S1 S2 Camshafts

[RobinW]

I have been reading copies of the Else modification installation documents and it has raised a question or three?.

The Parts list for S1 and S2 indicate separate P/N for the S1 and S2 1470 697 engine camshafts.

The Else install instructions for "Stage II state i.e. Carb ,Exhaust, Rocker Cover and S.1. Camshaft)."

Question is, was the S1 1470 cam hotter than the S2. I have read that the stage II mod does not give much power below 300 RPM. Was the stage II retro fitting the S1 cam.

Interestingly the install instructions also state that if you fit the S2 cam the pistons need to be modified.(Contact Else for details). Presumably if you wanted o fit an S2 cam to an early 1470 which again seems to have different P/N for the Pistons.

Does anyone have timing details for the different camshaft.

In addition the instructions also require the rear grill to be reversed for the transverse mounting of the exhaust box using brackets fixed by the rear engine mount studs. Again does anyone have details of the brackets and mountings. No photos of the mod seem to exist on the interweb.

And just to finish up. Anyone have photos/details of the oil cooler mounting and sandwich plate for connecting pipes to the engine.

I know you can fabricate anything to achieve this but I am looking for correct period details.

Any Else Gurus out there.

[jbcollier]

I cannot speak for the Else cam’s exact technical spec.  There were at least two different Else grinds for the S2 as reports from the day vary quite a bit on idle speed and low speed drive-ability.  One tested example put out a reported 140 hp but was a disaster in city traffic.  Other tests were delighted with the “all-round” improvement.

The 1470 S1 engine was based on the 60-ish hp R16 lump.  The lotus engine received larger valves, sportier cam,  (much) higher compression pistons, and a two barrel carb and manifold for 84 hp.  Reputedly the engine was from an order of marine engines that wasn’t completely sold.

The early S2s kept the same 1470 engine.  While some 1470s snuck into the US, they were fortunate to be able to use the federalized Renault 16 1565 and avoid the huge expense of having to certify an engine.  The federal 1565 had individual ports, two barrel carb, sportier cam, high compression, and a longer stroke.

I think the S2 cam is not as “sporty” as the S1 cam as the S2 is torquier and doesn’t rev as high.  It could, however, be due to the longer stroke, hard to say as the Lotus 1470 is not well documented.

The Else cam requires piston mods due to higher lift.  Why the S1 version doesn’t, I can’t say.  Different crank strokes have different piston accelerations and, thus, different piston positions off TDC.  Perhaps the pistons just aren’t “in the way” on the shorter stroke S1.

[jbcollier]

S1 and S2 may refer to the camshaft rather than Europa model. So S1 and S2 mean “stage 1” and “stage 2”.  Which would fit in with the period reports.

[jbcollier]

As an aside, Lotus encouraged Else in producing their kits all the while knowing that the TC engined Europas were soon to be available.  Lotus wanted more positive reviews for the Europa.  And they got them as the press were decidedly muted on the stock Renault engine’s performance and welcomed Else’s and Hermes’ kits warmly.  Else invested considerable resources in developing the kits — the mind boggles on how much would have been spent developing the close-ratio gears.  When the TC came out, it was cheaper to buy a TC than do the Else mods and Else’s sales dried up  overnight.  Mr Else became very bitter, dropping their Lotus dealership and refusing to ever talk about the whole affair.

[Richard48Y]

Ouch, another bit of history smacking around my naive notions of the great car companies from the past somehow being more gentlemanly than todays cut-throats. 

[RobinW]

Recently a Europa S2 came up for sale on the popular internet website. the car was offered with an Else converted engine. The listing had a photo of the engine with the head removed showing the modified piston tops with the valve pockets. I contacted the seller to enquire a bout the camshaft. He replied saying that the Cam had the same timing as the standard cam but the lift was at least 7mm? . He said he would try and measure it if he had time but the car was sold rather quickly. Looked a bargain. So the mystery continues.

Back in the 50s side valve 1172 cams had the back of the lobes groud down to incresae lift. I believe Mini A series cams were modified as well. Could Else have had standard Europa cams modified like this.

Th picture also shows detail of the Else silence.

If the buyer of the car should come across this post it would be great to get details of this mystery cam.