From: sean smedley, email to [email protected]
Date: 12/07/99
Time: 7:20:10
Remote Name: 195.8.75.145
I went through this a few months ago! I am building a copy of the works side valve offset single seaters for vscc events here in the uk. The engine you want is fitted to very early renault 5s and the dauphine (even earlier). Its official renault designation is the ventoux engine, 845cc. I bought my engine for £75 and scrapped everything but the rods and pistons. You can distinguish the correct engine from the later sierra engine, 956cc (not what you want) by the cylinder head stud nuts. You want the engine where half of the nuts are inside the rocker cover and half are visable outside. The bigend diameter is 38mm so the phoenix journals must be ground for this. Its 4 thou under 1.5in and the crank is commonly ordered as a 1.5in, but is understood to be actually 38mm. The bore is 58mm or 2.284in. so you need a very good block that can take a plus 84 thou rebore. Depending on your block and gaskets you may find the pistons come above the head face. Nos 1 and 4 must be machined down to be flush with the head. Nos 2 and 3 must be machined 20 thou lower to allow for crank whip. Note, phoenix say this isnt necessary, but all other hot engine builders in the uk say do it. I have lots more information on hot engines, but this email is already too long. email me direct if you have any more questions. Sean Smedley.