Engine

This is the engine page!

At present it's now running a high spec Kent engine, which is all very well apart from one thing, getting the power down! My next project when i source parts is to retro-fit a LSD. If anyone can help with either a Quaife LSD or a S1 LSD then please email me with further details! - S2 LSD crownwheel has a different bolt pattern, & changing crownwheels/pinions for non-matched items is never a good idea. WHY?
The Kent engine in question has been rebuilt 1100 miles ago so is now nicely run in. I am using 10w/40 Magnetc semi-synthetic oil in it and unleaded fuel. For anyone doing this conversion themselves have some spare hoses handy as the inlet manifold-heater matric hose is very different and the one between the water-pump and the metel pipe on the front of the block may need to be lengthened. Also note that a Mk1 XR2 cradle will be required [both parts] and a mk1 XR2 top mount, you can get away with the 1.3 version available from motor factors but it is not ideal and causes it to sit at a angle as the top mount side is too high. This results in gearbox-tie bar contact on acceleration. Also move the rad over a inch approx. holes should already be in the rad/and/or front pannel to allow re-location.

Previously...

The Engine was a standard 957cc but at 90,000 miles it went bang! A 1.1 unit was soon sourced and fitted by a local garage, it had also covered just 70,000 miles. Nearly five years later and it's still going, just now it's at 150,000 miles!

As the car was originally a 950cc it was supplied with a Weber 32 ICH carb, both standard 1.1 carbs are the Ford 1V and the Ford VV, both carbs are generally considered poor quality compared to a Weber carb. After several running problems and shockingly high petrol consumption figures a fault with the carb was suspected.

I intended to fit a late Mk2 Fiesta 957cc carb & mannifold; Weber TLM. As this was the only other Weber carb used that would fit. After a good five weeks searching nothing could be found, until by chance i noticed a carb of the same fitment of the 32 ICH attached to the side of a SOHC Transit Minibus!! After a bit of research @ http://www.webcon.com the carb in question is a 34 ICH. So off I went in search for the 34 ICH as the one on the transit had been taken already.

Again, after a few weeks searching I came across a new looking 32 IBF Weber on a 1.3 Mk3 Escort, CVH. I used the VV Ford mannifold from a Mk2 Fiesta bolted it all on, using new gaskets and it ran like a dream, cured all previous problems! Until the car was used on the motor-way, when going over 50MPH was impossible to say the least!

A few weeks later I came across a 34 ICH Weber Carb under the bonnet of a 1984 Capri, again, SOHC engined. To make this work I used the 32 ICH throttle cable ball joint, jets & emulsion tubes. This is how it stayed but early 2003 the car started going funny again, so luckily I found a 34 ICH, which was soaked in thinners for a week before being rebuilt with new seals & diaphragms. I am now using my rebuilt carb which is a 34 ICH bottom and 32 ICH top.
I've also replaced the head gasket, I got a 1.3 Valencia cylinder head which I rebuilt with new valve stem seals. This was indeed fitted apporx. March 2003.

On the ignition side of things I'm currently running breakerless ignition distributor. This is a very good modification as it uses no contact set also know as "points". When I did this I noticed a difference straight away, it's also maintenance free apart from the normal service items. This distributor was fitted in all 1986-1989 950cc & 1100cc engined fords and is a straight fit in all previous Valencia engines, you will also need the ignition coil from the same car. For the wiring, idealy you need the connecting loom between the dizzy and the coil on a late Mk3 Escort. This has all the correct multi-plugs on it that just plugs into the coil, the new dizzy amp, the existing loom, the only additional wire is a earth, this should have the standard ring terminal crimped on so just place it under the coil mounting bracket screw. To remove the dizzy theres a single 10mm bolt that hold it to the block. - PLEASE NOTE :- If you intend doing this mod on your car make sure you know perfectly well what your doing as removing the distributor then replacing it in a different place may cause the vehicle to fail to start. Also remember to have the timing checked by a garage after you've changed the distributor. Don't attempt this mod if you don't fully understand what to do.

I am also using a Mk2 Ghia Rad Fan shrouding with early Mk2 XR2 fan which plugs straight into the Mk1 loom, XR2i 16V Battery & a XR3i EFi Alternator. I am at the moment using a Peco 4-2-1 mannifold & standard system, this did indeed free up some torque. Another note is I am not using a air box at all. The main reason for this is as i'm using a Capri carb the choke cable mount fouls the fiesta air box whist the Capri airbox fouls the battery! This is because the Capri engine is the wrong way round, or is that the right way round?!