Twin cam head
36 posts
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Ken,
Weber or Stromberg, I have a very good big valve Stromberg head. With big valve cam cover.
Regards.
Weber or Stromberg, I have a very good big valve Stromberg head. With big valve cam cover.
Regards.
Alasdair.
1953 David Brown Cropmaster
1954 S1 Land Rover
1962 Elite S2
1966 Lotus Cortina MK1
1968 Elan S3 SS Coupe Sold.
1968 Austin J40
1969 Elan S4 SE DHC
1972 Elan Sprint
1967 Citroen DS21.
1953 David Brown Cropmaster
1954 S1 Land Rover
1962 Elite S2
1966 Lotus Cortina MK1
1968 Elan S3 SS Coupe Sold.
1968 Austin J40
1969 Elan S4 SE DHC
1972 Elan Sprint
1967 Citroen DS21.
- Alasdair
- Second Gear
- Posts: 108
- Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Hi Ken
What is not repairable with your head ? Almost anything can be economically fixed in my experience except extreme softness due to repeated over heating.
There are not many spare twink heads floating around in Australia, one was recently sold from Maurice Blackwoods estate in Sydney but I don't know where that went, someone in the NSW Club Lotus may be able to tell you. I have one from my stock of heads i would sell but its condition is not great as it is relatively soft but otherwise perfect, it may be recoverable for road use with some work to insert reinforcing washers for the head bolts and if you use the right head gasket.
If your head is truly not repairable then your best bet is to watch Ebay in the UK and take the risk buying one of those that regularly come up or to buy one of the new heads from Dave Bean, SAS or QED
cheers
Rohan
What is not repairable with your head ? Almost anything can be economically fixed in my experience except extreme softness due to repeated over heating.
There are not many spare twink heads floating around in Australia, one was recently sold from Maurice Blackwoods estate in Sydney but I don't know where that went, someone in the NSW Club Lotus may be able to tell you. I have one from my stock of heads i would sell but its condition is not great as it is relatively soft but otherwise perfect, it may be recoverable for road use with some work to insert reinforcing washers for the head bolts and if you use the right head gasket.
If your head is truly not repairable then your best bet is to watch Ebay in the UK and take the risk buying one of those that regularly come up or to buy one of the new heads from Dave Bean, SAS or QED
cheers
Rohan
-
rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8815
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Rohan,
Thanks for the reply. I'm going on my mechanics advice that the head has gone soft and failed under pressure test. I am going to put out a call through the Lotus Club (as soon as I can work out how) also looked at the new castings but the price is prohibitive, but maybe a last resort.
Hoping a few contacts may get me out of trouble.
Again thanks for the advice.
Regads
Ken
Thanks for the reply. I'm going on my mechanics advice that the head has gone soft and failed under pressure test. I am going to put out a call through the Lotus Club (as soon as I can work out how) also looked at the new castings but the price is prohibitive, but maybe a last resort.
Hoping a few contacts may get me out of trouble.
Again thanks for the advice.
Regads
Ken
- matevick
- First Gear
- Posts: 20
- Joined: 23 Oct 2015
What is the hardness reading on the head(Brinell D is best measure). Modern head are much harder than even good twink heads so being soft is not necessarily a fatal problem despite what some will say. How much have the head bolts sunk into the head is a good measure of longer term softening.
Using the right head gasket can also help compensate for a soft head.
cheers
Rohan
Using the right head gasket can also help compensate for a soft head.
cheers
Rohan
-
rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8815
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
I am not sure how a pressure test identifies a soft head by the way. A soft head shows itself via a proper metal hardness test or via a failure to seal the head gasket over the first few months of running as the head bolts sink into the head and loose tension and evidence of that sinking left in the metal under the head bolts. Lots of poor engineering understanding from lots of so called twincam experts in my experience.
cheers
Rohan
cheers
Rohan
-
rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8815
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Cheers Mate
I think one of the comments were, that of a head washer being pried out after over tightening so suspect we're on the same page.
I'm also thinking of trying your second idea but unfortunately the people I am using know what there doing, (wish it was that simple).
Again thanks for your advise, I may need to get in touch at a later date if that's OK.
Regards
Ken
I think one of the comments were, that of a head washer being pried out after over tightening so suspect we're on the same page.
I'm also thinking of trying your second idea but unfortunately the people I am using know what there doing, (wish it was that simple).
Again thanks for your advise, I may need to get in touch at a later date if that's OK.
Regards
Ken
- matevick
- First Gear
- Posts: 20
- Joined: 23 Oct 2015
matevick wrote:Cheers Mate
I think one of the comments were, that of a head washer being pried out after over tightening so suspect we're on the same page.
I'm also thinking of trying your second idea but unfortunately the people I am using know what there doing, (wish it was that simple).
Again thanks for your advise, I may need to get in touch at a later date if that's OK.
Regards
Ken
Hi Ken
Yes a soft head if the head bolt washers are sinking in as you say. Was the head gasket fire ring also indenting the head face surface?. You can mill the top of the head bolt holes and fit larger washers into the top surface that will better resist sinking into the head. You really need to get it hardness tested over the top and bottom surfaces so you know what you really have and whether its worth trying to save.
Contact me anytime as always happy to talk about twink head rebuilding challenges.
cheers
Rohan
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rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8815
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Hi Ken, I suggest you join Club Lotus Australia and place a wanted ad in the monthly e mag. Just google the name and on the About page, download the membership form. Very nice bunch of friendly people, and I am sure will be able to assist you. I have a couple of contacts, so will do a bit of checking on your behalf.
cheers Alan P. 0409 914455
cheers Alan P. 0409 914455
- Panda
- Second Gear
- Posts: 156
- Joined: 05 Mar 2011
Hi Ken,
I had the same issue with a twink head for my Europa, and after trying to save it, the fact that it was soft meant I only threw good money at a bad problem. I ended up getting a new head, fully machined and assembled, from Tony Ingram, in California- www.lotus7.com
I can't tell you how amazing Tony was to work with, and fast, given he gave me an entire assembled head, shipped to my door in about 4 weeks. I know he ships internationally too and would work hard to get you exactly what you want. I couldn't be happier, head is ported, etc.- amazing. Not cheapest option, but I wish I'd done it the first time it was worth every penny.
Good luck to you-
I had the same issue with a twink head for my Europa, and after trying to save it, the fact that it was soft meant I only threw good money at a bad problem. I ended up getting a new head, fully machined and assembled, from Tony Ingram, in California- www.lotus7.com
I can't tell you how amazing Tony was to work with, and fast, given he gave me an entire assembled head, shipped to my door in about 4 weeks. I know he ships internationally too and would work hard to get you exactly what you want. I couldn't be happier, head is ported, etc.- amazing. Not cheapest option, but I wish I'd done it the first time it was worth every penny.
Good luck to you-
Bill
1972 Elan Sprint
1974 Europa Special
1972 Elan Sprint
1974 Europa Special
- 74Twincam
- Second Gear
- Posts: 72
- Joined: 04 Jun 2018
Hi
Thanks for the info, I think I'm heading in the same direction not having much luck finding one. I have sent off
an inquiry to Tony and waiting for reply (your the second person to recommend him) so looking forward to seeing what he can offer (not looking forward to paying for it).
Thanks for the feedback much appreciated.
Regards
Ken
Thanks for the info, I think I'm heading in the same direction not having much luck finding one. I have sent off
an inquiry to Tony and waiting for reply (your the second person to recommend him) so looking forward to seeing what he can offer (not looking forward to paying for it).
Thanks for the feedback much appreciated.
Regards
Ken
- matevick
- First Gear
- Posts: 20
- Joined: 23 Oct 2015
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