Early Essex Engine - what do they look like ??

[Electron]

So I now have my Tecalemit fuel injection but need an early Essex engine to go with it to get the inlet ports to match up

Can any of the panel point me to any info on what age engine I need to look for ?? Any serial numbers so I can ask a potential vendor ??

What shape are the early Essex inlet ports ??

What else makes them different and can I interchange anything ??

Thanks

Chris

[Terminator]

Chris, look for a pre-1969 engine with the oval ports. Someone smarted than I will probably be able to point you in the direction of block numbers.

The cam profile was different too on later ones, something I discovered when I tried to fit a Zodiac fuel pump to a Granada engine

[tonfre]

Just remember that on the very early Essex engines for the Zodiac etc, that the oil galley is slightly different for the cam followers, and so you cannot use the later cam followers in an early engine as it pumps the oil up into the rocker covers.

Tony.

[lgw]

Early Essex Engines had the dipstick on the timing chest later Engines had the dipstick tube on the right hand side of the block.......from the drivers seat

[longone]

It may sound too easy but I'd ask someone like John Wade (01902798303). If he doesn't know where you can find one then you really are struggling. In my experience he can talk for hours about the Essex.

[SJAM]

Surely you just need a pair of early (oval port) heads don't you? I may be wrong but I think early heads can be used on later engines.... (anyone?)

Another option would be to get your manifold D-ported on the inlets. If you talk to John Wade, this'll probably be his advice too. He told me once that the D ports flow alot better than the oval ports.
I have a strange inlet manifold on my Turbo, triple carb/body mounting but unevenly spaced flanges from the front to the back. This was originally Oval ported but was converted to D ports by a little fillet welding and porting, so it can be done relatively easily.

[Electron]

Thanks for this.

I've compared the oval injection inlet with a late D type inlet and it looks like I can port the manifold.

I've ordered up some D type inlet manifold gaskets to double check.

Should I confess it's for the Gilbern Genie not the TVR :-)