Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have in my cellar a very good 1800 BDA engine (coming out of a Ford Escort TC) and would like to fit it into my S4SE 1970.
It appears that this engine is too tall for the area and that the cam sprokets will hurt the bonnet.
As I do not want to modify the shape of the bonnet, what to do ?
Many thanks !.

Depending on how much taller it is, you can modify the engine mounts to lower it. I think anything more that a couple of inches will start to change everything else in the drivetrain, let alone headers running into crossmembers and such, etc.

Greg Z

Talk to Wiggy at Spyder, he may have shorter engine monts available.
Option 2, send engine to me!

Cheers,
Pete

One regular correspondent has a BDR in his plus 2 without bonnet modification. The bonnet line on a plus 2 is tighter to the engine than on an Elan so I would beleie it can be done in your Elan

Rohan

bs...,
I did it many years ago in a Coupe and had conflict with the hood in spite of lowering the mounts and then having issues with the crossmember and sway bar. Ended up chopping a hole in the hood in the belt area, wish I hadn't. I'm sure someone has engineered a better solution, good luck!

I have a BDA in a S4SE Elan - soon to be an aluminum BDP. The motor mounts are not lowered but there were some thick strengthened areas in the hood that had to be thinned out. It's tight - I'm not running a belt cover. The pulley misses the crossmember and the belt misses the hood both by about 1/4". Crossmember was bent to clear the header but I finally cut it out and replaced it with a Honda strut bar. Happy to measure specific things if it will help.

Tom Radcliff

THE only thing thats comes to my mind is to modify the motor mounts so the engine sits 3/4 of an inch lower-- and use a dry sump system to clear everything on the bottom---ed

Many thanks to all of you !