XFLOW engine. Choices choices.

[Helmut]

I have a 1979 1.3L MK2 Escort and want to fit some kind of crossflow for fun and frolics...a few questions:-

- What xflow engine would be suitable (would give me the most fun/least frustration)?
- Would it fit easily into my car?
- Where is the best place to purchase a goodun?
- How much would a goodun cost?
- Is there a good gearbox to go with it i could purchase?
- How much?

Cheers matees any additional info aswell would be most appreciated.

Helm http://www.turbosport.co.uk/images/smilies/ooo.gif

[Gompo]

Ok, somebody will probably give you a better answer than this, but I am wanting to do a similar thing with my Mk2, so here is what i have come up with so far:

- Mild Cam (fast road), big valve head, bored out to 1700 with twin 40's. Set up would give around 105-115 bhp hopefully.
- Yes.
- New, either specialised engines or vulcan, but more-a-less any engine builder will build one for you, and they will usually end up roughly the same price. Second hand, just look around maybe the rally parts websites, here, RSOC, www.findit.co.uk (http://www.findit.co.uk), and Ebay.
- 'New', as in recently built, without the carbs, around £1k for the above engine i described. 2nd hand without the carbs £300-£600 depending on parts used etc
- Seeing as you were saying you wanted something a bit higher geared a while back, a 1600 Sport box with 3.5:1 Diff would give you a top speed of 105-110-ish on the clock (at a guess)
- £75 to £100 for Diff and gearbox.

Cheers, Gomp.

[Helmut]

I did not realise Xflows were so expensive! Really?!?!?
Helm

[Helmut]

How much is a is a good pinto going to cost me (including everything to get it running in my Mk2)??

Helm

[Gompo]

You could get a standard X-flow for about £100, pushing out 84 bhp which would drop straight in. Your current engine in standard form produces 57 bhp, so 84 bhp is quite an improvement, but it wont really make the car feel quick - just nippy. The expense of tuned engines comes from labour and new parts. For what they are, i reckon they are pretty cheap.
2 litre Pinto will need a bit more work to fit, if you can get an engine for £150, i would have said another £150-250 depending on whether you get an injection or carb model to get it running.

Cheers.

[popuptoaster]

i would say the best answer is to work out how much power you actually want, my crossflow has a fast road cam and the ports have been polished, i got a 4 branch and 2 inch system from ashley (well cheap, but dont fit great) and a twin choke weber (40's soon!!!) spose it might be making 100bhp or so now, which is as much as a carbed pinto makes standard and it feels nice and lively if not blisteringly fast. you could go mad with a crossflow, but i think you'll end up with a more drivable car, if you want more than 130bhp, from a pinto. Probably easier to get hold of a pinto, but is more work to fit into the car. see if someone will let you have a go in an rs2000 and see if its fast enough for you?

[Gompo]

The problem that me (and I think Helmut too) have is insurance for a Pinto. I've not got any quotes for a tuned X-flow or Pinto powered MK2 yet though, so they could be about the same. I'm paying £1200 TPFT at the moment (no NCB) on a measely standard 1300. Plan is to do the transplant when it's time for the insurance renewal, so i will have a years NCB. Hoping that the insurance should stay the same or decrease with new powerplant http://www.turbosport.co.uk/images/smilies/smile.gif
I'm still not fully decided of what to do with mine anyway, but it will be happening at the start of June..

[Cossie_Nik]

Go get a 1600 Kent crossflow and do what my mate did to his Mk1 Mexico. Head on over to www.turbo-nutters.co.uk (http://www.turbo-nutters.co.uk) and look in the projects section.

I have a Mk2 RS2000 and that has a k&n filter, fast road cam with vernier pulley, some head work (not exactly sure what), and she is pushing out 102bhp at the wheels. It's a lot of fun and pulls really well in any gear at the lower end of the rev range. Totally opposite to my Cossie that goes mad in the higher rev range.

[Helmut]

Thanks everybody, its a tricky subject.

Helm

[Gompo]

Cossie_Nik, that Pinto you listed is about the same sort of thing I am considering. I'm unemployed at the moment so cant really do owt at the moment, but when i get a job I think i am gonna see about a mildy tuned Pinto rather than X-flow. I know it's really down to how it feels like to drive rather than stats, but I want something that wont get left behind my todays hatches (so 0-60 in 8-ish secs). 102@wheels in a light-ish car would do that i reckon http://www.turbosport.co.uk/images/smilies/smile.gif

Cheers, Greg.

[Escortmk1]

I am repacing my 1700cc x flow in the very near future it has coverd approx 3000 miles since being rebuilt, the spec of the engine is on my website www.escortmk1.homestead.com (http://www.escortmk1.homestead.com) i also have a 1600 sport box and 3 single piece props to suit this setup. engine revs to 7000rpm with a kent bcf3 cam in it i have done 125mph using a 3:54 diff. and a 32/36 dgav carb.
i have all reciepts for the engine build and i also have some good twin 40's with a ported xflow inlet manifold but no throttle linkage.
This engine without the twin 40's cost me in the region of £700.00.
I am in the process of building a stage 3 pinto machined by vulcan engines with twin 45's, this set up should be around 160bhp and has set me back £2000
At the end of the day you only get what you pay for mate.

Shop carefully !!!!

Andy (Lancashire uk)