Ford Kent Engine - Lotus

Lotus

The Kent was also used in the Ford Classic and Ford Consul Capri at 1340 cc. It was in this form that the Kent was noticed by Colin Chapman of Lotus Cars. Lotus needed a compact engine for the new for 1962 Lotus Elan, and Chapman adopted the Kent block.

Whilst the 1340 engine, which used the original 109E 3-bearing block, may have initiated Lotus' interest, this was never used in production Elans though prototype 1340 twin-cams were built. By the time the car was on the market, the 116E 5-bearing engine destined for the Cortina was available, and this was the one used. The very first Elans – the "Elan 1500" used the 116E block with standard cylinder dimensions, soon changing to the "Elan 1600" when the cylinders were overbored to give 1558 cc. For the first years of production, the Lotus blocks were simply selected for the thickest cylinder walls from the standard production line, and identified with an "A" stamped into the timing cover mating face. Later, the blocks were specially cast with twin-cam production in mind and identified with an "L" cast into the block under the engine mount. By 1966 all major engine parts: block, crank, rods pistons and flywheel were unique to the Lotus engine. By the end of production some 55,000 twin-cam engines had been built.

Harry Mundy, technical editor for Autocar magazine, designed the aluminium DOHC hemi head for the Kent. The first production run of this head was done for Lotus by J.A. Prestwich (J.A.P.). Chapman called his engine the Lotus TwinCam. It was bored to 1558 cc and produced 105 hp (78 kW). Exact dimensions were 3.25 in (82.55 mm) bore by 2.9 in (72.746 mm) stroke. Later versions produced from 115 to 190 hp (140 kW).

The same engine was used in the 1963 Lotus Cortina, and 15 were installed in the last production Lotus Sevens. It was also used in the Type 47 Lotus Europa race car, and Ford Escort Twin Cams.

The naming of twin-cam–engined Cortinas needs care. Only the first production cars were actually "Lotus Cortinas" and these were assembled at Cheshunt. After the first year, the cars became the "Cortina Lotus" and were Ford assembled. The Mk2 version was the "Cortina Twin Cam".

Applications:

• 1962–1974 Lotus Elan
• 1963–1964 Lotus Cortina
• 1964–1966 Cortina-Lotus
• 1967–1970 Cortina Twin Cam
• 1968–1970 Ford Escort Twin Cam
• 1968–present Formula Ford motor racing
• 1972–1975 Lotus Europa Type 74
• 1973–1974 Caterham Super Seven