Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi guys
Looking to see if anybody can sell me a twin cam head. Looks like the previous owner may have been not as straight with me as I thought and mine cant be repaired.
If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.
Regards
Ken
Sydney Australia

Ken,

Weber or Stromberg, I have a very good big valve Stromberg head. With big valve cam cover.

Regards.

Alasdair,
Thanks for the reply, webers. Appreciate the quick response.
Ken

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

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

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

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

I think your mechanic is used to commodity parts

bring it to a specialist machine shop to see what they say

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

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

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

Alan
Already a member and hopefully in the mag now, would appreciate any contacts or leads you can give.
Regards
Ken

Rohan,
Thanks again for your advise, it's all getting a bit past my understanding at present but I will pass on your advise to my guy and see what we can do.
"The joy of owning a classic car"
Regards
Ken

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-

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