Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water gone'

[EMA7K]

What is the easiest way???.......one out all out or could I do it in
bits????
Practical experiences please.......looking like I need to replace the
head gasket to sort my water leak...I suppose I may as well get the cams
replaced while I'm in there taking it to bits.....thoughts on the Q420
(qed cam)...fast road......shouldnt need to change anything for these to
work...should I???
Cheers
G

[Fred Talmadge]

I pulled my head and left the bottom end in the car. I have a question
tho, is it possible to mount the Webers to the head and install back on
the engine as a unit? Them bottom bolts are a real back breaker for me.

Fred T. '65 S2


-----Original Message-----
From: Gareth Flanagan [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:37 AM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water
gone'



What is the easiest way???.......one out all out or could I do it in
bits????

[Foxie]

Gareth,

I have QED 420 cams fitted, along with 1.6/1.4 valves. QED did the head work. AFAIK, valve pockets need to be deepened to accomodate.
Lovely torquey cam

Sean Murray

----- Original Message -----
From: Gareth Flanagan
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 3:36 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water gone'


What is the easiest way???.......one out all out or could I do it in
bits????
Practical experiences please.......looking like I need to replace the
head gasket to sort my water leak...I suppose I may as well get the cams
replaced while I'm in there taking it to bits.....thoughts on the Q420
(qed cam)...fast road......shouldnt need to change anything for these to
work...should I???
Cheers
G














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***@***.***

[Petter Hval]

You have to change the cam followers and the cams must be fitted with
caution
and requires attention to springing and valve/piston contact.

Cheers
Petter

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gareth Flanagan" <***@***.***>

Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 4:36 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water gone'



What is the easiest way???.......one out all out or could I do it in
bits????
Practical experiences please.......looking like I need to replace the
head gasket to sort my water leak...I suppose I may as well get the cams
replaced while I'm in there taking it to bits.....thoughts on the Q420
(qed cam)...fast road......shouldnt need to change anything for these to
work...should I???
Cheers
G

[elansprint71]

Fred,
I did it with Dellortos, with a little jiggling to get around (I think) thestarter solenoid.

Cheers,
Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Fred Talmadge
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:09 PM
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water gone'


I pulled my head and left the bottom end in the car. I have a question
tho, is it possible to mount the Webers to the head and install back on
the engine as a unit? Them bottom bolts are a real back breaker for me.

Fred T. '65 S2


-----Original Message-----
From: Gareth Flanagan [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:37 AM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water
gone'



What is the easiest way???.......one out all out or could I do it in
bits????













------------------------------------------------------------------------------






***@***.***

[gjz30075]

--- In ***@***.***, "Gareth Flanagan" <gf@m...> wrote:

Practically speaking, I pull the carbs just to make the head easier
to handle. Even if I were pulling the whole engine. Good time to
get everything refreshed regardless of what problem you're chasing.

Greg Z

[Fred Talmadge]

I think the book tells us to remove the carbs as well. But it might be
easier to bolt the carbs on first then place the head on the block. It
took me an hour to undo the bolts when I took them off, it's getting
harder for me to get into the "Lotus position" And yea everything
underneath will be a blind fit, but I think I can do dry fit first.

Fred T '65 S2

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Zelazek [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:43 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water
gone'




--- In ***@***.***, "Gareth Flanagan" <gf@m...> wrote:

Practically speaking, I pull the carbs just to make the head easier
to handle. Even if I were pulling the whole engine. Good time to
get everything refreshed regardless of what problem you're chasing.

Greg Z

[elans4dhc]

Fred,

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to correctly set the tension in the thackery washers when adding Weber/Dellorto
carburettors to an already installed engine.

Andrew King

[Bill]

Fred

It can be done, it requires the dexterity of the 'Lotus" position for at
least an hour, a set of feeler guages, dexterity, patience and a skill
developed over at least 35 years. Nothin to it, follow the manual.

And above all - keep your stick on the ice.

26/0538

(uncle?) Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew King" <***@***.***>

Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] Re: Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water
gone'



Fred,

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to correctly set the tension in the
thackery washers when adding Weber/Dellorto
carburettors to an already installed engine.

Andrew King

[steveww]

You can lift the head and leave the block in the car - no problem.

With the QED 420 you will need their matching valve springs and
followers. If you have not done any other work to the engine you will
not see any improvement from these cams. You will loose low end torque
for a very small lift in bhp at the top end (6500+ rpm). If you really
want some more power buy a couple of tungsten carbide burrs and some
spira bands and flow out the head. For GBP80 and 8 hours of your time
you will see an increase in torque and bhp across the rev range.

Gareth Flanagan wrote:

[lgsamson]

Fred: Thats the way I've done mine, I've always found it easier to set
the clearances on the bottom carburator bolt springs and then set the
whole unit back on the block.

Fred Talmadge wrote:

[john.p.clegg]

I may of mentioned this before,but do you really need a pair of 420 cams(inlet and exhaust) when using 1.625 i/l amd 1.4e/x,according to the formula the exhaust won't benefit????

John

P.S.
if you're taking the head off make up(or have a machinist make-up 4,or 8,studs and fit them to the head,threading them just enough so the nylocks "bottom" just at the correct clearance for the thackerey washers,once locktighted-in you can forget the "lotus position"

Steve Waterworth <***@***.***> wrote:

You can lift the head and leave the block in the car - no problem.

With the QED 420 you will need their matching valve springs and
followers. If you have not done any other work to the engine you will
not see any improvement from these cams.

[Fred Talmadge]

I had my "stick" on the cold garage floor last night checking it out by
doing a dry run. I'm confident it's going to be a lot easier on the
back to mount the carbs before mounting the head on the block.

Fred T. '65 S2

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Rathlef [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:47 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] Re: Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi
water gone'



Fred

It can be done, it requires the dexterity of the 'Lotus" position for at

least an hour, a set of feeler guages, dexterity, patience and a skill
developed over at least 35 years. Nothin to it, follow the manual.

And above all - keep your stick on the ice.

26/0538

(

[Foxie]

Fred,

I have found it simpler to remove the head with the carbs in situ.

However when replacing the head, I have found I need good access to the distributor to set the timing, which will have been lost, and also to ensure that the rubber head-to-block breather is fitted and sealed correctly, so I always refit the head without the carbs.

I use a 1/2" spanner cut in half to access the under carb nuts, and a "half" 7/16" for the distributor clamp bolt. A Tengtool miniature 1/4" drive rachet and 3" extension is also very useful.

I have been using the double cup washer and rubber collet on the carbs instead of the original thackery washers. I can check the gap by feel with a fingernail. It often struck me when working on the Lotus that I would have made a great Gynie.

Hope this helps,

Sean Murray
----- Original Message -----
From: Fred Talmadge
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 2:16 PM
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Re: Pulling the head.....was 'where's mi water gone'


I had my "stick" on the cold garage floor last night checking it out by
doing a dry run. I'm confident it's going to be a lot easier on the
back to mount the carbs before mounting the head on the block.

Fred T. '65 S2

[type36lotus]

eBay item # 7948097849 went for $1,626.00. What do new ones go for?
Is aratchet on this list?

Mike 66 S3 Coupe'...now figuring the head is worth more than 10% of
the car's value!