The Addiction is Real #3450R

[Lou Drozdowski]

Maybe they were black for the Specials?

Ok...I guess it's up to us older folks to set the record straight...

All federal specials (big valves) had black covers, red were for twin cams and Elans. I discussed this very condition during my visit to Lotus East in 1973. My original special 2943r 12/72 production had a black cover with a grey block, head and pan.  The transition to black valve covers happened during mid September / October of 72...with chassis around 2700....ld

I think the registry for federal specials will also confirm the chassis range.

[Rosco5000]

Wow as always the group has an amazing amount of information!  So good for us youngsters to learn these nuances.

Lou just to clarify all your aluminum parts I.e. front covers and the head it’s self we’re all grey then. Nothing was left bare aluminum originally?

Thanks
Ross

[Rosco5000]

Some more progress on the 1700cc twin cam. I have the water pump swapped out on the front cover.  Some painting has been done. Now I working on the oil pan. I thought it would be straight forward and then I noticed the baffle was cracked. So I have been making a trap door baffle like the Elan guys do to help prevent oil starvation on hard right handers.

[BDA]

Great stuff, Rosco! I'm curious why you made two smaller holes in your baffle rather than one larger one. Do you think it needs the added strength?

[Rosco5000]

I was copying a plan that one of the Elan guys had used where he just drilled big holes .  The bar in the middle was a thought that I could make the holes bigger and might reduce distortion when heated so the flap seals flat.  I also bent 1/8" of a lip on 3 sides of the flap to help keep it flat.  Nothing scientific but I wanted to open up more surface area than just 2 holes and figured the bar down the middle might help keep it flatter for sealing with the flap.  I also didn't want to open it up any more closer to the edge of flap so I only opened up the holes in the middle.
R

[Rosco5000]

Hi Guys,
I have made some more progress on the twin cam for my Europa Special    I am happy with how the bottom end is coming together with the balanced and nitirided Cortina crankshaft, all ARP fasteners, JE Pistons from Dave Bean for the long stroke set up. 

I have moved on to stripping the head.  It is going well and so far most of it is well within spec which is good.  The one problem I have is the exhaust cam looks like it had dirt in it when it was assembled and proceeded to damage the #3&#4 journals.

I have a question about the shop manual measurements.  The manual looks to me to have a minimum clearance on the journals of 0.003" which is OK but the maximum if I am reading it correct is 0.020".  This seems to be a large and generous clearance.  My worst journal is 0.009" under the 1.000" spec so I could run if after polishing it up but wanted to get your thoughts if anyone has any engine building experience.

Thanks,

Ross

[RoddyMac]

0.020" clearance doesn't sound right.  I don't have an Elan workshop manual handy, but the online Europa one has this:

Camshafts

   Journal diameter               25.4/25.413 mm. (1.000/1.0005 in.)
   End Float                                           .076/.254 mm. (.003/.010 in.)
   Bearings - Number                                         5
                           - Type                         Steel backed white metal
                           - Running clearance              .013/.050 mm. (.0005/.002 in.)

What spec are your cams?  The Elan in the garage came with a bunch of cams, but I can recall what specs they are, the next time in the garage I'll see what's there.

[Rosco5000]

Hi Rod,
It is an L2 cam.  Yes I am fumbling a bit reading the manual, ugh out one decimal place.  I realized my error in my ways, LOL.  Ken at Dave Bean is looking for used cam for me at the moment if he has no luck I will come a knocking.

On a side note I joined the LCCBC this week as I would love to get out to a few more drives and social meet ups when ever they start back up.

Ross

[jbcollier]

0.009" oil clearance is way, way, way too much.

[Rosco5000]

Thanks John.  I had figured that now, I don't know where my head was at last night when I was measuring and checking specs.

Rod, if you can have a look at the cams you have as spares that would be great.  Jim Bean doesn't have anything at the moment.  The have some other cams I could get reground to spec but have to confirm the base circles I am running before I get Ken to send one of them.  I also joined the LCCBC this week and going to join the Zoom meeting tonight.

Cheers,

Ross

[Rosco5000]

 Slowly I am making a little more progress on the lotus twin cam. I reground the exhaust valves and lapped all the valves in. Gave the head a few thorough cleans and now the valves are back in and the primer is on.  Next is to paint the head the Ford gray color. USPS is very slow during Covid19. It is taking 2 weeks to get parts from Bean to Vancouver BC.  But I should have everything I need to finish the block reassembly in a week or so.

[dakazman]

  I just got in touch with Deltacams in Washington state, USA ,for a regrind and dowel pin repairs on my 821 cams . he says he can fix all most anything.
dakazman

[jbcollier]

Block is painted Ford Grey but I think the head is bare alloy.

[Rosco5000]

I have been going back and forth on the bare aluminum.  It seems some are painted gray and some are bare aluminum.  I see more Elans gray but I do see Europas with gray heads too.  I haven't been able to find concrete evidence either way.  The casting is pretty rough on the outside some big inclusions so I decided to paint it for the time being.  I can always strip it if I don't like the look.
Cheers,
Ross

[Rosco5000]

I have another question for the group.  I am in need of an air box for my webbers.  There was an Elan one stuffed in there and had a long pipe coming from the firewall back to an air filter. 

What I was hoping was that some of you with webber cars could take a few photos of your Airboxes.  Stock or otherwise so I can determine what I want to replace the air box with.

Thanks,

Ross