QUESTION
Can you tell me if there is a specific torque setting for the rocker cover nuts on a very early (green rocker cover) Mk1 Cortina Lotus ?
Would you recommend using Loctite ?
R.M - UK
ANSWER
The Lotus Elan +2 workshop manual suggests the cam cover fasteners be tightened to 7 lbs/ft
If you are going to use a pure cork gasket then this figure may be a little high where it continually crushes the gasket
From experience it may be better just to gently "nip" the cam cover nuts so not to over tighten
The cam cover gaskets Lotus Marques manufactures in Australia are made from a material comprising of rubber and cork granules
This results in a much firmer material that does not continually compress over time
One tip for you - if you experience difficulty in sealing your cam cover, then this may be due to the cover being warped
You may want to check your cam cover is actually flat by dummy installing it without a gasket
If the cam cover is distorted then it will rock rather than site perfectly flat and if this is the case it will require machining to rectify the problem
If you are using Nyloc nuts to secure the cam cover then there is no benefit using Loctite thread locker on studs or Nyloc nuts
However, it is recommended that Loctite Grey MAXX sealant is applied sparingly to the cam cover and gasket to obtain an oil tight seal
Copyright © 2022 Lotus Marques
Can you tell me if there is a specific torque setting for the rocker cover nuts on a very early (green rocker cover) Mk1 Cortina Lotus ?
Would you recommend using Loctite ?
R.M - UK
ANSWER
The Lotus Elan +2 workshop manual suggests the cam cover fasteners be tightened to 7 lbs/ft
If you are going to use a pure cork gasket then this figure may be a little high where it continually crushes the gasket
From experience it may be better just to gently "nip" the cam cover nuts so not to over tighten
The cam cover gaskets Lotus Marques manufactures in Australia are made from a material comprising of rubber and cork granules
This results in a much firmer material that does not continually compress over time
One tip for you - if you experience difficulty in sealing your cam cover, then this may be due to the cover being warped
You may want to check your cam cover is actually flat by dummy installing it without a gasket
If the cam cover is distorted then it will rock rather than site perfectly flat and if this is the case it will require machining to rectify the problem
If you are using Nyloc nuts to secure the cam cover then there is no benefit using Loctite thread locker on studs or Nyloc nuts
However, it is recommended that Loctite Grey MAXX sealant is applied sparingly to the cam cover and gasket to obtain an oil tight seal
Copyright © 2022 Lotus Marques