crank/block identification

got a block with a 3020E6015 on it - never seen the 3020 before - anyone know what it is or where it came from? Then my crank is a 2731-E. It is now in two pieces so broken. What are my possible replacements?

3020E identifier is usually associated with the Lotus Cortina Mk II (the 6015 just means it’s a block). I’d say it’s an early Mark 2 twincam block (1967 ish) - after they went from 4 to 6 bolt crank but before they were fitted with square main caps.

rgds,

In the excellent Ford Block article written by Brian Moorcroft, 3020E does not figure in the block identification at all. Have a look at it at
www.lotus-cortina.com/library/block/blocks.htm it gives a good deal of useful info.

MARK II FORD CORTINA

Ford designations:

3014E 1300 De Luxe, 2 and 4 door saloon and estate car

3016E 1500 De Luxe and Super, 2 and 4 door saloon and estate car, 1500 GT, 2 and 4 door saloon

3018E 1600 De Luxe and Super, 2 and 4 door saloon and estate car; 1600 GT, 2 and 4 door saloon

3020E Cortina Lotus 2 door saloon.

In Brian Bucklands Rebuilding of a Lotus Elan on Engine Identification, he quotes.

“Early Mark 2 engine. The Ford 120E was ground off and stamped 3020”.
He also states that, “Later Mark 2 engines had the Ford identification marks left on”. i.e. 681F6015.

So for Lotus 3020 read Ford 120E.

The above statement confirms the info by ElliottN but using the link provided by rjaxe re Ford Block article by Brian Moorcroft, it suggests its a mark 1.?

Confusing??

Any one have any other comments?

I should note that it isnt the original block to the car - i lost that one in a race when the oil filter backed off!

The 2731 crank is nothing special, right? I kind of need to know my crank options to go with this block, as it is the crank that is busted.

The ident marked on the crank in my twin cam is 3020E. This is cast into one of the webs. As far as I am aware this is the one to look out for if you are after a standard type 6 bolt crank.

This crank is out of lba 16301. Your crank (2731E) sounds like it was out of a stock 67 Cortina GT 1500, the 3020E is the correct Lotus part, the counterweights are slightly larger I believe.


  • the 2731 crank is the first 6-bolt crank, and was fitted to all 1500 Cortina Mk.II in -67. In 68 it became 1600…The crank itself is good enough for a street-engine, but ofcourse not as good as the 125E / 3020E.

I have seen the “3020E” stamped into several blocks, after the original prefix has been ground off…

DH

mini64

My Elan+2 rebuild project has now moved to the engine.

See the photo’s which show my block as 3020E6015 and the 6 bolt crank as 3020E.

So as DH says you could replace your crank with the 2731 crank or the better 3020E.

Worth checking that yours is 6 bolt to ensure your flywheel will fit ok.


thanks guys. it does appear my balance weights are significantly smaller. I’m off to find a good 3020E crank.

As you can see i got real lucky and just the crank cracked. Just for the autopsy records - my 2731 “standard escort” crank lasted about 6 seasons of racing with roughly 4 race weekends, or about 1-1/2 hours of racing a weekend per year. shifting usually just past 7000rpm. this time on the track may be a little low as the last 3 years the car has usually had two drivers running it in two different groups - or twice as much track time.