Sorting weight distribution

[Streetfighter]

I'm thinking about putting a Ford 289 V8 in my MK1 Cortina, and I

am totally against the idea of cutting the bulkhead out because I want to keep the heater and the comfort, it currently has a Pinto between the wings. Just wondering how people would shift more weight to the rear of the car as adding a 289 is definitely going to make the car nose heavy..

[Andy44Boz]

I would have a look at the mk1 Tina in cf mag this month. That's gotta be a fairly heavy lump you're putting in the front, but with that sort of motor, are you after a car that's on rails, or something that's quick of the mark?

[Streetfighter]

Both.. Waste of time to have something that pulls away fast only to burn the brakes out at every turn

I'm also considering an Essex/Cologne because I can keep the current running gear and fit it in a weekend.. Only issue being i'm told that Essex's/Cologne's are boat anchors..

[Vista]

Re boat anchors, surely cast iron ageing Ford V8's are also pretty hefty in the weight department aren't they? What about a more modern v8 such as one of the all alloy LS1 GM engines?

[Andy44Boz]

Toyota v8 as fitted it the Lexus 400 series is apparently a good lump. Not much different to a pinto in weight but about 250 hp I believe. The cars are becoming very cheap now, many appearing on the banger circuits. Some guy put one in a mk3 Tina featured in retro cars a month or two back.

[Streetfighter]

Biggest thing swaying me the V6 route is that I already have everything there to bolt it in over a short weekend. V6 type 9 box, split 2.9 cossie prop etc.. And as I said I outrifht refuse to cut the bulkhead and lose the heater.. Fitting the newer engines is fine but I don't wanna deal with the electronic garbage.. Had a MK5 RS2000 engine in for a while and I just didn't trust that if it stopped all I needed to do was swap the dizzy internals.

[Andy44Boz]

Fair do's on that, not much of a fan of ecu's and sensors myself, but even I'm swaying to a newer 16 valver to replace my crossflow. I will try and keep it as simples as possible though

[Streetfighter]

I heared somewhere that the 2.9 Cossie can be modified to run a dizzy and carbs, but after hearing it I have found NO information on doing it, something about a 2.8 V6 dizzy with a 2.9 Dizzy drive gear. As I said I can't find any reliable info