Engine color??

[trw99]

[quote="nomad"]Well I knew this was an early car but didn't realize just how early. It appears that the black color may be correct for the car. Engine number is P1008. Soooo, Tim, what do I have? You mention a 7 and a 9 but no 8.

Kurt /[/quote]

The numbers referred to are the correct unique identifiers for any Elan, the Unit Number. I used shorthand for these nos in my post for the sake of brevity in answering your question. There is no Unit No 0008 in my list because that Elan was fitted with a 1600 engine from the start by the factory; the same for 0006.

From what I wrote you appear to conclude that your engine would be painted black. That is not so; all engines were painted grey from the start of production.

Engine Numbers started at 1. The earliest fitted to a production car was Engine No LP 6.

You say your Engine No is P1008. That should be LP1008 (P type engines were fitted to Domestic Elan Plus 2S 130 cars from Feb 1971 onwards). Your engine was fitted to an Elan 1600 invoiced at the end of December 1963. That car was indeed fitted with a Bourne body and the engine compartment would have been grey, as you say yours is. By that stage of production Lotus had sold over 300 Elans, so yours would appear not to be one of the very earliest cars.

Tim

[nomad]

'The engine is at the rebuilder'

Why aren't you the rebuilder Kurt? A Lotus twincam is not remotely like a flat 12 boxer engine. They are simple engines to work on and the satisfaction I get when finishing one and running it up for the first time, an thereafter, is immesurable.

Leslie

Leslie I will be reassembling the engine. I've done a number of them in my life but do not have the ability to bore the block, deck it, or turn the crank 10 under. Also don't have the ability to fit seats, guides and new valves.

Kurt

[nomad]

Well I knew this was an early car but didn't realize just how early. It appears that the black color may be correct for the car. Engine number is P1008. Soooo, Tim, what do I have? You mention a 7 and a 9 but no 8.

Kurt /

The numbers referred to are the correct unique identifiers for any Elan, the Unit Number. I used shorthand for these nos in my post for the sake of brevity in answering your question. There is no Unit No 0008 in my list because that Elan was fitted with a 1600 engine from the start by the factory; the same for 0006.

From what I wrote you appear to conclude that your engine would be painted black. That is not so; all engines were painted grey from the start of production.

Engine Numbers started at 1. The earliest fitted to a production car was Engine No LP 6.

You say your Engine No is P1008. That should be LP1008 (P type engines were fitted to Domestic Elan Plus 2S 130 cars from Feb 1971 onwards). Your engine was fitted to an Elan 1600 invoiced at the end of December 1963. That car was indeed fitted with a Bourne body and the engine compartment would have been grey, as you say yours is. By that stage of production Lotus had sold over 300 Elans, so yours would appear not to be one of the very earliest cars.

Tim

Tim, I thank you for the clarification. The engine will be grey but I still wonder how I got this engine denoted on the serial plate in a left hand drive US early Elan.

Kurt

[nomad]

Tim, please disregard my last post. I misunderstood your post.

Kurt

[GLB]

Kurt, Gary here. We met at the LOG in Salt Lake City. I have the early Elan 1600 no 0045. My engine was blue but who knows if correct. Data plate says should be LP 0051 but there are no numbers anywhere on my engine, not on the block or the head. It is early as it has the half moons along the plug well. It is grey now.

I also have a spare TC engine that is black. LP65074-LB-A I was told it is from a Lotus Cortina but I can't verify that. It has an information sticker on the front of the cam cover with all sorts of information on it. We think that is so that Ford dealership mechanics unfamiliar with the engine would have some basic data.

I would be curious to know what others know of this engine and the sticker. I have never seen one like it nor has anyone I've talked to at LOG including some Lotus USA reps. Gary

[vstibbard]

First I’ve seen, quite good idea. Does the logo on right mean anything to a forum member, maybe a dealers logo …

[gjz30075]

That's a Ford Autolite logo. It looks to be an engine maintenance spec sheet.

[LCRJ]

Hi Gary,

Happy New Year. Let's enjoy discovering new things this year. I just happened to find the pics of the same sticker. It's came from my Lotus Cortina friend in the US. The same sticker on the inside of the glovebox lid of US Lotus Cortina MK1.

All the best,
Hiro