Hope some of the more experienced readers will tune in...
I have a Mk1 which currently has a Pinto with turbo in it, probably around 160-180 hp. However, that needs to come out and I want a proper engine set up in it.
Having seen some videos of HPE engined Escorts I really started to like the sound of those engines and the eagerness with which these engines seem to rev. So I got warmed to the idea of getting a Harris build Pinto with around 200 bhp.
However, there are a couple of characteristics that I find very important and without experiencing the engine myself it is very difficult to judge if that engine will give me what I want.
Ideally I would like to get the following characteristics:
- engine that revs very freely and spins up quickly to at least 8,000 rpm
- engine that pulls stronger as the revs rise and pulls hard till the rev limiter
- engine with a nice torque curve for overtaking and the real shuff in the back (so low er down the rev range)
- engine weight as low as possible (I hate a heavy nose and understeer)
- a gearbox that feels slick and precise
So up to now I have shifted from HPE Pinto (210-220 bhp) to possibly n/a YB 240-260 bhp). YB will be lighter (?) and give more torque and power, spin up quicker, still not much torque, expensive. On top of that don't like the feel of the T5 gearbox, but 240-260 bhp will probably be okay for the T9 or Mazda 6-speed gearbox.
Therefore the latest idea is going for a 2.3 or 2.5 Duratec.
More modern and lighter engine than both Pinto and YB, will work with lighter (?) Mazda 6-speed, easily tuned to 240-260 bhp but more torque than YB, very reliable engine.
Am I correct in my assumptions or thinking in the wrong direction? Which would be the best engine choice for what I am looking for?
Hope some of you with experience will tune in.
Thanks in advance.
John
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