Discussion
In fairness, I have a 2.8 Cologne and that head design is pretty restrictive. Yes, you could get one to 200bhp, but that's a 60bhp increase on what they usually dish out, and to do that you're going to end up spending a fortune (I imagine you have!)
When you look at the siamese porting and the port matching on the inlet side, you wonder how Ford got away with selling an engine like that! I'm attempting to coax mine into giving more than 140bhp at the moment, but I doubt it will. The best 2.8 I've ever dyno'd gave 142bhp.
I do still like the 2.8 in my S1. No, it's not a 'good' engine, but it has character and it does the job well. The car is still fun to drive, it's fairly sturdy and reliable and it makes for a decent exhaust note
When you look at the siamese porting and the port matching on the inlet side, you wonder how Ford got away with selling an engine like that! I'm attempting to coax mine into giving more than 140bhp at the moment, but I doubt it will. The best 2.8 I've ever dyno'd gave 142bhp.
I do still like the 2.8 in my S1. No, it's not a 'good' engine, but it has character and it does the job well. The car is still fun to drive, it's fairly sturdy and reliable and it makes for a decent exhaust note
S1, 2,3 or 4 - they are all super! The differences in performance is minimal and you may find that your daily driver is faster. The real pleasure is the visceral response from these cars. You think - they go.
An S series is a traditional sports car which is greater than the sum of the parts. Funny old Ford engine? Sierra brakes? Strange cobbled together rack? Lots of tubes welded up to make a chassis? Plastic body? TVR electrics? Cannot be any good? Or can it?
I spent a lifetime in the motor industry and I once said to one of my bosses "This doesn't look like a good spec. on paper" He replied "You don't drive it on paper you drive it on the bl**dy road".
Go for the best condition car you can find and in the colour and trim combination which presses your hot button.
Cheers
Tony
An S series is a traditional sports car which is greater than the sum of the parts. Funny old Ford engine? Sierra brakes? Strange cobbled together rack? Lots of tubes welded up to make a chassis? Plastic body? TVR electrics? Cannot be any good? Or can it?
I spent a lifetime in the motor industry and I once said to one of my bosses "This doesn't look like a good spec. on paper" He replied "You don't drive it on paper you drive it on the bl**dy road".
Go for the best condition car you can find and in the colour and trim combination which presses your hot button.
Cheers
Tony
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