G'day

i have a fairly stock Mk2 2L escort. just wanted to know on any recommendations on the best way to get more power out of it and possibly fit a turbo. If anyone knows a good place in SA to get this done let me know.

cheers

the're a resonably strong engine. with a rev limmit of around 6500rpm befor the rods start to become an issue.

N/Ayou are limmited to around 160hp because to get any more power you WILL need more revs and the rods just will not do it..

with a turbo on stock rods you should see up to 220hp using stock heads and the stock cam.


upgrading to good I-beams capable of 8000rpm is the best bet and with a good set of pistons and ballening the bottom end will see you pass 200hp N/A

and over 400hp with a turbo. generly if you get 180 to 190hp youd have a pretty tuff little engine. as any thing more then that would be unstreetable.


350hp with a good turbo setup should be very streetable.

there are some good books out there for building these even if you are not building it your self they are worth a read so you know what to aim for and for you should get there

edit:i know of a full body untubed MK1 that got into the high nines using the pinto engine a power glide and hilux diff

Put an SR20det into it, theres so many go fast gear for these motors its amazing. You'd spend more on the ford motor and never get near the potential of a well set up SR20

dont do it. the engine is to tall for the engine bay and doesn't fit properly.

if you have the cash for an engine swap get a YB cosworth head and some good rods and put it on the escort engine. you'll have a better engine and it will fit right

Worth reading...

http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_2338/article.html

People have whacked 'em in just about anything. Theres a D1 Drift FD RX7 with one it.. bizarre.
I really wish I'd stop reading articles on SR20's.
It's making me want to flog the Fairmont and get an SR20DE S13...

yeah i've read that. and seen it done befor.
thats why when some came into work to have it done i thought why not.

BIG mistake. the engine is just too tall to fit right. having it sit 5mm from the cross member and 5mm from the bonnet is just not a good fit.


if you want to go for it. But even at thte cost of the cosworth it still a far better option. better still is just get the cossy head a good set of rods and you have a stronger engine with more potential the an SR20.

thanks guys

i definately prefer the idea of the cosworth head on the original block. Looked at sr20 conversion but is just too much work and money in the long run.

someone else suggested an mx5 engine as they apparently bolt on to the original mounts?? The 2L zetec was also mentioned to me but your idea of the cossy head is definately at the top of the list.

Guess its just a matter of trying to find one. Any ideas of where to look?

Tell me what you think of these:

http://search.ebay.com.au/cosworth-yb_W ... 3QQfrppZ50

and

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/COSWORTH-CON-ROD ... dZViewItem

if you were after an N/A setup most of that would be good. you dont realy need the wirring harness as you can run them on 45mm webbers.

you'd be better off look in england for it though.


the zetec is also a good option as it will bolt up to the original gear box. and you can buy or make new mount brakets that will use the escort mount rubbers

ok

down to 2 options now, cossy head or zetec. will do some research and find prices and what will be the better final result.

what would you go for, considering all aspects: price, availability, difficlty of build etc?

thanks for your advice

obviously you like the idea of keep it all ford. (good man)

the cosworth first.

Its the way to go if you want all out power. wether it be a full cosworth engine or a cosworth headed pinto with some nice rods.
engine mounts brakets from the pinto will bolt up to a cossy block. after market pinto mounts will hold huge amounts of power befor they break.

the T5 was offered as standard behind turbo cosworth engine and in a light if treaded well should serve the purpose.

you'll be looking at a rev limmit of 9000rpm with either option and should see up to 500hp with a tuff street engine.. race engine are up aroung 700hp.

you'll need a good diff aswell. hilux diff are very close to a perfect fit
the cost a full cossy would be up around $8000 you should be able to find a good head for less then $3000

N/A cossy is also a very good thing. with around 280hp on a unported head with some kent cams. 45mm webers or injection TBs exhaust manifolds are an off the shelf item for the escort conversion these days.

with a nicly ported head some 10.5:1 pistons and again the kent cams you can get up to around 350-380hp.


you may need to have an auto escort trans tunnel fitted to clear a T5 though.




next the zetec

N/A they are nothing more then a cheap reliable engine with barely more then 130hp

it will bolt to your original gear box and you can mix and match clutch parts to make it work.
with stock power it will not break the box.

cheap on fuel, smooth runner.

you can also get of the shelf extractors for this conversion aswell as the thermostat relocation pipe. (it will hit the fire wall if you dont move it)


there are some realy good N/A mods for them if you dont mind getting all your parts from the UK 250hp is about your limmit there


the only down side is the strength of the crank. most don't push past the 230 RWKW mark.
other then that aply the mods as any other turbo 4cyl and you can go wrong

as it shares the same gearbox bolt patern as the pinto all the same gear box options apply here to. T5, celica, type 9 five speed seirra. or strenthend escort 4 speed. you can also get a 5speed kit for the 4speed escort box. and a 6speed kit for the type 9.
both can be changed sequential (spelling?) shift. or short throw H patern


if you want any more info or help just ask. you wouldn't believe some of the stuff i have floating around in my head.

There is a place in Melbourne that are putting the Zetec in escorts and corty's. I think they are called Twin cam services. Last time I heard they are casting up new rocker covers that look the same as the old lotus twin cam ones. I was originally going to put a SR20 in my Mk1 GT corty, but I was having alot to moral issues putting a datsun engine in my GT. The focus engine is a really good option, they also came out turboed over sea's, so I'm sure you will be able to get some really good reliable power from them.
The only thing I can think of, is the exhaust is on the wrong side for the escorts, right side for the cortys.
Keep us posted, It’ll be good to see the conversion done..
Cheers
Tim

the ZETEC exhaust is on the same side as the 1600 escorts engine so no troubles there.

zetec would be my choice for cost and drivability. and as has been proven in the UK you can get some amasing numbers out of them.

that being said a turbo'd pinto is a weapon too.

I've got a friend with a turbo'd pinto, he has spent a fair amount of money on it, and I can tell you its not as impressive as I thought it would be. Its not bad, but I think the zetec has a lot more potential far eaiser.