I seem to remember a thread some time ago (which I now cannot find) where the cylinder numbers were a point of issue. i.e. Is number 1 cylinder at the timing chain end or is it number 4?
I ask this question simply to settle a point of discussion at a Club Lotus meeting last night.
All the manual instructions and pictures are based on No1 cylinder being at the front. It does not really matter if you assume its from the rear but a couple of minor things change like the location of the cam timing marks and orientation of dizzy arm if dizzy itself in normal orientation at No1 TDC
cheers
Rohan
Cylinder Nr. 1 is the cylinder closest to the timing chain.
This notation is the adopted standard throughout the industry.
I believe the Jaguar XK engine was an exception to this rule.
Cheers
John
Just to be argumentative, why then did the Big Valve engine have the writing upside down if the front of the engine was the timing chain end?
John,
It?s interesting that you mention that ?This notation is the adopted standard throughout the industry?, as this also related to a point of discussion in terms that the US view the engine compartment from the opposite end to that in the UK (and maybe Europe?). The problem was that no-one could definitively remember which way was which for each country. I thought the US viewed the engine as seen from the driving position ? I am, of course, prepared to be corrected.
It goes back so long, but I seem to remember confusion when talking about ?V? engines in relation to RH & LH banks ? we in Europe were opposite to the US.
Chevy
answers.yahoo.com/question/index … 046AAcdsa5
firing order is 18436572
Cylinder 1 is the front most on the drivers side
Cylinder 2 is on the passenger side opposite of 1
Cylinder 3 is on the drivers side next to cylinder 1
Cylinder 4 is on the passenger side opposite of 3
Cylinder 5 is on the drivers side next to cylinder 3
Cylinder 6 is on the passenger side opposite of 5
Cylinder 7 is on the drivers side closest to the fire wall
Cylinder 8 is on the passenger side closest to the fire wall
Ford
64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:mZ … cd=3&gl=us
firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 for the Ford 4.6 Liter V8.
Cylinder locations are: Passenger side front to rear: 1-2-3-4
Drivers side front to rear: 5-6-7-8
In any event number 1 is still at the front.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firing_order
chrysler is on the above link
V8 Cylinder bank ----Audi -Ford GM & Chrysler GM (Northstar Only)
Right side of vehicle 1234 1234 2468 -----------1357
–Left side of vehicle 5678 5678 1357 -----------2468
Gary
p.s. - Google can help with most questions, you just have to figure out what to search for. They answers are not all correct but there are mostly enough hits that you can figure it out.
A lotus workshop manual would answer most of the questions here and 90% of those that can’t be answered have been covered here or lotuselan yahoogroups before.
If you want to search for a topic on this group
from google try this one
go to www.Google.com
and put in the search box
“topic of choice” site:Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums by LotusElan.net
Brian,
I stand corrected.
I was considering engines built in Europe & to my knowledge Japan.
Cheers
John
Brian,
Was the Club Lotus meeting the new one that is held in Lichfield?
Trevor,
Yes it was the Lichfield meet.
I have to admit that I cannot help reverting to type when it comes to discussions. I often say things that are contentious or incorrect simply to get discussions going. It?s an old and well known ploy I learnt 40 years ago ? and I?ve often been amazed at the level of information that comes out because of it. Some of the threads on this forum are clearly developed in this way.
However, I?m disappointed that no-one has attempted to answer my real question regarding the ?Big Valve? writing on the cam cover.
Hi Brian.
I think there was a thread about this a while ago. If I remember correctly, the writing was changed around simply so it could be read when opening the bonnet.
Could be wrong though…
Robbie
Rumour has it that the foundry man turned up drunk for work one night. 
OK I’ll get me coat
John
Something to do with it reading correctly in the Europa TC, but it wasn’t clear if that was the correct answer.
Hi Brian.
I went to the 1st meeting but missed the next 2, must get to the August one.
The point you make is interesting, I recall in my younger days being shown in a group of people how to call a black kettle grey or even white. If done eye ball to eye ball with great confidence it was interesting to see how many people agreed with you and how many stood their ground. The black kettle is only for illustration. This was a course on negotiation.
Any way back to piston position and “Big Valve” writing on the cam cover.
The Renault engines used in early Europas don’t follow the timing chain convention, and are likely where the original poster got his confusion.
These engines were reversed in the original R-16 implementation, so the flywheel end of the engine was the front, first cylinder.
In the Europa, front is simply the first thing you look at when you lift the engine cover, or the back of the engine. But it is next to the flywheel, which is odd.
This convention did not carry to the Twink-engined Europas, but many have been confused that it did. Part of this can probably be ascribed to the “Twin-Cam Supplement” method of documenting the new engine, rather than immediately publishing a complete new book unique to the Twincams (Can you say: Colin was a cheap -------?) A Twink owner reading the original manual without reference to the supplement might assume a reverse orientation.