Difference between +2S and +2S/130?

[BertBert]

So I had a plan to restore a big valve elan+2 but failed. I sold it as it would have taken me 5+ years to even find the time to start.

So I am looking at getting a running one. So how different does the big valve version feel to the standard 1600?

Bert

[vxah]

I guess that would depend on the state of the big valve engine or the earlier version? My 40+ year old BV feels like a 1.2 these days...Probably makes 75hp Last time i had the head off was 1983...

[sparkey]

As these are 40+ years old now none of them are standard so every one will feel different. Most have had the head skimmed several times, increasing the compression ratio and few will be on original valves. I've got a +2s and it's got a big valve head although neither the exhaust or inlet valves are the same size as the big valve head on an original "130" big valve. It goes very well, but I'm sure there are lots of non "big valve" engines that have more power.

Being a Lotus I'm sure there was quite a lot of variation when they were new, never mind 40 years on !

They're all great cars so I'd say don't get too hung up on spec.

S..