Engine choice

[Johnny boy mk1]

I've just got a mk1 cortina super build starting and it currentLy has a 1500 gt engine and box in which my grandad put in back in the day. The engine needs a rebuild but I thought I might take the opportunity to upgrade the engine for more power now rather than rebuild this one.

 

Trouble is I can't weld or want to cut into the car as it's really clean structurally. Is there any simple engine transplants I can do and what is the effort required to put it in? Going to use the car for fun only so very little use but want it to be fun to drive and give a few cars a bit of a surprise. Thought of a 2 litre pinto but don't know how easy this would be?

 

Any thoughts?

[4-Door Pete]

Sounds like a nice project. Are you going to keep the steering box? This will dictate your choice of engines you can use due to the use of a front bowl sump to clear the cross member. You could drop in a 1.6 cross-flow (and please correct me if I'm wrong) use the sump and pick-up from the GT engine you have.

 

Zetecs are also a good choice and will fit without too much trouble. Retro Ford Autos are the people to talk to.

 

Good Luck

[russ105e]

1600 crossflow will go in easily with no cutting or welding , or if you are feeling a bit more adventurous you can get the 1600 16v 4age Toyota in simply . The sump is front bowl so that's no hassle ,just need some mounts made and sort out the water plumbing and they sound awesome on a pair of webers

[Jiffer]

a nicely tuned xflow will go in very easy and do look the part as well as giving good power, but the sump and pickup from the pre xflow will not fit, different crank, you will need to get a front bowl sump from a mk2 cortina, thats if you want to keep the steering box.

[PCOE]

OR

keep the precrossflow and get it warmed up a bit by Harris/Throbnozzle/WPE or whoever!!

[Johnny boy mk1]

a nicely tuned xflow will go in very easy and do look the part as well as giving good power, but the sump and pickup from the pre xflow will not fit, different crank, you will need to get a front bowl sump from a mk2 cortina, thats if you want to keep the steering box.

 

I'm not sure to be honest i think a quicker steering rack would be better with that power but have no idea what rack to get? What sort of power will a slightly nodded xflow give? Also where can I pick these up from?

 

Thanks for the advice guys

[4-Door Pete]

If you want to convert to a steering rack I can't recommend Alichi enough and Alan Dent is always willing to help with any problems you may have.

 

Engine wise HPE will build you a nice cross-flow and power is governed by your budget.

 

I must say though that the Toyota 4-age that Russ105e mentioned would go really well.

 

Pete

[Jiffer]

as pete said Alan dent does a good rack conversion Ive had two of his now, but as long as your steering box does'nt have to much play you should be fine. as for a tuned xflow there are some very talented builders on this site who will build to what you want, I would say about 115-120 would be good in a mk1. if your thinking of getting a very hot xflow they can get a bit lumpy with the wild cams but again the quality builders do seem to get good power from for less.

one more point if you do have your pre-xflow tuned steering conversion becomes a hassle, such making or modding the sump and drilling a dipstick hole through the block.

[Johnny boy mk1]

as pete said Alan dent does a good rack conversion Ive had two of his now, but as long as your steering box does'nt have to much play you should be fine. as for a tuned xflow there are some very talented builders on this site who will build to what you want, I would say about 115-120 would be good in a mk1. if your thinking of getting a very hot xflow they can get a bit lumpy with the wild cams but again the quality builders do seem to get good power from for less.

one more point if you do have your pre-xflow tuned steering conversion becomes a hassle, such making or modding the sump and drilling a dipstick hole through the block.

 

wow seems alot of work involved to change the engine. Might see what hpe can do with the current 1500 lump in there as the fabrication and modding of steering racks is rather daunting to me and don't wanna spend mega money on this car

[Jiffer]

there is a company in south london that does refurbish steering boxes I'll see if I can remember them or some one might be able to help