Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: bill on Thursday,October 25, 2018, 01:51:47 AM
-
Hi all
have waited a long time ,but finally got a europa 1971 in yellow
the gent I got it off has completely restored mechanically then did his back in
so cant use it.[how sad]
he couldn't find out what engine is in it, so was wondering if
anyone out there can help
its a crossflow all ally with twin Weber's Lotus finned valve cover
he gave me a plate off the block with numbers as below
A6MS250
B322415
but I cant find any other numbers anywhere
any advice welcome
am based in bury lancs
-
Hi Bill, welcome to the forum.
At 1971 I'd guess it's an S2 and therefore one of the Renault engines. Sadly I don't know anything about these but several here do so I'd suggest posting a picture of the engine bay and no doubt you'll get some answers. The thing about Europas is that you get all sorts of engines being used, that's the trouble with a big engine bay !
On reflection I suppose it could be an early TC with the comment about Lotus finned valve cover & twin webers (dellortos ?) , didn't they come out in late '71 ?
Brian
-
:Welcome: bill!
I seem to remember a thread here it was determined that there were a small number of TCs built in 1971 so from your description, you might have a twin cam but I believe one of the Renault motors had a finned valve cover so it could be that. Then as Brian said, people have put all kinds of motors in these cars so a picture or two would be really helpful. Of course we like pictures here so it wouldn't hurt our feelings if you posted a bunch of pictures! ;D
-
how do I put pictures on
keeps telling me file too large
-
Bill...You must edit your photo to reduce it's size...Go to your picture tools, select edit & resize (or paint} and then save...ld
-
am trying
-
is this small enough
-
think Ive got it
-
Renault crossflow engine from a Renault 18. Banks (Europa Engineering) makes the valve covers with the Lotus script.
-
thank you, what size engine log book says 1476 would that be correct
regards Bill
-
and very nice to.
From the engine bay and bits of suspension there someone has clearly spent some time & care on restoring/renovating that car, so you've got yourself a good 'un. It looks like a fancy exhaust header as well, I bet that goes better than they did when new !
Brian
-
hat size engine log book says 1476 would that be correct
Doing some Googling, the A6M engine should be 1647 cc.
-
Welcome Bill, hope you enjoy your new purchase
-
I have an engine that looks pretty much the same its a 807 block with gordini crossflow head
-
where do I find any numbers etc on the engine
-
The engine number plate is attached to the block on the exhaust side, close to the water pump.
https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-GgcP3z9/A
May you be so lucky to find such a plate!
Keep in mind that it's just riveted on so easily lost.
-
thanks for that
have found it but still no nearer what it is
-
Post a photo of the plate.
-
PS: We have already identified the engine as a Renault crossflow from a late 70s/early 80s Renault. What else do you want to know?
-
just trying to confirm engine size without pulling it apart and if it is a Gordini head
-
Gordini was a "natural" tuner that went big. He took normal cooking engines and made them produce much, much more power. However, he was not a trained engineer and had some distinctly odd ideas. For example, true "Gordini" heads have the spark plugs hidden in a chamber with passages to either side of the combustion chamber. You can see them in this photo:
http://r1135gordinirestoration.blogspot.com/2014/04/engine-rebuild.html
Poor man's dual plugs?? Who knows? Not a good idea.
All was well and good while very little was actually known about what was going on in a combustion chamber. Come the 60s with carefully-researched, purpose-built racing engines, and "natural" talent just didn't cut it anymore. Gordini's engines stopped being competitive. Renault had long since owned the company. They retired Gordini and kept the name but they took over development of the engines.
So, is a 70s/80s crossflow head a "Gordini" head? No, and thank goodness for that.
Your engine started out as a 1647cc engine. Probably from an R18. What's in there now is hard to say without looking. Stock crossflows vary from 85 to 140 hp depending on spec. They can be enlarged to 1800cc or so and over 200 hp though they don't last long in that state.
-
Many thanks