Fiat Twin cam in an elan?

[wildoliver]

Hi just wondered more out of interest if anyone has fitted a fiat twin cam in to an elan?

Would seem to be a sensible transplant, 2.0l inline, Twin cam would keep some of the character of the elan, light engine too so wouldn't unbalance the car, quite a short block so would fit under the bonnet line, runs on twin webbers, distributor based so no ecu to wire up, and lots of tuning options!

Anyone got any information?

[types26/36]

Probably not a good question given the recent debate on fitting a Ztec and Spyder conversion
Anyway I think the two litre would be too tall but a 1600 might work, as I recall the inlet/exhaust is on the oppersite side (could be wong there) and other prob would be the gearbox, the Fiat box is too long but I think Lada used a short box. I suppose you could get an adapter made up to fit to the Ford box but it sounds like a lot of work when Twin Cams and spares are still around.
The Fiat 125/132 are are still old engines and I dont see the point of doing such a conversion. Just my opinion though.
Brian.

[wildoliver]

Hmmm thanks for the reply, loathed to go the way of the zetec, mainly because I like engines with a little bit of soul..........the thought of an engine that started life in a focus makes me shudder!!!

the inlet/exhaust issue isn't really a problem, gearbox length would be though!

May be something I look in to should my engine ever need replacing!

[cliveyboy]

I know of Fiat Twin cams being fitted into:- Fiat 500s, Morris Minors, Hillman Imps and Lotus 7s.
I have seen them used as alternatives to the Lotus TC but in saloons for racing.
Clive

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

I had a Fiat 124 Spider 2000. The engine is too tall by far and the carb just made it taller. I think it is too long also.

The Zetec in my Wife's Focus ZVT has more soul than that Fiat did. Besides, the engine in the Elan started life being designed for the equivalent of a Ford Focus...The Ford Cortina.

An Alfa 1750 engine would be cool if it wasn't so big, but the Lotus TwinCam is about perfect. If I wanted an improvement for the Elan I'd go put EFI on the TwinCam.

Rob

[pereirac]

What about the Alfa Romeo twincam motor, would that fit?

[elansprint]

I went to look at an S2 elan a few years ago which had a 1750 Alfa engine fitted there was also a plus 2 advertised a year back at derby with Alfa engine & box

regards

Ian

[ppnelan]

I have some photos of the Alfa-engined +2 if you are interested.

PPN

[wildoliver]

Id be interested in any infor on the 1750 in the elan!!!

The photo's would be interesting.

[twincamman]

stock up on 30 weight olive oil---ed

[lotusdelta]

i find this conversation facinating as i just saw an elan with a toyota engine in it. This car was at the concorso italiano show during the monterey week-end. it was in the corral and was for sale. fellow wanted $14,000 for it which surprised me as it was a bit shabby and ...well for god sakes a toyota powerplant......makes me want to hurl !!

[wildoliver]

I've seen toyota engine's in Mg's and the toyota gearbox is a popular alternative the the sierra box to get a 5 speed.

The alfa engine would be a great conversion because the head doesnt look massively different from the lotus item, so at least opening the bonnet it vaguely looks as it should!

[lotusanglia1965]

Hi! I'm fitting the 1600 zetec se engine in my plus 2. although still from a focus at least it is the same size and power as the twin-cam.also is lighter as all alloy, would Colin have approved? Anyone else doing this mod? I figured that as it has not much more torque than original engine, the rest of drivetrain should be ok. The main reason for conversion is to make a reliable car that's easy for my wife to drive. I also have a good home for the twin-cam!
Martin

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Hi there,
I thought that all Zetec engines had cast iron cylinder blocks or did the later smaller capacity ones in fact have alloy blocks?
The Duratec engines are as far as I know are so called "all alloy" and are now being used by a load of specialist builders.
I just can't get my head round how to accomodate a good four branch exhaust manifold on the drivers side (RHD) of the engine and still retain the steering column. (With a Plus 2 it would probably be less of a problem.)
Most British and Japanese designed engines have the same cylinder head cross flow configuration as the good old Twin Cam and are not too much of a problem within the cramped space in an Elan engine bay.
European designed engines mostly have the cross flow reversed as described on the Duratec.

[1964 S1]

pardon my question BUT,,, why not put a Lotus twin cam in a Lotus? What's the point of changing the engine? Dependability? Power? Time on your hands?