Pinto vs Essex?

[ChristophStone]

I've had a few nagging thoughts recently about swapping the standard 2.0 pinto in my mk1 capri for an essex, most probably also standard, as that's all I can afford.

 

Will I see much difference in acceleration? I'm mainly wanting to do it for the torque but I'm assuming the big 3.0 will have more power as well.

 

I know it might be more sensible to just put a new cam or up-rated head on the pinto, but the other reason for the swap would be the noise, which the pinto can't give.

 

Any comments/opinions?

 

Cheers

 

Chris

[Fishtailparka]

I would say that apart from the noise it would be a backward step.

[JP.]

I would say in experiance

Big step forward

 

Have a Capri 2.0 S ( OHC) & a Capri 3.0 GXL (and 4 others too)

You could make a screamer from a 2.0 but it never gets the torque from low down which an Essex create.

As bij your tax regulations Ford underrated the Essex so that it would sell in his days. A good lumb does about 144bhp.

 

In standard form a 2.0 Capri is a nice drive but an Essex is more fun.

[john_3.0s]

as standard essex all the way, much more drivable sounds better and loads of torque. If you in for out and out power the pinto is the cheaper option tho, tuning an essex gets VERY expensive....2 more cyls, 4 more valves, one more head, one more carb etc etc.....

[Vista]

Having also had both and tuned both it's pinto for me. My old Essex in my GXL cost me almost as much to build to a warm spec as my hot pinto did and the pinto would run rings around it.

 

The only up side of an Essex in a capri (as I see it) is that it fills the engine bay better and looks more at home under the bonnet.

[garyv6100e]

In standard form i think a Pinto would have about 100bhp and the Essex about 140bhp so you would notice the difference but as already mentioned if you decide to modify either of these engines in the future the Essex will cost a fair bit more money to tune to a decent level

 

For me though Essex everytime in a capri

[EscortHeadCase]

once again. 2.9 cossie v6. Standard form 200bhp. Not expensive. lovely noise. modern reliability. plus lots of tuning potential for the future....

[ChristophStone]

once again. 2.9 cossie v6. Standard form 200bhp. Not expensive. lovely noise. modern reliability. plus lots of tuning potential for the future....

 

is that the BOA engine? That has crossed my mind too.

[EscortHeadCase]

Yeah i think the ideal is a BOA with BOB cams if i remember rightly. Im sure somone on here can tell you the ins and outs of it.

 

[5hane]

Yeah i think the ideal is a BOA with BOB cams if i remember rightly. Im sure somone on here can tell you the ins and outs of it.

 

 

 

dont forget turbos !!

[EscortHeadCase]

Yeah i think the ideal is a BOA with BOB cams if i remember rightly. Im sure somone on here can tell you the ins and outs of it.

 

 

 

dont forget turbos !!

 

haha yeah turbos and supercharger kits are all out there for the BOA/BOB lumps. If you were really greedy ..BOTH

[BIG G]

 

 

 

whats the differene??????........ ones a boat anchor

 

 

 

 

sorry im a pinto fan

[EscortHeadCase]

OK im not the greatest fan of the Essex lump. HOWEVER dont moan about it because

 

GAA!

 

This in a racing capri is the sexiest sound you have ever heard...

[BIG G]

sorry just think that the power to weight ratio is crap copared to the pinto but thats my opion and each to there own

[EscortHeadCase]

pinto gets 230bhp max. for a heavy 4 pot.

 

http://www.ricwood.com/essexv6.html

[bortaf]

Essex has more power but more weight ,like twice as much as a pinto so that sort of cancles out 75% of the extra power, to fit it in a pinto car with all the extra bits you'll need like exhaust, gearbox, taller diff ratio, front springs, chassis mods for the Xmember ect ect you could spend that money taking the pinto to 140 ish BHP (same as the essex but with less torque BUT with less weight to move)

Then there's the handling, pinto cars handle better full stop

I've had both and although i love the sound of the essex it's more akin to driving a diesel than any other petrol engine i've had ( IE all low down torque and nothing in the higher rev range) it a lazy mans engine more suited to a transit van IMHO or a 2 tonn car

[Col-ashtonmobile]

 

 

 

whats the differene??????........ ones a boat anchor

 

 

 

 

sorry im a pinto fan

 

aw come on gordy i thought you liked my escort

[Col-ashtonmobile]

Essex has more power but more weight ,like twice as much as a pinto so that sort of cancles out 75% of the extra power, to fit it in a pinto car with all the extra bits you'll need like exhaust, gearbox, taller diff ratio, front springs, chassis mods for the Xmember ect ect you could spend that money taking the pinto to 140 ish BHP (same as the essex but with less torque BUT with less weight to move)

Then there's the handling, pinto cars handle better full stop

I've had both and although i love the sound of the essex it's more akin to driving a diesel than any other petrol engine i've had ( IE all low down torque and nothing in the higher rev range) it a lazy mans engine more suited to a transit van IMHO or a 2 tonn car

:

 

bortaf, i,ll take you out in my escort then tell me it,s akin to a diesel

[Takeshi]

OK im not the greatest fan of the Essex lump. HOWEVER dont moan about it because

 

GAA!

 

This in a racing capri is the sexiest sound you have ever heard...

 

Yup...like nothing else

 

Was at Castle Combe the other weekend, you could feel the ground shake from 30ft away..

[capri71]

Acceleration and top speed aside, how important is handling to you? ANY cast iron V6 will rob you of turn in and increase understeer compared to a 4 banger. The best compromise imo is the 2.8 which, whatever anyone tells you is much lighter than an essex. The Capri MFI version DOES make 160bhp in std tune, as long as the valve clearances are book, the fuel is 98 ron and the condition is good. Other 2.8s like those found in jellys and grannys do not - I'm not talking about them. Its also plenty lighter than the 24v 2.9. I know the cossy has alloy heads but they are massive, housing twice as many, larger valves, 3 more cams and the block is heavier to begin with along wiv heavier internals (thicker rods). Not worth the extra 35 or 40 or so bhp (not to mention electrickery complication). As for tuning potential, theres loads of 300+bhp 2.8 turbos about. Parts and even replacement engines are plentiful and cheap on the bay always cos these engines went into so many cars, unlike the boa and bob. I looked for cossy 24v for a while but couldn't find ONE that wasn't shagged.

[azz-bo]

Theres an essex in my baby n I dnt struggle with understeer, if anything I struggle with oversteer its all down to ur rite foot

[bortaf]

Essex has more power but more weight ,like twice as much as a pinto so that sort of cancles out 75% of the extra power, to fit it in a pinto car with all the extra bits you'll need like exhaust, gearbox, taller diff ratio, front springs, chassis mods for the Xmember ect ect you could spend that money taking the pinto to 140 ish BHP (same as the essex but with less torque BUT with less weight to move)

Then there's the handling, pinto cars handle better full stop

I've had both and although i love the sound of the essex it's more akin to driving a diesel than any other petrol engine i've had ( IE all low down torque and nothing in the higher rev range) it a lazy mans engine more suited to a transit van IMHO or a 2 tonn car

:

 

bortaf, i,ll take you out in my escort then tell me it,s akin to a diesel

 

I've driven some bloody fast Diesels

OK like a diesel is not the best analogy BUT the way it delivers the power is what i ment, all over with by 4K unless you spend spend spend (which TBH i like that sort of delivery cos i'm a lazy fooker of a driver) AND one day i'll let ya take me out BUT i'm a fat Bstd and will slow it down

[capri71]

Totaly Asbo ...the cappas basic chassis design and drivetrain layout is quite good realy despite the negative stereotyping ...but that aspect of its handling will always benefit from lower front end weight, and the pinto and cologne weigh less

[EscortHeadCase]

i saw the masters series racing at brands hatch. there was 3 or 4 escorts 2 capris etc etc etc.

 

the rs3100 (GAA) pissed all over the pintoed escorts on the straights and in the corners. And the only thing that got by him was a mk2 escort running an 1800 BDA/G. Watching those two fighting was my version of heaven.

 

But enough of this.

 

Essex - Heavy , Lots of power potential, noise-old

 

Cologne 2.8-slightly less heavy,lots of power potential,noise-Old

 

Cologne2.9 cossie- good power as standard-,lots of power potential-Youngest

 

Pinto-Heavy 4pot-less power potential,more screamy,common as muck.

 

As is apparent from the above if i had a capri a cossie v6 would go in it. at the end of the day its your call. Find people on here whove got/had each of the above and find out the work and money thats gonna be involved.

 

 

[caprinerd]

im for the pinto what you were going tospend on an essex throw into your pinto if you have a healthy bank ballance then go essex and tune it