ES2 Big Four engine reviews?

Joined
Dec 22, 2018
Messages
5
Hi, New to the forum and Nortons, have purchased a remanufactured slimeline rolling chassis and looking to fit an es2 single engine, have seen a few basket cases of the 82 x 120 engine, are these a good engine to rebuild, suffer from crank/head issues? or are parts hard to find? any views on this engine would be appreciated, I'm stuck in the middle of france so choices are limited and buying parts without seeing them in the flesh seem to be the option, I have got a laydown gearbox, not AMC en route,
jim
 
ES2 & Big Four are two entirely different engines. An ES2 is 70 x 100 bore and stroke, and overhead valve. The 82 x 120 is a pre war Big 4 and a side valve. I can't imagine anyone wishing to put a Big 4 engine in a featherbed as they are pretty slow. One problem you need to consider is that the factory built ES2 had one of the top tubes of the frame flattened to clear the cylinder head.

Ian
 
Thanks for that, I'm not sure why they advertised es2, mod 18 and big four crankcases as the same, are all 82 x 120 pre war ? can't seem to find any twin engines about,
 
I think an 18 and an ES2 are the same OHV 500 engine.

There is a “19” 600 cc OHV single too.

And a 16H 500 cc side valve.

Rohan’s not barred from here is he? He could probably tell you which bottom ends are interchangeable. In theory at least, there can be side valve and OHV engines with the same crankcases.
 
The numbers on a set of cases I've been looking at are, 70830 82 x 120 and s657 and 402 on the inner timing side case, It would be nice to know what cranks and heads etc, you could fit, thanks for the info above,
 
I think you would be better off with an ES2 engine. They are bullet proof. And there is stuff around for them -in the UK at least. Join the NOC and watch and wait..Russells on Falcon road clapham junction used to have a fair range of bits. btw the factory fitted them to wideline not slimline frames so there may be issues.Try Mike Pemberton . He writes regularly in road holder .he may know of an engine.
 
ES2 & Big Four are two entirely different engines. An ES2 is 70 x 100 bore and stroke, and overhead valve. The 82 x 120 is a pre war Big 4 and a side valve. I can't imagine anyone wishing to put a Big 4 engine in a featherbed as they are pretty slow. One problem you need to consider is that the factory built ES2 had one of the top tubes of the frame flattened to clear the cylinder head.

Ian

I believe thats 79x 100 for the ES2
 
Thanks for the advice, I will keep an eye out for maybe an ES2, LOOKS LIKE A FEW DODGY CRANKCASES ON EBAY, ANYTHING i NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?
 
Everyone in the club including me that have owned a featherbed ES2 have sold them in under two years. Look and sound nice and very slow. That’s the reason so many of them got the engines pulled and replaced with Triumph 650 engines.
 
They aren't fast, but the trick is to also own a sidevalve and then in comparison the ES2 feels positively spritely.
 
Hi Scotia , may be you can ask to Mike Pemberton, he is the top notch for the easy two
http://www.pushrod-performance.co.uk/index.htm
where are you in France ?
Sorry for delay, I live about 30 minutes south of Chateauroux, I have bought a 99 engine unknown insides, but worth a gamble, it should arrive next week. Wheres the ferry, looks like palermo, I used to take the gran tragetti boat from genova to palermo back in the day,
 
Sorry for delay, I live about 30 minutes south of Chateauroux, I have bought a 99 engine unknown insides, but worth a gamble, it should arrive next week. Wheres the ferry, looks like palermo, I used to take the gran tragetti boat from genova to palermo back in the day,
Hi, the ferry was in Messina , a guy bought her from Ferrovie del Statto, and I with a crew sailed her to Ostend ......long story !
I am in Dinard (near St Malo, britanny ) so a bit far from you , and I have few Norton , and some 99 ss parts , you can PM if .....
 
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