711M conversion without spacer

[garyeanderson]

Hi Guys
I've run several configurations of engines over the years.

1760cc tall block (711m) with square caps 85mm bore 1600 rods and decked to suit.

1750 ish cc std Lotus block 1600 crank and rods and modified Zetec piston 84.8mm bore( ideal to salvage a +40 Lotus Block.

Currently building a Turbo engine with 84mm stroke N/J crank 132mm rods Cosworth forged pistons with comp height of 29mm Pistons currently 5mm down bore which may be adjusted to acheive 7.5:1 CR as the boost pressure I intend to run will be approx 20psi.

The extra torque from the 1st two engines is great and with rally profile cams is still fine in a light car like an Elan.

I've always made spacers and secured them to the water pump case with c/s screws prior to machining the deck of the block as per David Vizard in Tuning Twincam book. Never had a problem even on the 1700 turbo engine built 30 years ago.
Dave

Hi Dave

No problems either but the spacers look shabby in my eyes and when you put a lot of money and time into a big engine, I just want it to look stock, I like stock looking dashes too. Seems we all do things the way we like and thats the great thing is some like everything stock right down to the starter motor bendix. I guess the only way to do it wrong is to not do it at all.

Gary

[lotslow]

Sorry for my delayed answer. I unfortunately had not minute time in the last days to read the thread.
First of all many thanks all. All your replies are very helpful, discussing more aspects (clearance with bonnet, different cranks/strokes/rods length, piston combinations, spacer leak ?) than I am able to consider at present.

Thanks Brian bringing the discussion back to my headline question, yes I plan not to deck the 711M block to take advantage of the extra stroke and the extra height of the tall deck, apart from that I agree with Gary that spacers perhaps look shabby and if putting step by step a lot of money and time into a big engine, I prefer a stock engine look.

So if I understand all your replies correctly (English is not my first language)-especially the conversation Brian/Gary- Burtons extended tall block cover and backplate covers the the full height of the 711M block that will work without milling a stock 8.22 inch tall deck 1600 Kent block, perhaps with the need of minimal milling to make the heights (block, backplate, and front cover) the same??

In addition, do anyone know whether Burton and the Elan factory or other suppliers (whoever?) use the same resource or do different suppliers offer different qualities?

Peter

[CBUEB1771]

So the Burton tall block cover and backplate is the full height of the 711M block - I had wrongly assumed it was to fit the decked block with TC pistons.

I have the Burton tall deck water pump conversion mounted on an un-decked AX block in my garage. I can confirm that this Burton conversion is designed to mate to the un-decked 711 block. If you intend to deck a tall block to suit certain connecting rod and piston combinations it is a trivial matter to machine the Burton front cover and back plate to match.