Head Serial Number

[Stuart+2]

With the aid of an old dentist's mirror I have been able to read off the number stamped into my 1968 +2's head - J302 12024.

I'm a new owner but haven't seen mention of a 'J' head on this (brilliant) forum or elsewhere.

It's definately a 'J' not a backwards 'L'.

I would appreciate any feedback on this .......now just open a little wider......that's it.

Cheers

[rgh0]

Stuart

Twin Cam heads seem to have all sorts of numbers punched into them. I have never been able to see any structure to this numbering. Some of this is probably due to numbers being added by engine companies when they do work on the head for future identification, some because I think Lotus changed the numbers and numbering system and number locations they used on the heads over the years. I have never seen any description of the Lotus head numbering system except for the letter code stamped into the boss in the spark plug well and even that stamping seems to have not been done on all heads consistently.

The 5 heads I currently have all have different numbering patterns on them.

Perhpas its time the forum tried to see if there is a pattern by publishing the numbers pepole have found on their heads


regards
Rohan

[JJDraper]

Echoing Rohan's comment, I was told by the boss of a well known Lotus engine specialist that the engine number was sometimes put on a head when work was done, to make sure you got the right head back. Some unscrupulous workshops would swop heads around and give a customer an inferior head back (less metal due to more skims etc), and hope no one noticed! The practice of stamping odd numbers became established to foil this... My head has three sets of punched on numbers, including the (correct) engine number and at least 4 sets of cast in numbers - WM9403, 26E311 N156 & DTD785 (very faint). I would love to know what all these mean!!!

Jeremy

[Stuart+2]

Thanks Rohan and Jeremy - I'll let it go as it sounds like a blind alley -shouldn't have bothered with my dental mirror after all!

Best regards