Essex V6 into Mk2

[cortinae]

What parts do i need to look out for to do this conversion engine mounts ect currently DI cheers Paul

[dumper]

Look out for x ambulance they had a v6 and a lot of them had LSD axle

[Cider Andy]

I did this conversion in reverse, on a 1982 Hanlon ambulance. Now you'll have to excuse my memory because it was 27 years ago, but I'll tell you what I can remember!

I bought a donor van and started off with a factory V6 Essex so I didn't have to find the parts individually back then, I had everything I needed.

I can't remember if the bellhousings were the same but the gearboxes definitely were and I think the gearbox mounting/crossmember was the same (as I don't remember changing it). This was a 4-speed box I'm talking about. It dropped in in the same position, had the same tailshaft and used the same propshaft.

I didn't change the fuel tank but I did have to change the pickup/sender unit as one had a return and the other didn't. Otherwise they looked identical. Fuel lines are, of course, different.

Engine wiring loom obviously had to be changed but there was a common connector somewhere near the bulkhead. It would have been plug and play although I made a hybrid loom out of mine as the ambulance had a two battery set-up and a higher output alternator (with different connectors). The only wiring difference otherwise was the diesel (a 2.4 York, not a 2.5Di York) had a stop/start solenoid that used a spare wire on the ignition switch (that becomes live at key position 0).

Radiator was the same, as far as I remember.

Exhaust system was different, front-to-back but the hangers on the body were in the same positions.

What I can't remember - and one thing you're sure to want to know - is the engine mountings. As far as I recall, the rubber isolators were the same but obviously I retained whatever mountings were on the block. What I do know though is one of my neighbours dropped an Essex out of a Capri into a Mk1 2.4 York Transit and did it with factory parts, so maybe the Capri mountings will work?

Other snippets I remember: the guy from the ambulance service told me the factory V6 was a low compression motor from South Africa, which they fitted as standard out there. He said they never had to change the nylon timing gears in the low compression engines, even after 200,000 miles. Also, it came with the same FoMoCo carburettor they put on the Cortinas at the time (the pre-1980 manual choke one that worked, not that awful VV abomination that replaced it). I was surprised it didn't have a Weber 32/36 DGV or 32/36 DGAV on it, like the Capri.

Lastly, that Essex engine/gearbox ended up going to a scrap man. Back in 1992 I literally couldn't give it away, never mind sell it, absolutely nobody was interested! Different story today, mind....

[bambi mk 1]

I did this conversion in reverse, on a 1982 Hanlon ambulance. Now you'll have to excuse my memory because it was 27 years ago, but I'll tell you what I can remember!

I bought a donor van and started off with a factory V6 Essex so I didn't have to find the parts individually back then, I had everything I needed.

I can't remember if the bellhousings were the same but the gearboxes definitely were and I think the gearbox mounting/crossmember was the same (as I don't remember changing it). This was a 4-speed box I'm talking about. It dropped in in the same position, had the same tailshaft and used the same propshaft.

I didn't change the fuel tank but I did have to change the pickup/sender unit as one had a return and the other didn't. Otherwise they looked identical. Fuel lines are, of course, different.

Engine wiring loom obviously had to be changed but there was a common connector somewhere near the bulkhead. It would have been plug and play although I made a hybrid loom out of mine as the ambulance had a two battery set-up and a higher output alternator (with different connectors). The only wiring difference otherwise was the diesel (a 2.4 York, not a 2.5Di York) had a stop/start solenoid that used a spare wire on the ignition switch (that becomes live at key position 0).

Radiator was the same, as far as I remember.

Exhaust system was different, front-to-back but the hangers on the body were in the same positions.

What I can't remember - and one thing you're sure to want to know - is the engine mountings. As far as I recall, the rubber isolators were the same but obviously I retained whatever mountings were on the block. What I do know though is one of my neighbours dropped an Essex out of a Capri into a Mk1 2.4 York Transit and did it with factory parts, so maybe the Capri mountings will work?

Other snippets I remember: the guy from the ambulance service told me the factory V6 was a low compression motor from South Africa, which they fitted as standard out there. He said they never had to change the nylon timing gears in the low compression engines, even after 200,000 miles. Also, it came with the same FoMoCo carburettor they put on the Cortinas at the time (the pre-1980 manual choke one that worked, not that awful VV abomination that replaced it). I was surprised it didn't have a Weber 32/36 DGV or 32/36 DGAV on it, like the Capri.

Lastly, that Essex engine/gearbox ended up going to a scrap man. Back in 1992 I literally couldn't give it away, never mind sell it, absolutely nobody was interested! Different story today, mind....

27 years ago Andy,you must have done it when you were 3

[Cider Andy]

27 years ago Andy,you must have done it when you were 3

Christ, I wish! I know it's early but if you think I was older then than the number of years ago it was.....