hi All,
Today is officially the start of the winter engine rebuild (replacing the lotus bottom end with a 711m block)…
I haven’t done an engine change before, so its new territory!
Anyone have any hints/tips?
(I have the twincam book)
Cheers
tim
Hi Tim
Are you going to get some answers to this question!
The numerous experts will give you all the good oil but I can give you one rather obvious tip I discovered for myself.
As you intend pulling the head, do it while the engine is still in the car.
Access to so many things is hugely improved if you do. Makes life a lot easier.
Winter…?? Summer’s just starting here. 
Ralph
71 Sprint.
Tim
If you are going to pull the engine out,take the head off after it’s out unless you like having back ache…
It’s so much easier to work on on the bench…
John 
Already two conflicting bits of advice!!
Don’t have a bench, so easier in the car!
Tim
If you dont have a bench, get an engine stand to do the build on
Rohan
have an engine stand, but no room in the garage for it when the lotus is in the garage!
(Next year, if funds permit, I’ll have a lovely double garage!)
Tim
My advice - build the garage now and do the engine next year.
Brian Clarke
Hi Tim,
I am in the early stages of a winter rebuild. I removed the engine complete with transmission and without removing the head first. Once the carburetors and manifold are off, there is no particular problem getting to the remaining bits, and I agree that removing the head with the engine in the car is a backbreaker.
I forgot to protect the front edge of the engine bay and picked up a few small nicks. Use some heavy cardboard or dense foam. Also, you can’t help the last of the trans. oil spilling out of the tailshaft housing, so put down something to protect the floor.
I bought an inexpensive universal-type engine stand that attaches at the bellhousing bolt positions. It does limit access to the rear of the engine but is otherwise very satisfactory so far. The engine is in the stand and the car is under its cover outside, awaiting further work once the engine is out of the way. I have my eye on a workbench for the back of the garage, but have to get the garage plastered and painted first, so the stand is a better option at the moment. I’ll transfer the head to the basement workshop for disassembly, and the bottom end is destined for a machine shop.
I’m using the Miles Wilkins book as my primary source, with reference to the Brian Buckland book, the Dave Bean catalog, and the Lotus workshop manual as needed.
Good luck and enjoy the process.
“I bought an inexpensive universal-type engine stand that attaches at the bellhousing bolt positions. It does limit access to the rear of the engine…”
Tim,
An engine stand will attach to the engine mount bolt holes on the side of the block. This limits access to the engine mount holes, however this is one part of the motor that should never need servicing.
I forgot to drain the transmission before I pulled it. Big mistake.
Do not be tempted to sit on the the nose of the car while wrestling the engine in or out. There is not much support there as I found out the hard way.
Hi,
I carried out a engine rebuild last winter.
I got a cheap engine stand off the internet and found that the engine, once on the stand, would fit above the bonnet with the stand legs under the car.
Certainly with the sump off there was quite a bit of clearence. This allowed me to put the car back in the garage whilst I was not working on the engine.
Dave
Hi all,
My plan had been.
- but 711m block (done)
- dissasemble 711m block (Done on a workmate in one evening)
- Remove the block and head from the elan
- sell the block complete with crank, rods and pistons (anyone interested?)
- use the proceeds to help pay for 711m conversion by third party engineering shop
- reunite with head (was rebuilt 10K miles ago)
- put back in lotus
drive into the sunset.
I don’t want to wait another season to do this as the crankcase pressure is pretty excessive at the mo.
Only other thing I need to know is what to rescue from the original lotus/ford block to use in the 711m block
Cheers
tim
Tim, One thing to note is that the 711m block is wider between the engine mounts than the Lotus “L” block. I think the difference is 0.25". You will have to reduce the four spacers by this amount to give the engine mounting rubbers a chance. Perhaps someone with a little more knowledge can confirm the 0.25" dimension.
Regards
Dave
Yes, I had gathered this from a previous post. Apparently one option is to mill an equivalent amount off the engine mout boss on the 711m block…
Will be spending some time talking to QED at Stoneleigh on Sunday
Cheers
tim
Sorry to repeat, must have missed the earlier post
Regards
Dave
no probs!
Mind you, you mentioning it reminded me to put it on my list!
Cheers
Tim
Dave,Tim.
I am sure the engine mounts are shorter than the L block and you’ll need spacers to make it up…
Unless I’m mistaken and then surely someone will let us know…
John
The 711 block (1600) is wider at the mounting points then the Lotus block (1500 Ford) the 711 being approx 223mm wide while the 1500 is approx 212mm.
I believe the original spacers are 1.1/8" thick ((28.5mm) so you should reduce the spacers by about 11mm (the difference between blocks)
and I would agree with Ralph…remove the head first and refit the engine with the head on…but its a case of “whatever works for you”
Sorry,yes,my mistake (flu bug) I just remembered making up the new ali spacers but forgot about removing the original spacers…
Humble apologies
John
Hi again Tim
Told you that you’d have plenty of replies didn’t I !
Don’t worry about backache lifting the head off. I assumed you’d probably being using an engine lift to get the engine out so you could maybe make use of it for the head first…(!)
The bolts through the bell-housing and into the block always gave me the most grief, but they, and the engine mounts, were so easy that I also reversed the process and put the head back on last. I had had several engine pulls before this and this was definitely the easiest.
Not suggesting the head should ever be pulled merely to get the engine out but as your’s is coming off anyway.
With what you’re planning on doing putting it on last is not a starter either.
Mine was routine and I knew everything would fit.
Ralph.