Hiya fellas. Back in March of this year I bought myself this. It's an old Ford Escort drag racer. I bought it missing the engine,box,wheels and some bits and bobs. I also bought a 2l Pinto ohc block with a stroked crank and bushed rods with it. However I can't seem to decide what sort of engine to go with. I'm wary of building up a mega engine as I've never driven down the strip and I don't want to wreck it. Also I don't want it to sit for years while I build up a mega spec engine. On the other hand this is a lightened,perspexd,cage'd car and I want to do it justice. So I've been thinking up engine plans. I can either use the block I have already,get a good head done with a decent race cam,big Webers and maybe a sniff of nitrous and get it on the strip.However I've been toying with the idea of turboing it.Again not too difficult as stock Ford parts or secondhand stuff could be used.However I was having a look on Ebay and I came across a 4.6l Rover/Buick V8 ( injected and just fully rebuilt) for very cheap(compared to prices here) which a mate can ship for me for not much. I've wanted a V8 since forever but obviously it would take some fabbing to fit.However it would be different to everyone else ehcih is very important for me. What do the experienced guys think? Is it too much for a noob like me? Or do I need that V8 symphony in my life? Sorry for posting an OT car but I don't really know who else to ask(all me mates will just scoff) And apologies for blathering too. Tom
You really need the V8 you will never look back to 4 bangers but a turbo 2.3 isnt anything to laugh at. Its yours do what you want
Yup. Cosworth YAC- Built endurance- style. It'll last forever and can make over 300 horses at 10,000 rpm. Have fun!!
...says the guy with gas at $2.55 a gallon. I think you're best sticking with the 4-cylinder Ford because you'd need to do a lot of surgery to make a V8 fit. If you want something bigger, check out a GM 60* V6. These came as 2.8L, 3.1L and 3.4L. These were in various GM rear drive cars like Camaros, Firebirds and S-10 and S-15 pick up trucks and SUV's. You might even get away using a GM/Buick 3.8L engines (some come with Superchargers** on FWD engines). These base engines were also in Firebirds and Camaros at various points. The great thing about the 2.0L and 2.3L Fords is the support for them as the engine of choice in Formula Ford and Formula Continental race cars (SCCA). Everything from cranks, rods pistons, etc are available for them. Add a set of side draft webers and it would be very quick (for a 4-cylinder ). **If you wanted to run the 3.8L supercharged engine (260 HP SAE net), you'd have to switch all of the internals to a RWD block. These engines were only used in FWD applications and the block tabs for mounts are completely different. The SC engine has forged rods and other good bits the standard 205HP engine didn't get. You just can't swap the SC from one to another. The SC is an Eaton M90 and horsepower in some Pontiac Grand Prix's set up for drag racing exceed 500 HP to the front wheels . These can use a 4-speed, 5-speed or 6-speed transmission.
Thanks for the input guys! Shotrod,Scotch:I've thought about a Cossy but it's a bit belly button like. Lots of em about. Swifster I don't mind the surgery mate. I'm a panel beater by trade so not bad with a welder grinder combo! And the swap has been done before so I can always fall back on the internet for advice/dimensions etc. I'll have to look into the V6,however I'm not sure about availability in the UK. I'll chech that out. Thanks again!!
Wow I type slow!! I dunno the year as car has no logbook or registration documents of any kind. Built solely for the quarter. As Swifster said it's a European vehicle. Very popular in Malta. J&J again something I considered but converting an ECU'd engine like that to carbs and a dizzy on top of mounting the blower is not easy or cheap.
Lone Wolf, How about A Opel/Vauxhall XE Twin-cam? Nice easy fit I think and can make good power!I'm sure theres adapters and stuff to mate 'em to Ford gearboxes.Lots of Escort rally cars over here and in Ireland use 'em! Nick.
GM actually has the pieces to convert their LSx engines to carburetors. Not so for the Eco-Tech 4-cylinders. The blower on an Eco-Tech is mounted on the side of the engine. Nice piece but expensive. I think Ford also had a 60* V6 that was used in the Mustang II (1974-1978) that was a 2.8L. I think this was a German engine. It was also used in the Ford Ranger in '83 or '84. These are not easy to find around here. Keep in mind on the GM V6's is that they were all EFI after 1985. There are not a lot of performance parts for the 60* V6 and while the 3.8L has a lot of parts available, the fast cars and supercharged cars were EFI. Of course with a roots blower sitting on top, you tend to overlook everything else. Because the M90 blower has been used by GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, etc., they come with various air intake systems to direct air into the SC. You can use older versions of the 3.8L with the distributor (same with the 60*). Another option is the 4.3L 90* Chevy V6. It has some aftermarket support as well, and with a SC or turbo will get up to 500 HP. A small block Ford 5.0L might fit with it being a small motor. The Buick/Rover engine is lightweight, but unless they make aftermarket parts on the continent, there isn't much available here. As for showhorning an engine, I've seen a 454 (7.4L) stuffed into a '72 Toyota Celica, so I know anything can be done.
everybody go booo hiss but over here mercury capris (similar chassis) got a 2.6 to 3.2 L v6 that was pretty stout. the Cologne engine I believe it was called. Not talking about the POS aussie capri convertible. These were made in Germany in the mid to late 70's.
As you are in Malta check out the Harris brothers web site http://www.hpemotorsport.co.uk/ They run a 2.2 into NA no nitrous in the 11's with the front wheels a foot off the deck! I would steer away from putting a V8 in that car, you are better off selling it and getting what you want, the Rover is going to cost a lot of cash, the pinto will be as fast for a lot less cash. Or, as has already been said, stick a Turbo Cossie motor in it T3 Garrett 8xBlue injectors, wind the waste gate in and you have 400hp all day long. Nice Mk1 by the way, looks really cool! P.
Answer below is correct. The MK I Escort was the winning-est Rally car in history for many years! Euro Escorts were never imported to the US. The FWD pile we got in 1981 had no link to the MK and MK II English cars that were RWD. The European Capri was based on the MK I Escort.
if you have the parts build the 2L we had 5 or 6 pintos running w/stock turning times in 14.0 to 13.90 range with a blower and more carbs it should move pretty good
Put the 2l pinto engine in it, and race it, while your learning to race it start building a really good race motor for it.
Thanks for the replies guys!! After spending half the night awake thinking about it I've decided to put together a 2L pinto with big Webers a decent head and cam and some nitrous and learn to actually drive the thing as well as do the interior up properly and find a rear diff. That would seem to be the best option for now considering I still need a tranny,prop shaft,diff,slicks and possibly rear wheels and a trailer to haul the thing. Then when it's running good and I can drive it sorta properly I'll slap a Rover V8 in there. I know it requires work due to the struts but it has been done before and anyway I saw a Mk2 Escort in a magazine once which had a Twin Turbo V8. It's only metal and anything possible with the appropriate BFH!! Again thanks for the input! Now does anybody know how I go about getting a pair of 6 inch alloy wheels widened? An old guy down by the docks who repairs alloys said he can widen em but he needs another pair to cut up and weld into the first pair. I only got those 2
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