V8 escorts

[YellowTaxi]

I had a good friend who had a Rover V8 powered Mk1 escort van back in the day.

Sounded and went great. When the Mk2 RS2000 was a modern car is saw us-off no problem.!

 

Go on go for it.

[guido]

Actually that's not true, the Buick based Rover V8 is an all alloy engine and isn't that heavy at all. It has a dry weight of about 170Kg. On par with a cast iron 4 cylinder some say.

 if i remember correctly, the ohc pinto weighs 120kg. or about 265 lbs. So the Rover is a good choice. It cost some money to get them make power, but look 

were Steve Green's Cortina got with his developement, and Ian Hempstead's Rover powered Escort if you wanna go the full monty with this, 

[Paul brex]

The rover I've got is a pretty good base to start with. It's a rover sd1 vitesse 9.75 comp ratio, waisted valve stems etc, edelbrock intake and Weber 500 carb, p6 short crank pulley and water pump....and I had maniflow make me a set of block huggers with 1.5 inch primaries and 2 inch down pipes. Ive got a triumph tr8 rad which is quite a thick core and the biggest I could fit under the bonnet. I've also got an auto bellhousing to do the Capri type 5 4 speed box with an adapter....the main key to get a light car moving with a rover!!

[Herr Doktor]

I've got an Essex powered Mk1 Escort. Not Broadspeed but an Uren Apache. People are correct in saying it's a heavy engine. Great for powerslides though . With no WC Cross Member you wouldn't know it was under the bonnet. Sounds quite nice too. Having said that, if it wasn't a "factory" build I'd either go alloy V8 or pinto to keep the weight on the front end down.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6e7cokbyvqjawb4/ApacheEngineBay.JPG?dl=0

[Vista]

V8 mk1 Escort, looks a pretty solid shell too

 

‪http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201704214649891?make=FORD&model=ESCORT

[Paul brex]

Thanks for all your replies! After having a good time to think about it I've decided to stick with the original plan an keep the Essex v6 idea....I'm really not that keen on chopping my bulkhead up on this car!!

I know it won't be to everyone's taste but it's still going to be an 'oldskoolford' at the end of the day!

[Vista]

Yes it is, look forward to seeing it

[Rally Pack 2000]

There was a guy locally that did 351 conversions to Escorts including his own original RS2000 all to pander to the V8 brigade here that believed at the time (and many still do) that if it doesnt have 8 cylinders its not a performance machine just a ladies shopping car. The things were so front heavy and stiff at the front to cope with the weight they handled like a bucket of the finest excrement and the rear so light that it would sit there smoking the tyres in every gear while a 4 pot one had gotten grip and long since launched itself off the line. The fit and finish were very good but the end product was a appalling driving machine. Popular at street machine shows though. Its with good reason an alloy Rover V8 conversion is a popular one. I would still go with the Essex though. There is something about the unique sound of those on cam that always impresses.

[Paul brex]

my escort would be mainly used for long distance driving to car shows (I live up norf!) and occasionally hooning around on a weekend so an Essex is probably a good choice! Your right tho....there is something about an Essex on cam with the right exhaust note! It sounds just right changing through the gears on a type 5 4 speed!!