Coventry Climax engine

[Farmboy]

What would a coventry climax engine be worth?

I think it's an ex water pump (it has the Godiva stamp on the cam shaft cover).

It isn't siezed, would appear to have most of its bits, but no manifolds.

Thanks for any info.

[gnomesmith]

Sidevalve or ohc?
Capacity?
Type of ignition?
Does it have a conventional car type starter?
Any markings on the block?
By referring to the sump angle should it be mounted on a slant or at an angle?
All alloy?

(edited owing to infirmity and failing memory)

>> Edited by gnomesmith on Monday 30th September 17:05

>> Edited by gnomesmith on Monday 30th September 17:06

[Farmboy]

quote:
ohc
Capacity? Don't know
Type of ignition? - magneto
Does it have a conventional car type starter? -can't remember, I'll check tomorrow
Any markings on the block? yes -again I can check
By referring to the sump angle should it be mounted on a slant or at an angle? - vertical
All alloy? - yes

(edited owing to infirmity and failing memory)

>> Edited by gnomesmith on Monday 30th September 17:05

>> Edited by gnomesmith on Monday 30th September 17:06

[yum]

I have a Coventry Climax engine in a boat. Great engines, high revving and sound wonderful. I get (in theory) 83hp from 1220ccs, not bad for a 1950s engine. very good power to weight ratio.

I understand that in their automotive racing applications (historic racing Lotus cars) they have a lot of value.

They are not cheap to repair.

The value of yours depends on what application it comes from, such as;

fire pump
albatross (an aluminium speedboat)
Lotus
Hillman Imp(!)

I might be interested in a purchase for spares if if is the right model.

They all have the godiva plate on the rocker box. Any other clues? If the engibe sits horizontally (not on an angle) then is is probably an automotive.

R

>> Edited by yum on Monday 30th September 21:59

[Esprit]

My father used to have a Lotus Elite (S1) with one of them things in it, CRACKER of an engine.... built like a swiss watch they were. Everything inside looks like it was hewn from billet (which obviously it wasn't) but that's just the quality of the machining used.

[gnomesmith]

quote:
If the engibe sits horizontally (not on an angle) then is is probably an automotive.
>> Edited by yum on Monday 30th September 21:59

I think you mean vertically!

[Farmboy]

Does it have a conventional car type starter? - No electric starter. It has the dog in the end of the bottom pulley for a hand crank.

Any markings on the block? - FW 4003 is cast in the block, and a serial No. of FN6009 is stamped in it.

[Esprit]

The water pump pne I've worked on had a "wind and pull" lawnmower style starter

[Bonce]

I'd buy one of those just for the name.

[gnomesmith]

Coventry Climax became a household name after the motor racing fraternity saw the advanced design of the all-alloy, free revving, OHC fire pump engine as potential for a racing engine. In 1950 the company took on an ex-Bentley and Jaguar engineer, Walter Hassan who, with Harry Munday, greatly influenced the development of these engines. The new 4-cylinder engine, developed in just seven months, was 1020cc, produced 38bhp and was designated the FW for FeatherWeight. Immediately it won a Home Office contract. The engine had not been developed with racing in mind as its capacity was awkward in respect of the racing formulae so in 1953 a new version the FWA (A for automobile) was announced with uprated crankshaft, better breathing and higher compression ratio. This produced an amazing 72bhp at 6100 rpm.

FW Series Used in following Cars:-

Kieft Climax Sports Racing Two-Seater
Kieft 1100 Sports 1954-1955
Lotus Eight (Mk8) 1954
Buckler DD1 1955-1961
Fairthorpe Electron 1956-1965
Lotus Eleven 1956
Lotus 7 S1 1957-1960
Lotus 15 1958
Lotus 16 1958-1959
TVR Grantura I 1958-1960
Turner-Climax 1958-1966
Lotus 18 1960-1961
Lotus 19 1960-1962
TVR Grantura II 1960-1961
TVR Grantura IIA 1961-1962
Turner GT 1961-1965
TVR Grantura III 1962-1964
Triumph Herald and Spridget conversions by Jack Brabham Motors of Chessington.

These all used the FWA which has suitable cam profile, starter ring etc and a few other subtle mods. FW can be adapted.

Price is a little difficult, it depends how much somebody needs one, there are, in fact quite a few sloshing around in the system. Have a look in this months Classic Cars (or the other one), there is a nice article with pix.

Try an add in Motor Sport or approach one of the specialists who advertises there. You won't get as much as a Twink and the absence of manifolds won't help but its worth a try.

The bomb proof engineering comes from the need to start up wack on full throttle and leave it there until the fire is out!

Best of luck!

[Farmboy]

Thanks for that gnomesmith.

[gnomesmith]

You can call me Gnome.