Help with engine ID?

[JGeezer]

I have little documentation for the different piles of parts that my early federal #0964 +2 came in. The engine was (sort of) in the car, and I am trying to figure out what it is.

First, it is a nice 701M block:

which I don't think came in any early federal cars. Also, the plate:

says engine # G/17017B while the stamp below the carbs:

says I24738. There's nothing on the back of the head between the cams.

I suspect engine mods, as there's a nice plate on the valve cover:

but I haven't been able to track down any info from that yet.

So - any ideas or info out there? How do I find out what I have?

Thanks!

[trw99]

Hi John

Conundrums - part of living with Lotus!

Your engine number on your Federal plate, G17017 is from late 1968/early 1969, which fits in with your car's age.

However, the number on the block above the engine mount, for once quite easy to read, indicates an L overlaid with a T then 24738. That engine number is from March through September 1971. L is the prefix for Domestic - UK - Stromberg SE engines fitted to Elans from 1969. T is the prefix for Federal Stromberg Big Valve twin cams fitted to Sprints from 1971.

I can not accurately explain the T over the L, though we can speculate about that easily enough. Suffice to say that the T is the accurate prefix for that engine number. This would indicate that at the very least your car has received an engine block change at some stage during it's career so far.

As regards Paul Rego, perhaps someone on your side of the pond has some information.

Tim

[JGeezer]

Thanks! I did misread that overstruck prefix as an "I", I'll see what i can find about T24738. So it looks like it may have been born with a big valve head? Is there an easy way to identify one? All I know is that it has an early valve cover.

Geezer