Engine Options for Lotus Elan +2

[Matt Elan]

If you want a reasonably priced but contemporary unit then a Ford 1600 crossflow with a bit of head tweaking and a brace of webbers would be good - pretty sure it would slot in easily. Or go down the 711 block twin cam route, with a spacer (or new) front chain case housing and a stromburg head - you could build up a good engine which looks the part a lot cheaper than an original twink with 'L' block and webbers.

[bill308]

LTC packages can be built to produce over 220 bhp for street use.

Jay Leno's Elan is reported to be in the 230 bhp range. This engine uses a Jennings aluminum blockl with a long stroke crank and a large (90+ mm?) bore, yielding about 2.2 liters. Not sure if it is LTC or BD height. Steve Jennings recommended a similar configuration for my engine.

Steve put me in touch with John Stowe, an ex Pratt and Whitney pattern maker, who now owns a company called Sycast in Hartford, CT USA. Sycast is a specialty design, cast, and machine company. The Stowe head is now produced by DBE and is apparently legal for competition events, at least in the USA.

Cosmetically, this package looks like the LTC and it saves you about 30-lbs.

It isn't cheap. Figure about $30k to build a new engine with all the best components, assemble it, and dyno break-in/tune.

Bill

[oillite]

I've always fancied a Vauxhall 20xe in a +2, like in the Banks Europa's, torquey and high revving. Quite a few have found a new home in a mk1 and mk2 Escort.

[elansprint71]

If you are going to spend Leno-money, then why not a Bentley W12? Tiny engine.

I see that you have a real-world budget, so have a look around the Formula Ford community. It would not be difficult to pick up all the bits to build a decent engine.

[jono]

...a Daimler 2.5 V8, as Chapman's original intent?

[nomad]

The Rover [Buick] V8 is no longer the popular swap into MGB's it once was in the US. Very powerful and tiny V6's are now in vogue. The Rover takes up so much space!

Kurt

[jono]

....the Rover V8 is not the same engine as a Daimler V8 of course.

Now a Russel Savory V6 would be nice.....if budget were no obstacle


....and had he not become more interested in owls