Advice on Vixen Cosworth 2.3 Duratec conversion

[steve joyce]

Having developed my 2.3 Duratec engined '69 Vixen S2 for the last 7 years and 40k miles I thought I could pass on any useful tips about this conversion if anybody is considering doing the same. I am reluctantly putting the car up for sale next week to pay for my MA studies so now is the time to ask me!
Overall the project has been good, engine is very tough and produces good power much easier than most engines and is reasonably inexpensive. The costs build up though of the bits and pieces you need to do the conversion, fuel injection, ECU, bellhousing, Quaife diff etc. and the exhaust manifold and alternator position has to be carefully thought out. The all aluminium engine and box is much lighter than the iron originals so the handling is much improved, so with 345bhp per ton its a very capable car.
I attach a few pics of the car.

[Gurmot]

Steve - please email me

I would like to come and have look asap.

Simon

Edited by Gurmot on Thursday 5th February 13:19

Edited by Gurmot on Thursday 2nd April 00:03

[Gurmot]

Steve - please email me

I would like to come and have look asap.

Simon

Edited by Gurmot on Thursday 5th February 13:19

Edited by Gurmot on Thursday 2nd April 00:04

[Dollyman1850]

Would like to see some engine bay pics Steve..

This is the old fellas…Zetec as a slightly cheaper option over the duratech






N.

[DamianS3]

That's a great engine choice should have put one in my S but wanted to stay v6 so put v6 Duratech in sounds great but you have the better engine.

Cheers

Damian S3

[GTRene]

more detail pictures please

[steve joyce]

As some of you asked for some detail pics of the Vixen I've attached some. I don't usually upload pics on the Pistonheads site so not sure if you can access all of them but I'll have a go - if there is a problem then I can email them out.

[Stevo302]

Exhaust alone looks a work of art.

[GTRene]

nice, and ow I almost forgot that, the duratec has the exhaust on the right and the zetec on the left side.

[Missingbadly]

That's a fantastic car! Very impressive so is it about 260hp confirmed?

[vixen1700]

Yep, that looks a lovely car.

[tvrbuell]

Is that the Bristol based Vixen that used to run a very hot xflow a few years back, gave the v8's around castle combe a run for their money?
Sorry to hear you have to part with her. What happened to the old xflow, would be interested if still about? Dewi

[steve joyce]

Love the pics of the racing Vixens, the Zetec conversion looks really promising! I suppose I tuned the old crossflow in my car as its such a good engine, but over about 130bhp it starts to lose bottom end power and is less viable as a road car. I got a couple of AX blocks, bored them out to the max and put in long stroke steel cranks. Pistons had a small chamber in them, almost flat top, with a small chamber in the heads to keep the CR ok. So with over 1.9 liters and a high duration cam it had about 150bhp and the car really went (TVR Buell - yes it was the same Vixen that used to annoy the V8's). The downside it was thirsty and then started to crack heads between the valves, there was not much 'meat' left (So, I sold them both). Shame really but time for a change so the Duratec was the nearest thing to a BDG - (completely impractical - over £10k for 200bhp with a rebuild every 5 minutes). I think the Duatec is great at getting good power without loads of valve overlap/cam duration, so the main expense is pistons/rods/cams, the new 2.3 base engine from Cosworth was £1200 which I think is great value. No head work, porting or larger valves till you go over 250bhp up to 300. I have set mine to produce torque, not outright power so it has 230 at the crank but really pulls from idling speed on.
I wondered if anyone else has done a Duratec conversion? - it seems straightforward but the engine is a real pig to get in... somehow its quite wide with bits sticking out to suit a FWD bay. Amazingly light though, I can lift it up easily (without the clutch though) whereas the crossflow is small but really heavy in comparison. If anyone wants any another pics then just ask - though engine mountings are very hidden.

[geeeman]

lovely car, is this for sale Steve?

[steve joyce]

Hi Geeeman,

Yes the Vixen is up for sale and the advert should appear tomorrow in Pistonheads and Car and Classic - if you want any more info then email me at [e-mail] as the forum is understandably not for selling cars!

[coetzeeh]

Steve, I think your price is £3k to low to start with - even at that price it is a bargain for what it is. Very nice Vixen.

[eddietiv1]

I test drove this car a few years back and was sorely tempted back then,it was bloody quick and that was in the heavy rain,it would be fantastic on track and great out on the open road if you could tame the right foot,a great engine choice.good luck with the sale mate.

[Moto]

Agreed. Seems to be an absolute bargain ...

[GTRene]

good price indeed, lovely specs etc.

[Arnage14]

Looks like a £15K+ car to me!
But then what do I know...