To everyone with a Kent Crossflow engine

[MudHut]

Did you guys know that you can order personalized valve covers for this engine? I got tired of fighting with the stamped steel cover on my modified FF Dulon and found a company in Ireland that will make a valve cover for cheaper than you can buy a Ford Motorsport one in the US.

www.jrcast.com

 

 

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo1/JHogan/53f3297b-0e19-460a-917d-7dc3e21e3142_zpsc43ee745.jpg

 

I'm not affiliated in any way monetarily, but given an opportunity to get my name cast in aluminum, well, I just couldn't pass that up.

 

Jay

[locost7018]

Sweet!!!! I just may give them a shout. Thanks, Russ

[traveler501]

I really like these, thanks! If I can ask a slightly off-topic question, how

is everyone getting engine oil into their cars with these sorts of valve covers?

(I see that they also sell a version with a filler hole, but for those who don't…such as

yours. Just curious)

Edited December 12, 2015 by traveler501

[locost7018]

Xflows never need oil!!!!! Yeah, right! That motor probably has a remote sump I'm guessing

[MudHut]

Yes, it has a sump. What's the primary car that has the Ford crossflow engine installed?

[locost7018]

In the US the 711m Kent was in early Pintos, a few Mustangs, and very early Capris. Mostly Pintos. Formula Ford guys snarfed up most of those. Ford Fiesta's(FWD) had the 771m Kent xflows in them. That is what I have in my Locost. 771m was a slightly stronger block but you have to be real careful what internals you put in it to make it RWD capable. Russ

[MudHut]

I'm not sure of the initial origin of the engine I currently have. I do know that last year it had a small valve cover leak because of an, ahem, mechanics error, and when I pulled the valve cover I found several of the aluminum valve spring retainers had cracks and were ready to give up and drop the valves into the hole of destruction.

 

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo1/JHogan/Dulon%20repair/Iphone%20photos%20918_zpsrd8268yi.jpg

 

I was going to use compressed air, but sometimes the old way is the best way.

 

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo1/JHogan/Dulon%20repair/IMG_2819_zpsokm4tbfe.jpg

 

 

Thank goodness for the oil leak.

Do these engines come as standard equipment in any Lotus type cars? (This could be a stupid question, as I am still learning all the various iterations of Loti)

Jay

Edited December 13, 2015 by MudHut
spelling

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Yikes! Yes - steel retainers are the way to go. As it looks like you're running dual springs, I suggest also looking at upgrading your rocker hardware.

 

The crossflow was supplied in the Series 3 sevens. Pre-crossflows were Series 2. Other lotuses that used the crossflows were the Lotus 51, 61 and 69 Formula Fords.

[slomove]

  MudHut said:

........ I found several of the aluminum valve spring retainers had cracks and were ready to give up and drop the valves into the hole of destruction.....

 

Oh yeah, ask me about it. Great fun with aluminum retainers cracking when driving in the Middle of Nowhere. As you can see from the nicely rounded pebbles of the fragments this must have been going on for a while before the retainers finally failed. I think you can call yourself quite lucky.

 

Cause:

 

And effect:

Edited December 13, 2015 by slomove

[MudHut]

Thank goodness for leaky valve covers, that looks expensive. Probably made quite the ruckus too. Jay