Lotus twin cam engine - where to source?
Discussion
I might be buying an engineless lotus project.
Don't really want to put a 2l zetec in is, as I think that will rule it out of any historic rallying type events.
So, where can I bag a cheap Lotus twin cam engine? Most the I see on an 'Internet auction site' seem a bit pricey.
I am keeping an eye out on the élan.net forum, but was wondering where else to look.
Ideas?
Don't really want to put a 2l zetec in is, as I think that will rule it out of any historic rallying type events.
So, where can I bag a cheap Lotus twin cam engine? Most the I see on an 'Internet auction site' seem a bit pricey.
I am keeping an eye out on the élan.net forum, but was wondering where else to look.
Ideas?
Unfortunately I think it's a case of keeping your eyes and ears open and seeing if you can find one at the right price - twinks are much sought after and, if I remember correctly fetch in the 3-4k region for a good one. This was why people used to(?) buy +2 elans, take the engine out and use it to re-build a sprint, Lotus Cortina or racing car. That said it's still probably cheaper to source an engine at that price than to go down the route of a zetec conversion. By the time you've changed the chassis, gearbox and other running gear as well as sorted the fuel injection and engine mapping you'll have spent more than £4k!
One option is to find an old ford crossflow engine and fit it while looking for a proper twin cam. You may also be able to build up an engine by finding the right sort of Ford block and then getting hold of the twin-cam head and front casing...
One option is to find an old ford crossflow engine and fit it while looking for a proper twin cam. You may also be able to build up an engine by finding the right sort of Ford block and then getting hold of the twin-cam head and front casing...
johnfm said:
So, where can I bag a cheap Lotus twin cam engine?
No such thing anymore 
Sure, on rare occasions, someone who doesn't no the value of that old engine that's lying in the shed is now worth several k rather than several hundred as was the case 20 years ago, might put an ad in their local paper etc.
But, realistically, you are now looking at several k for a reasonable one, and even then you may find that the head has had it and you need to spend as much again on a decent replacemnt head, or more likely several k's for one of the newer replacement head castings.
Even 20 years ago, when I was involved with LTC's decent heads were getting hard to find, even when prepared to pay the money for them.
Don't Dismiss the zetec as a replacement for a Lotus TC, I have a genuine Lotus 7 fitted with an injected 2 litre zetec in place of the Lotus TC engine,[which resides under the bench in garage leaking oil!!] the zetec looks the part, and most people looking at my car with bonnet open think its a lotus TC engine. Personally i don't care for the anoraks who dismiss it, it's my car not theirs.
The Lotus tc engine whilst being in great demand by historic racer/rallyist, offers nothing for the modern world driver, espeially if like me you actually drive your car, [I've averaged 5k miles/year since I fitted the zetec] my standard silvertop 2litre on TB's and ecu gives a genuine 155BHP and 35mpg which is at least 35BHP and 15mpg more than 99.9% of Genuine TC's can manage.
Oh & it doesn't leak no oil, and the waterpump lasts more than 6 month's too.
At least consider it.
The Lotus tc engine whilst being in great demand by historic racer/rallyist, offers nothing for the modern world driver, espeially if like me you actually drive your car, [I've averaged 5k miles/year since I fitted the zetec] my standard silvertop 2litre on TB's and ecu gives a genuine 155BHP and 35mpg which is at least 35BHP and 15mpg more than 99.9% of Genuine TC's can manage.
Oh & it doesn't leak no oil, and the waterpump lasts more than 6 month's too.
At least consider it.
johnfm said:
Missed out on a recently rebuilt Twink on élan.net for £2700 - so not sure I need to cough up £4k+. I don't want a dry sumped, super super race engine.
Just a healthy one would do!
Yes, but even £2700 for a healthy Twink is borderline as to why it would be selling that cheaply.Just a healthy one would do!
If accompanied by documentation from a reputable specialst for the recent rebuild, then it could be a bargain.
If it was a pile of invoices for lots of parts, no labour, then you could still be looking at a 'rebuild' using a dodgy/marginal head casting, and then it's not a bargain at all
S47 said:
Don't Dismiss the zetec as a replacement for a Lotus TC, I have a genuine Lotus 7 fitted with an injected 2 litre zetec in place of the Lotus TC engine,[which resides under the bench in garage leaking oil!!] the zetec looks the part, and most people looking at my car with bonnet open think its a lotus TC engine. Personally i don't care for the anoraks who dismiss it, it's my car not theirs.
The Lotus tc engine whilst being in great demand by historic racer/rallyist, offers nothing for the modern world driver, espeially if like me you actually drive your car, [I've averaged 5k miles/year since I fitted the zetec] my standard silvertop 2litre on TB's and ecu gives a genuine 155BHP and 35mpg which is at least 35BHP and 15mpg more than 99.9% of Genuine TC's can manage.
Oh & it doesn't leak no oil, and the waterpump lasts more than 6 month's too.
At least consider it.
I wasn't dismissing the use of a zetec engine - I was making a, probably, rash assumption that the OP's project was an Elan or Elan +2 where you'd need to change or at least significantly modify the chassis/sub-frame to be able to fit a zetec in which makes the cost of doing the conversion similar to buying a TC. Having driven a 200bhp+ zebec +2 I can definitely see the attraction! That said I've had my standard(ish) +2 for 10 years and use it a lot - they're not necessarily as bad water pump or fuel economy wise as you make out (esp if you have a 5 speed gearbox which gives 40mpg+ on the motorway). The Lotus tc engine whilst being in great demand by historic racer/rallyist, offers nothing for the modern world driver, espeially if like me you actually drive your car, [I've averaged 5k miles/year since I fitted the zetec] my standard silvertop 2litre on TB's and ecu gives a genuine 155BHP and 35mpg which is at least 35BHP and 15mpg more than 99.9% of Genuine TC's can manage.
Oh & it doesn't leak no oil, and the waterpump lasts more than 6 month's too.
At least consider it.
Edited by Lotus 50 on Monday 4th February 14:19
The words 'cheap' and 'twin-cam' will not be found in the same sentence, trust me!
Last time I looked, a decent (bare) head casting was changing hands for £1200, so £3 - £4k for a good motor probably sounds right.
If anyone knows where ABB 96M is, that has (had) a rather superb rebuilt motor in it...
Last time I looked, a decent (bare) head casting was changing hands for £1200, so £3 - £4k for a good motor probably sounds right.
If anyone knows where ABB 96M is, that has (had) a rather superb rebuilt motor in it...
Major Fallout said:
Having 2 of them can I just add this.
I HATE WORKING ON THEM!
And
THE GUY THAT DESIGNED THE WATER PUMP WANTS IT STICKING UP HIS BOTTOM. (While its still in the car!)
I feel your pain. I HATE WORKING ON THEM!
And
THE GUY THAT DESIGNED THE WATER PUMP WANTS IT STICKING UP HIS BOTTOM. (While its still in the car!)
I have 2 here. So much fun.
OP, Here is a very old add for one. But does not say it is sold.
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/38601/lotus_...
The race ones are nearer the 10K mark to start.
S47 said:
Don't Dismiss the zetec as a replacement for a Lotus TC, I have a genuine Lotus 7 fitted with an injected 2 litre zetec in place of the Lotus TC engine,[which resides under the bench in garage leaking oil!!] the zetec looks the part, and most people looking at my car with bonnet open think its a lotus TC engine. Personally i don't care for the anoraks who dismiss it, it's my car not theirs.
The Lotus tc engine whilst being in great demand by historic racer/rallyist, offers nothing for the modern world driver, espeially if like me you actually drive your car, [I've averaged 5k miles/year since I fitted the zetec] my standard silvertop 2litre on TB's and ecu gives a genuine 155BHP and 35mpg which is at least 35BHP and 15mpg more than 99.9% of Genuine TC's can manage.
Oh & it doesn't leak no oil, and the waterpump lasts more than 6 month's too.
At least consider it.
Yes but not fitting a Lotus TC will exclude him from historic racing events.The Lotus tc engine whilst being in great demand by historic racer/rallyist, offers nothing for the modern world driver, espeially if like me you actually drive your car, [I've averaged 5k miles/year since I fitted the zetec] my standard silvertop 2litre on TB's and ecu gives a genuine 155BHP and 35mpg which is at least 35BHP and 15mpg more than 99.9% of Genuine TC's can manage.
Oh & it doesn't leak no oil, and the waterpump lasts more than 6 month's too.
At least consider it.
Back in the 1980s when I had a Twin Cam I used QED for parts and advice, a google shows they are still going strong. If I were doing it all again I would start with new parts as everything is likely to be past its sell by on a cheap (ie knackered) TC.
You would probably need to replace every part except the cam cover and dipstick tube. Would you want to do an expensive part rebuild around a 50 yr old crank and rods with the head as an unknown quantity, especially if it had been skimmed beyond limits, not to mention worn out carbs and the iffy original waterpump arrangement.
You would probably need to replace every part except the cam cover and dipstick tube. Would you want to do an expensive part rebuild around a 50 yr old crank and rods with the head as an unknown quantity, especially if it had been skimmed beyond limits, not to mention worn out carbs and the iffy original waterpump arrangement.
kev b said:
Back in the 1980s when I had a Twin Cam I used QED for parts and advice, a google shows they are still going strong.
QED not only still going strong, but IIRC, they can build a complete brand new Lotus TC from scratch, as they not only sell brand new head castings, they also can supply proper brand new 681F 'L' blocks Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff