:12:32 PM: The block number should be embossed into the metal.

S with 5 numbers after it.

Has your block got a big L cast into it?
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: Sherman Kaplan on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 03:23:24 PM: The block does have the L on it. It is the original block for the car. It looks like the numbers in the picture I posted are stamped on a plate that is screwed into the block and not cast. Although I could definitely be wrong about this. The L is definitely cast.

Thanks,
Sherman
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: surfguitar58 on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 03:30:26 PM: Quote from: Sherman Kaplan on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 03:23:24 PM
The block does have the L on it. It is the original block for the car. It looks like the numbers in the picture I posted are stamped on a plate that is screwed into the block and not cast. Although I could definitely be wrong about this. The L is definitely cast.

Thanks,
Sherman

Sherman, I could be wrong, but I think the embossed plate is screwed to the pattern used to cast the block. The numbers are part of the iron casting, as are the screw heads, faithfully reproduced by their impression in the casting sand.
Tom
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: jbcollier on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 05:10:41 PM: Are you talking about frost plugs?
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: Certified Lotus on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 05:14:12 PM: I’ve got five twin Cam engines and have never seen the screw heads on either side of the block number as it is cast. I thought you were talking about the freeze plugs at first (yes they should all be removed and replaced).
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: Sherman Kaplan on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 08:22:01 PM: Not the freeze plugs. Below the freeze plug is a plate with a number starting with 701M. I know this is the block casting number, I just didn't realize it was actually part of the casting. I was not sure if it was a plate that was screwed into the block. However, I guess from the consensus it is cast into block.

Thanks to everyone,
Sherman
Title: Re: Twin Cam Block Cleaning
Post by: jbcollier on Wednesday,March 14, 2018, 09:26:54 PM: I don't know of any plates on Ford engines but they were used on BLM engines and, yes, it's a good idea to remove them before hot tanking.