opinion needed

[capri07]

i've been working out how much its going to cost to build a 180bhp pinto and to be honest it scared the shit outa me!

theres this guy round my way that has a dihatsu charmant (sharmant) dunno how its spelt and believe me its not the most interesting car around but he is fairly handy with a spanner and he put a toyota levin bzr engine in it, (front wheel drive) turned around and made it rear wheel drive. now these 1.6l 20v engines produce between 180-220bhp and i was thinking of doing it to my capri. the engine and loom should cost hopefully under e1500 and use a bellhousing from a ae86 corolla which means i wud not have to modify the gearbox tunnel.

so what do you guys think has anyone else fitted any form of a jap engine to a capri positive and negative remarks welcome

[Rick]

i say go for it mate

 

he who dares wins.

[Guest MK1gaz]

It's ALWAYS cheaper to fit a 180 bhp pinto than ANYTHING else . You THINK it will be cheaper using a foriegn engine but it won't and it won't be as quick . Best use a Vauxhall XE if you must use anything else but it won't be any cheaper . A 180 bhp pinto would also be BRAND NEW and not a 20 year old scrap yard special

[capri07]

the engine comes from cars that were built between '96-'99. the main problem i can think of is the wiring loom

[Supercharged Nat]

i say try it out, you never know, plus if you like the old skool way, fit some side drafts to it and forget all the silly wiring complexities or run it on motorbike carbs. for ignition get hold of a megajolt setup, very simple system that uses the ford edis system and a fully programable ecu, but the whole lot only cost 100 quid!

 

you would prob need a custom prop or at least yours modding to fit the jap gearbox?

[antz]

jap engines are so reliable....i even thought about doing it to mine at one point!

[Messenjah]

i would think that alot more things will cause problems and in the end This one may cost more then getting 180bhp from a pinto but if you dont try it out who will ??? if its a really successful conversion and you love it you could always investigate getting a company to make up the bits that caused you issues (engine mounts w/e) and sell them for the conversion to ppl tht wanna give it a go ... could be good ....

[Twinkle]

It's ALWAYS cheaper to fit a 180 bhp pinto than ANYTHING else . You THINK it will be cheaper using a foriegn engine but it won't and it won't be as quick . Best use a zetec if you must use anything else but it won't be any cheaper . A 180 bhp pinto would also be BRAND NEW and not a 20 year old scrap yard special

 

cant beleive you said that gaz

[bortaf]

Don't get too caught up with BHP

It's torque that counts, the bigger the car the more it counts

[Vista]

It's ALWAYS cheaper to fit a 180 bhp pinto than ANYTHING else . You THINK it will be cheaper using a foriegn engine but it won't and it won't be as quick . Best use a zetec if you must use anything else but it won't be any cheaper . A 180 bhp pinto would also be BRAND NEW and not a 20 year old scrap yard special

 

cant beleive you said that gaz

 

I know, shocker eh

[Guest MK1gaz]

If you don't want too pay for a brand new 180 bhp pinto install then try and use an engine with off the shelf conversion parts instead . By the time you buy all the conversion parts though it won't be any cheaper unless you get them all cheap on ebay etc but even then it will be close . Your car is always more desirable with a proper ford engine fitted compared to a Jap one plus once the Jap engine is fitted tuning it for speed later will cost big money . You can build a 180 bhp pinto engine with cheap cast V6 pistons and all the standard pinto bottom end if required . Just buy a good head + cam etc and you'll be sorted . Try the engine builders on this site if you can't do it yourself as they are all very reasonable with prices and you'll get great performance from their engines . Struggle to fit a Jap motor and you'll just get yours doors blown off by the proper oldskoolford 1970's power

[capri07]

dont get me wrong i love the pinto engine. when the bonnets opened and theres a shiny,powerful lump staring back at you,you just cant beat but if people dont try new things every bodys cars are just going to end up looking the same. its what owning a classic ford is all about making the car your own in every way

[Rick]

dont get me wrong i love the pinto engine. when the bonnets opened and theres a shiny,powerful lump staring back at you,you just cant beat but if people dont try new things every bodys cars are just going to end up looking the same. its what owning a classic ford is all about making the car your own in every way

 

i wish i had the money to use something different, the crossflow will do for the minute though

[capri07]

i got the price for '98 engine and wiring loom from levin and a bellhousing and gearbox from a ae86 corolla for 1500 euro no too bad eh? i just need to do some research with the subframe though. also found a fella near me that can build me the single piece propsaft. so its so far so good

[dragaddict]

when its a ford leave it a ford japanese

[Pipster007]

A 180 bhp pinto would also be BRAND NEW and not a 20 year old scrap yard special

Are Ford re-casting Pinto blocks and heads now, otherwise it can't be BRAND NEW Or do you mean a refurbished lump with Brand New internals

 

 

 

Anyway, I digress, Go for it Capri07, sounds like a great idea. It'll be a bit different

[Danmex]

I say if you can make it work, go for it, dare to be dirrerent, You'll never please everyone but its your car so why care

[ASBO CAPRI]

Not keen on the sound of a rice burner in a capri but thats just my opinon. How about cossie v6. Dirt cheap engines and u get 200 brake standard, shouldn't be much bother to fit if u use 2.8i mounts and running gear and it'll sound the part and your keeping it ford. Even better still how about a 302ci small block ford V8?

[Guest MK1gaz]

A 180 bhp pinto would also be BRAND NEW and not a 20 year old scrap yard special

Are Ford re-casting Pinto blocks and heads now, otherwise it can't be BRAND NEW Or do you mean a refurbished lump with Brand New internals

 

Old blocks are better than new ones as they are fully stress relieved and settled . Plus your re-cycling and saving the planet !!!!!!!

[dragaddict]

a pinto is power ful m8 if you put the right mods in it