Twin Cam vs Renault

[TurboFource]

How rare/expensive is putting a crossflow head on a Renault motor?

[dakazman]

   I’m in the process of building a crossflow and a wedge . There are differences, new cam/ fussy , tappets ,timing chain assembly with gears. After you find the new cam you send it out for a regrind .
Then headers , intake manifold , carbs.
It’s also my first time building these motors. I had the same questions and The real pros here answered and are guiding me . Read 0453 reassembly / garage ,later pages.
Dakazman

[jbcollier]

Different pistons, cam, distributor (longer shaft), and, obviously, head, manifolds and valve gear.

Best to find a complete engine.  Preferably earlier as they had more of the “good” stuff.

[Fotog]

I've heard of crossflow, hemi, and wedge Renault engines.  I'm curious, but probably none of this will apply to me as I have a Twin Cam and by the time I get the thing all fixed-up I may be old and grey.

My question is, what came with the Europas?  Are some of these engines from other cars but will fit a Europa, or did they come stock with different iterations or in different years / eras?  And, like, which one when?  Are the blocks all the same, different, or "all but..."? 

Vince

[jbcollier]

The S1/2 came stock with first a 1470 wedge head and then a 1565 wedge.  The crossflows were not available to Lotus but they could easily be found from wrecks or as crate engines.  Fitting a crossflow is a very common mod.  The crossflow was used in some models of  the R8, R12, R16, R15, R17, R18, Fuego, Alpine A110/310 and more.  Crossflows were available in mild 80 hp (807-10) all the way up to 130-ish (807G) and, in racing crate engines, 160 hp.  The highest output I have heard of is 220-ish but, of course, a full race tune.

The blocks are all similar but not the same.  Spigot size changed, liners went from gasket to o-ring bottom seals, early blocks have different mount holes than later blocks (though later blocks can be adapted).

[EuropaTC]

Vince,
I'm like you with a TC so it's mostly academic interest on the engines with a bit more "just in case" interest on the gearboxes.  This page has a good reference to what's what and will probably tell you more than you'll ever need to know !

http://www.syer.net/donor_cars.htm

Brian

[Fotog]

Thank you both for the good information.

-V