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twin cam engines
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 3:22 pm
by ratrodmog
Hi guys & girls. Does anyone have experience with a Lotus twin cam or a Toyota twin cam into the mog? What are the good and bad points with these? I thought that the Lotus twin would be something interesting and different or am I mad for thinking this
. Thanks in advance. Ben
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:14 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
it might be worth getting in touch with this guy..
he was at one point dropping a 4age engine into a moggy and had a few pages of stuff.. i can not find the page any more but might be worth dropping him an email..
http://www.spagweb.com
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:13 am
by MartinB
I Think the Lotus Twin cam engine was good in its day but no way near as good as the more modern 4 valve engines such as the 4age, Zetec, Fiat 16 valve etc. The fuel consumption of the older twin cam designs such as the Fiat (8 valve), Lotus (8 valve) and the older Jag engines will never be as good as the newer 16 valve designs, this is mainly due to improved combustion from the more compact chambers with the 4 valve engines with the central spark plug, narrower valve angles etc. I think your better off with the most modern twin cam engine you can find.
You can't stop progress!
Martin
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:50 pm
by twincamman
There's a Minor in the next issue of Practical Performance Car with a Toyota 4AGE in it.
Also, Ed Hall from the mag has recently bought a Minor (off someone on here apparetly).
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:56 pm
by Jefftav
Have a look at this
http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ic&t=29316
If I haven't done the link correctly it is from the General Discussion forum under Twim Cam Traveller.
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:12 am
by twincamman
Yeah, sorry 'bout that. I noticed the post after I'd posted a reply!
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:46 pm
by dp
I had a Lotus Twin Cam Escort back in the 'eighties (not a genuine one though). It's basically a pre-crossflow Ford engine with an alloy cylinder head. If you're asking because you have one lying around then sell it as they make good money these days.
If not, I wouldn't recommend buying one all as it's going to be expensive to buy, expensive to repair, not be all that reliable (it's overstressed to start with) and uneconomical. Even with wodges of money it won't be that tunable for the effort of fitting it.
Some info here:
http://www.burton-power.com/technical_1 ... am_8v.aspx
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:58 pm
by ratrodmog
So rather than the Lotus engine would something like a Toyota 4age be better, more reliable ect?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:33 pm
by ohc_turbo
a Nissan CA18DE (non turbo)or CA18DET (turbo) could be a good candidate as its fairly compact and with a out the box figures of 135BHP and 165BHP respectivaly there very peppy and respond well to tuning and there is a lot of aftermarket parts avaliable
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:15 pm
by dp
ratrodmog wrote:So rather than the Lotus engine would something like a Toyota 4age be better, more reliable ect?
It would. Don't know how easily it could be made to fit versus another modern engine but with a reliable modern engine, the headaches would end once you had found a way to fit it. With a Lotus the headaches would begin once you had fitted it.
This thread discuss engine possibilities:
http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ic&t=10557
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:30 pm
by bmcecosse
As dp says - if you have a Lotus Twin Cam engine lying around - you're in the money!