Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

A search gives lots of info on these thingies . . . except whether there is a difference between the older engines (4 bolt crank) and newer 6 bolt crank engines. Some suppliers list a plate specifically for the 6 bolt engines - implying there is a difference and the two may not be interchangeable.

Does anyone have a definitive answer on this?

Thanks,

Here's my take on it.

I was going through the UK Ford apprentice training programme as student apprentice in the mid-sixties and spent a lot of time in their engineering R&D centre at Dunton. During that time we were working on the early Borg Warner automatic transmissions installed in the Cortina. The flex -plate drive for the automatic transmission required the bolts securing the flexplate to be removed to enable the transmission to be disconnected from the engine before the two could be separated. To access these bolts required that the sandwich plate have a removable piece at tthe bottom. The early, pre-automatic transmission 4-bolt flywheel Kent engines had a one piece sandwich plate, open at the top without a removable piece at the bottom, later 6-bolt flywheel Kent engines and all crossflow engines had the sandwich plate with the removable section.

Either type of sandwich plate can be used with manual transmissions, only the automatic transmission really needs the later type with the removable section.

Mike
'72 Elan Sprint
'73 Europa
'60 Elite S1
'67 Seven

Thanks. It appears a PO broke his plate and purchased a 6 bolt style lower portion and trimmed the 4 bolt style plate he had to fit. Ergo, I have a three piece unit - two individual side plates and the later style lower piece.

The early style 4 bolt crank and rope seal plate needs it cut out hole to be enlarged to accommodate the later six bolt crank and lip seal rear seal arrangement

cheers
Rohan

Thanks. I have a 4 bolt crank so all is well.

velo5338 wrote:Here's my take on it.

During that time we were working on the early Borg Warner automatic transmissions installed in the Cortina. The flex -plate drive for the automatic transmission required the bolts securing the flexplate to be removed to enable the transmission to be disconnected from the engine before the two could be separated. To access these bolts required that the sandwich plate have a removable piece at tthe bottom. The early, pre-automatic transmission 4-bolt flywheel Kent engines had a one piece sandwich plate, open at the top without a removable piece at the bottom, later 6-bolt flywheel Kent engines and all crossflow engines had the sandwich plate with the removable section.

That has answered a question I have had for 40 years!!!

Now why does the plate have a split in the top section?

Is it so it can be removed without removing the flywheel or more likely that it can be fitted if you forgot to fit it before the flywheel?

Or is there some production reason? As a press tool designer in a previous life the reason for the split always intrigued me, it was not like Ford to spend a tenth of a penny just to make life easier for forgetfull DIY mechanics.