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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Luciano1985 on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 11:04:13 AM

Title: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 11:04:13 AM
Hello guys
I was wondering if anybody has a source where i can find one piston or a full set of 1470 cc original pistons
The engine on my newly bought Lotus is seized  so I'm preparing for the worse!
I have been trying to fin a source for them or a place to forge them in Europe or UK under 800€ as im allready over my budget!
I have tried Venolia they are out of business
Waiting a qoute from banks on manufacture time and price as they dont forge them themself
USA is not an option because of shipping and import dutys (30% over the price)
Have even asked Omega but they only do a minimum of 20 pistons
Any advices or suggestions welcomed

Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: BDA on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 11:42:24 AM
I can't help you with your pistons but I'm sure there are people here who can.

I just wanted to say what a sad thing it is that Venolia is out of business. I used them in my MG Midget race car an age ago  and a friend of mine used them in his Shelby Mustang with a 351 Cleveland. It used to gall me that a set of his pistons cost what a set of mine did but they were great pistons.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: gideon on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 11:55:56 AM
Are you sure you want to order parts before dismantling the engine?  Maybe the pistons are still good. 

There's a list of suppliers here -

http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=192.0
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 11:58:37 AM
Engine will be opened tomorow
I just want to prepare for the worse and have a plan B in case the pistons are damaged
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Jacke on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 12:01:16 PM
J E pistons made mine!
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 12:02:39 PM
Im trying to find something outside US
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Rosco5000 on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 02:50:23 PM
+1 on the JE pistons they can do anything you need but it will come at a cost.  I know in Canada if you declare that the car parts are for a classic car you don't have to pay any duty, you just have to pay the purchase tax.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: dakazman on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 04:32:13 PM
  Renault16shop.com has the liners and piston.
Dakazman
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 06:50:27 PM
They won't have the high compression pistons that the Lotus version came with.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: bert knip on Tuesday,February 11, 2020, 06:57:21 PM
I have 3 new pistons, (no rings). dont know for which renault engine, I got them with my S2 project.
Also have mutiple sets of new valves, different sizes.
At the moment I am in the US, but can bring parts to europe in 2 months.
I would like to see the parts to a good Lotus home
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Wednesday,February 12, 2020, 04:27:40 AM
Can you post a picture of the pistons?
Maybe the colegues here can identify them..
If i can find to but them from a private seller is much easy as a low price can be declared for custtoms!
The Renault 16 pistons are available but i need the high compression ones from.Lotus
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: bert knip on Wednesday,February 12, 2020, 07:13:44 AM
Here are the pics, hope you can identify them, as I don t know what they are.
Regards Bert
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: edgefinder on Wednesday,February 12, 2020, 09:50:37 AM
This may sound like a far fetched plan C but there are a lot of folks scratch building motors including pistons. There are websites showing how with manual lathe and mill, how to fixture what to measure. They use 2618 or 4032 aluminum. It gives the opportunity to use a high end ring package
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Wednesday,February 12, 2020, 10:00:19 AM
A 1470 has a different stroke than the later 1565s.  Piston are probably not interchangeable.  You would need to check very carefully for the correct pin height, etc.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: edgefinder on Wednesday,February 12, 2020, 11:18:20 AM
There's a piston skirt coating that works good for building up diameter. Bring worn piston back to life or some racers bore and hone loose then coat for less heat and friction plus longer life. This is the prefered company to do it.
https://www.line2linecoatings.com/
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Friday,February 14, 2020, 04:55:04 AM
Pistons are out and not that bad
Rods are stuck inside
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Friday,February 14, 2020, 07:05:25 AM
Soak everything in diesel fuel for a week or so.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: edgefinder on Friday,February 14, 2020, 09:13:50 AM
If the pistons can be saved you can make new sleeves to fit them at less expense
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Friday,February 14, 2020, 11:54:34 AM
Wouldnt new standard liners fit?
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Friday,February 14, 2020, 12:42:38 PM
Lots of info here:

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

Most 1470/1565 liners will have an 82.5mm spigot diameter.  Very early engines may be 82mm.  The block can be machined to take the larger spigot.

Not also the different compression height between 1470 and 1565 pistons.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Luciano1985 on Friday,February 14, 2020, 01:42:36 PM
I actually have that saved in my phone
But as my understanding of mechanics are zero it looks like cifer lol
So the basic Renault 697 liners wont fit without modifying the block
I noticed he says he is not sure about the 697-04  witch is my engine
Where exacly should the old ones be meassured
I have found both of the versions available ,82.5 mm and 82.00!.
If mine are 82.5 I actually have a chance if buying a full set of pistons(renault flat) rings and liners for the same price as 4 liners alone!
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Friday,February 14, 2020, 02:55:43 PM
No, what he is saying is that certain early engines had a slightly smaller spigot size.  They are rare and only a factor in the first few production 697 engines.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: 314159td on Sunday,February 11, 2024, 08:33:15 PM
Hello, bumping an old thread but it's pretty inline with my question.

I'm unsure if my 1470 S1 engine has the correct pistons, as I haven't seen many pictures online differentiating the so-called high and low compression pistons the Renault 697 engines apparently came with. I'm used to high compression pistons having some extra material added on top in a pattern to clear the valves, plug, etc but I know they can also just be a normal, flat top that's higher than standard.

My engine is tagged as a 697-4 and the # (600) matches the VIN plate stamp. My pistons seem to have just a flat top, and there's some text and numbers on top that I can't figure out a meaning to. 76 is presumably the 76mm nominal bore, as expected. I don't see a reason for the pistons to have been replaced, two of them have a lot of small surface dents from debris and are due for replacement if anything.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out if this set is correct for my Europa engine: https://www.renault16shop.com/Piston-and-liner-set-Lotus-Europe,-diameter-82,50,-76-mm
Those pistons seem to have a raised section, and I don't want to doubly-add compression, if that's a thing (stroker crank? thinner block on the early Renault engines?)

Any info you have floating around is much appreciated!



Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Sunday,February 11, 2024, 11:02:43 PM
The pistons shown from R16 shop site have the correct raised piston crowns but they are marked 76.95.  It may just be a generic photo though.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: 314159td on Sunday,February 11, 2024, 11:10:56 PM
correct raised piston crowns

In that case, my flat-top pistons would be low compression standard R16 pistons?

I know some stories about lower compression engines being sent to the US market (by lotus and others) for various reasons, or somebody may have just replaced these pistons at some point with what they could find. After all, this thing has a S2 front end  ::)
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Richard48Y on Monday,February 12, 2024, 12:06:37 AM
Have you checked with Wossner?
They made my forged 1595cc pistons and do custom orders.
Not cheap but maybe not so much as USA made and import duty?

I have found several times that the best way out is to just contact Salv Sacco.
He does a lot of rebuilds and may have what you need.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Monday,February 12, 2024, 09:18:09 AM
Richard48Y had crossflow pistons made up.

Flat top pistons are definitely lower compression than the originals.  People have had custom replacements made up but I would just buy the 1470 piston/liner sets from RD, R16Shop, or Lotus Supplies.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: Richard48Y on Monday,February 12, 2024, 12:26:55 PM
I missed the time-warp and change of poster's.
But Salv does do more then just Cross-Flow engines so may still have the needed parts.
Title: Re: Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons
Post by: jbcollier on Monday,February 12, 2024, 06:40:17 PM
Salv is Mr Renault.  Can’t recommend him high enough.