Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

"Worried of North wales"
Just installed head on block in the car, relatively smoothe operation but I'm concerned about collision of rocker cover with the bonnet when in place, It appears to sit high and im worried that the rocker cover will hit.
Any comments / advice will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Bob

There is not a lot of room, but it should just clear (the cam cover, the rad cap, the top of the front weber...) : best not to slam it the first time around though... in doubt use plasticine to check actual clearance, and adjust engine mounts if need be (after making sure that mounts have not been swapped in the case of the weber head, possible tricks may include filing mounts holes up a bit to lower the engine a few mm, till they collapse from the heat...).

Or it could be body too low on Chassis.
Have you changed the Chassis because you need to shim the body to Chassis to obtain correct height so Camcover doesn't touch Bonnet.
Alan

Just a quick look but are the motor mounts correctly mounted?

Im pretty sure that the correct mounts are there and on the correct side. However.......
The Chassis has been changed (lotus Galvanised) It all seemed to line up OK. I used the same large washers between the body and chassis in the same places in the rebuild.
OK more investigation required. But I'm worried now weve talked about "Shims". The chassis was pilot drilled from the body during build, but how could I have gauged this issue?
Ive placed a straight edge across the body between the front wings and it just (fractions of a mm) clears the cam covers without the cover gasket in place.
Regards
Bob

Have you fitted the spacers under the gearbox mount ?

Pretty sure theyre there but will double check
Thanks

Bob

The bonnet has a curve to it and once on, it clears the cam cover by about 5-10mm which is tight but it seems to work ok. I would still check it very carefully when fitting it all back up & closing the bonnet.

Hope that is helpful.

Adam

Adam
Boy I hope thats right, It might just make it, though the cam cover gasket must be about 5mm thick.
thanks again
Bob

There are plenty of cheap small inspection video cameras around, put your mind at rest for a few pounds spent.

Craven wrote:There are plenty of cheap small inspection video cameras around, put your mind at rest for a few pounds spent.

For the cam cover clearance (front weber top and radiator cap as well) one can also check it from the radiator opening with a light left near the firewall.

I had a similar clearance problem on my S4. If you haven't fitted the rad yet you will be able to see the clearance from the front air intake with a torch. On my car I ended up using the same mounts either side (as per Stromberg carbs) and therefore the engine wasn't canted over. Luckily I still had enough room under the air box. Personally I am not a fan of shim washers but I guess in some cases there may not be any alternative solution.

Bob
I think you'll find the engine's okay for the bonnet as that has a curve to it which you can measure off the car.
I'm sorry to put a dampener on your lovely work on installing the head insitu and by the looks of things you have got the silencers back on now but....The heater valve isn't going to go on without the engine being lifted. You may get it in the temp gauge hole?
Sorry
Mark

My heater valve is also in the front (wrong) hole and I am rather pleased that it is because it has gone stiff and I now want to change it. I will not need to move the engine to do it.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

Oh bugger! Wheres the Rioja and pass a straw!