| he classic Ford Lotus twin cam engine was | | | | move to do something about oil surge. |
| designed and built during the early 1960s, this | | | | For only a few dollars worth of sheet metal, |
| highly successful engine powered an endless | | | | some careful fabrication work, and some careful |
| variety of cars to victory in many different | | | | installation, the oil surge problem can be solved |
| categories of motor sport around the world. | | | | once and for all, the sump baffle modification |
| The leading high performance engine tuners of the | | | | work is not difficult to do, and if you have the |
| time were quick to modify the twin cam engine | | | | skills and mechanical ability to carry out the work |
| to boost & improve the performance of this | | | | your self; the fabrication cost will be extremely |
| free revving four-cylinder engine. | | | | low. |
| High performance race engines are generally | | | | A new "How To Manual" provides detailed |
| prepared with no expense spared, usually, a dry | | | | instructions about all aspects of sump baffle |
| sump lubrication system is installed to increase | | | | fabrication; it is a combination of several sump |
| reliability & longevity, and to promote lasting | | | | baffle oil control methods and ideas which has |
| performance. | | | | been expanded & refined to detail and |
| The twin cam engine was used to power several | | | | instruct the home twin cam engine mechanic |
| cars, namely the Lotus Elan, Lotus Cortina, Ford | | | | about how to construct a professional anti oil |
| Escort, to name a few, these high performance | | | | surge sump baffle. With a bit of nous, a highly |
| cars were quickly snapped up by enthusiasts for | | | | efficient low cost baffled oil pan/sump for the |
| spirited every day driving, as well as for weekend | | | | Ford-Lotus Twin Cam Engine can be constructed. |
| motor sport events. But unfortunately, the | | | | This unique sump baffle design can also be applied |
| phenomena known as twin cam oil surge quickly | | | | to many other makes of inline four and six |
| reared its ugly head when enthusiasts competed | | | | cylinder engines. |
| on race circuits in normal road cars. | | | | Commercially made baffled oil pans are available |
| Severe oil surge can destroy an engine in a few | | | | for the twin cam, plus many other engines, but |
| seconds when the oil pump is starved of oil! | | | | the average enthusiast may not want to spend; |
| Amongst the many published books that deal with | | | | $600-$800 US or more to solve the problem, and |
| the rebuilding & restoration of the classic | | | | why would you when you spend less than $20.00 |
| lotus élan and the twin cam engine, only a | | | | to purchase some sheet metal, which you can |
| few books give mention of the oil surge problem | | | | then fabricate into a brilliant sump baffle design |
| associated with the twin cam engine, they also fail | | | | which is quite straightforward to integrate into the |
| to outline what the lotus owner can do to solve | | | | standard twin cam sump pan. |
| the oil surge problem. Perhaps the lotus twin cam | | | | The baffle design illustrated in the manual has |
| owner is expected to accept the oil surge | | | | been fabricated & built from ideas gleaned |
| problem as being normal. | | | | through discussions with motor sport competitors. |
| But that is a difficult thing to do when you | | | | This is great information for the serious Ford |
| consider the consequences of severe engine | | | | Lotus twin cam enthusiasts who will continue to |
| bearing damage that oil surge can lead to. If you | | | | maintain, rebuild & operate this all-time classic |
| want to race your élan, or take part in | | | | twin cam engine. |
| club level sprint events, then it would be a wise | | | | |