V-4 FORD engines

I gotta chance to purchase an old v-4 ford engine just lookin for some info, parts availability, cubic inches , approximate value , etc.
Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Early '60's Taunus?? I think sold here as industrial engine?

 

Same mill that was in the early Saabs? They were fairly successful in European rally racing back in the day. Might be a good point to start your research.

 

It was quite common in european fords during 60s and 70s. But they weren't having too much displacement or power.

 

I have owned a couple of Sasb Sonetts. The V-4 was made in Germany and installed in Saab Cars. I think 2 sizes 1900cc and 2100cc. Ran alright nothing available to hop up except rally eqp. Just a pushrod engine. check with (Jack Ashcraft in Medford, Oregon) if you are serious. I sold my 68 and it went back to the (old country) Pete

 

Used in British Fords too, with 1700 and 2000cc versions. Can´t recall hearing anything good about these motors.

 

The Brit V4 was a smaller version of the Essex V6...... not very reliable mechanically but was good for torque not rpm, always had cooling & head gasket issues.
However the German Cologne V4 also a smaller version of a V6 was was more refined, revved much easier & would last good into high mileage.

I worked on both when they were poular here.

Kev.

 

The german V4 had in the biggest version i think 1700ccm?!!
About 75hp or so.
They had probs with the cam gears and the valveseats.
Other than that I don´t know much about those.

 

No power. Vibration. Unreliable.

The only thing going for it is it is compact.

If you want a 4cylinder ford get a Pinto or a Cosworth motor.

I hated working on the V4's when I was a mechanic.

P.

 

Something like this?


I saw this at G.G. Pleasanton earlier this year. The guy said it was an industrial motor. He also said it fit a Chevy pattern bell housing. I thought it was pretty cool.

 

Early Saab, and some brands of bobcat/skidsteer used the industrial version of that motor.

 

If ya haven't got a boat you probably don't need the anchor!!

It's a lemon.
They are not even half a V8...they are two thirds of a gutless Ford Grenada/Essex V6. ....If it is a German Taunus/Cologne version it might be a little better but will be 1700cc ( 103 cubic inches) at most .
They had reliability issues , even near new, came to NZ in Ford Transit Vans, most got replaced with V6s which wasn't much better . Parts are hard to find now, and I somehow doubt there are any real aftermarket performance parts .....
Heaps of peoblem areas but it was the Oil pump drive, timing gears, balance , blocks, and cylinder heads mainly gave problems , apart from the overheating and gutless performance and dodgey machining from the factory.
A good rundown can be found here
http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/motorhome/essexengine.htm

 

Yep...

I had a Ford Transit Van with one.

Shook the exhaust pipes off the engine.

( fortunately the I-beam was under the engine, so the pipes weren't draging while I drove it home )

Drove a German V6 for a little while too, didn't like it either.

I wouldn't want either one again, unless it was free.
( and that's only because the guy who picks up my Junk Steel is a very good friend of mine...)


Ford made lots of engines that were better...

 

Saab probably used it because they had an Engine Bay that would fit a 3cyl inline 2-stroke engine.

When they finally got rid of it, they replaced it with a Triumph Engine.
( so I guess the bar wasn't set that high... )

 

I don't have one but I do have an all aluminum v/4 Chevy

"Doc" Parsons

 

the owner of the company my dad worked had a saab w/ one in it. neat to look at, but my dad was always doing something to that engine.

 

The early Ranger v-6 was a big brother of this. Had solid lifters and would wind tight.