Engine Transplant (Power Gain)

[Scooby]

Hi, i am a newbie and read through most previous topics relating to engine conversions and gathered some info to help, however i am looking at something different maybe.

I have a 1997 Transit 100, LWB 2.5d and its underpowered especially when towing my car trailer loaded.

I am looking at planting a pertol engine to increase the power but what is the best engine for performance and fuel economy ?

Pinto 2.0
Cosworth 2.9 V6
Essex 3.5 V6
Redtop 2.0 16v Vauxhall engine

I dont think the pinto would give me much power gain, the cosworth or essex should give me good power gains and the Redtop delivers 150 BHP standard.... This engine is planted into allot of MK2 escorts so the RWD conversion parts are available.

I am looking for help here and whats involved in the conversion ?

Thanks in advance

[madmark]

matre what you gota think of is tourqe not bhp if you are pulling all the weight! vauxall engine would be no good ,a good tourqey engine is the essex v6 for towing!

[Scooby]

Essex V6 ? is that the 3.5 or the 3.0 ?

I am looking at a 2.8 V6 from a MK3 Cortina but unsure what performance figures this produces ? I can get this 2.8 carb engine fairly cheap and i think it goes in without to much trouble ? maybe someone could let me know if it mates to my gearbox ?

Cheers guy's

[MrMPuk]

It needs an adaptor plate to go onto your gearbox, take a look here.

[MarkM]

Essex V6 ? is that the 3.5 or the 3.0 ?

I am looking at a 2.8 V6 from a MK3 Cortina but unsure what performance figures this produces ? I can get this 2.8 carb engine fairly cheap and i think it goes in without to much trouble ? maybe someone could let me know if it mates to my gearbox ?

Cheers guy's

The Essex engine is a 3.0 though some did get bored out to 3.1 (Savage)
The Cortina V6 is a 2.3 not 2.8 though you could drop one in as the Granada 2.8 is the same engine bored out, both ran carburetters, Be warned though that the fueling system on the Granada is often different between models so you will need everything to make the swap especially fuel return lines. The later Granada engine (injection) was basically the same as the Capri 2.8i
Both Cortina and Granada did have manual boxes but the Granada version was rarer than the Cortina version but even that wasn't exactly common. My 2.3 Cortina decided to die (gearbox) and a Sierra one was put in...they do fit (leave the stock bellhousing on) but the box was a crapper so I just put up with it and eventually gave the car away for the cost of a fancy alarm fitted to my Granada.

[Scooby]

I have just bought a 1991 Transit Ambulance with a 2993cc EFi engine with Manual Gearbox as a donor vehicle.....

It looks like i am doing this swap in the next 7 - 10 days so i will keep everyone posted on the progress.

Anyone know the performance figures of these engines ?

[MrMPuk]

With the 2.9 it all depends on the settings on the ECU.

[Luke]

I have just bought a 1991 Transit Ambulance with a 2993cc EFi engine with Manual Gearbox as a donor vehicle.....

It looks like i am doing this swap in the next 7 - 10 days so i will keep everyone posted on the progress.

Anyone know the performance figures of these engines ?

Nice one i'll be interested in reading that - ive got a 2.9i amby waiting for an engine swap into my mk1!!

they should be about 150bhp and 170 Nm torque

make a post here in progress reports and update it as you get on!!!

[mike69woodford]

if it was me i would play with the pump on the 2.5di engine. they are a very tuned down engine. if that does flot your boat turbo it. you will not need any changes to the engine to run 7-9 psi of boost. and remeber every 14psi of boost doubles your engine bhp.

[Scooby]

It should be similar to your Amby by the looks of it, well i havnt seen it yet but its a simillar year.

My Tranny isnt a turbo so i carnt up the boost, i have fiddled with the pump and carried out the pump tweek stated on these forums somewhere and it flies up to 80 MPH but its not powerfull enough when im towing.

This is mine at the moment



I am ordering some Vantec 2 16" Alloys once the engine transplant is done



This is what it should look like :



Mentioning towing, whats the towing weight of my 1997 100 series lwb tranny ? Anyone know ?

[Luke]

Mentioning towing, whats the towing weight of my 1997 100 series lwb tranny ? Anyone know ?

think its 3500kg thats van, load, trailer and whatevers on it!! you sure its a 100 not a 120

[Scooby]

Yeah, its deffo a 100 mate.

I have been towing 2500 kgs with a brian james trailer, oops i think thats a tad over what your stating

[madvanman]

check your vin plate in the passenger step the gross train weight (van, load, trailer and whatevers on it!!) should be stamped below the gross vehicle weight.

[MrMPuk]

Are you not selling it then Scooby?

[Scooby]

Not now ive got a donor vehicle for the transplant matey, i was only selling as it was not powerfull enough for towing.

will check theweights, thank you