1991 Ford Sierra Laser

[Number 5]

Great to see this car is still going strong and being well looked after.

[joshc]

This is awesome, I'd say if it's being kept outside I would definitely keep a close eye on the underbody for rust! Why do you want to change the engine?

[400SE Dave]

Get some original wheel trims, those pepperpots spoil the look imo

[DougMcC]

Personally I love the look of pepperpots, I do still have the old wheeltrims but they are pretty had it to be honest.

I'm still unsure whether i want to do an engine swap on it. I'm in two minds whether to keep it original or not. The cvh engine in it is very slow and noisy!

[joshc]

DougMcC said:

Personally I love the look of pepperpots, I do still have the old wheeltrims but they are pretty had it to be honest.

I'm still unsure whether i want to do an engine swap on it. I'm in two minds whether to keep it original or not. The cvh engine in it is very slow and noisy!

If it was me, I'd keep it original. Original, rust free Ford Sierras are pretty rare and should appreciate in value. But if you start messing with the engine etc, not sure what would happen to the value. If it's that bad, maybe you should look at changing to a car with a better engine?

[hidetheelephants]

joshc said:

DougMcC said:

Personally I love the look of pepperpots, I do still have the old wheeltrims but they are pretty had it to be honest.

I'm still unsure whether i want to do an engine swap on it. I'm in two minds whether to keep it original or not. The cvh engine in it is very slow and noisy!

If it was me, I'd keep it original. Original, rust free Ford Sierras are pretty rare and should appreciate in value. But if you start messing with the engine etc, not sure what would happen to the value. If it's that bad, maybe you should look at changing to a car with a better engine?

The twincam(these may have been fitted to late-model sierras, can't remember) out of the Scorpio should be relatively straight forward to fit if you can find one in a scrappy; it's basically a pinto with a fancy cylinderhead. Alternatively a zetec should bolt onto your existing drivetrain provided you have the right sump.

[mwstewart]

Good to see this still going and you looking after it. Another poster already mentioned Waxoyl and I will suggest it too; when the weather gets better it would be worth injecting wax into the box sections.

[hman]

cosworth engine swap Shirley?

A chum of mine installed full 4x4 cosworth running gear into a standard shell, then realised the standard shell couldn't accommodate the front drive shafts and hacked them off to make a rwd car with 4wd running gear. What an idiot.

Went like stink though!

[hedgefinder]

just spotted one of these on a dealers forecourt whilst sitting in traffic today
up for £2k.... a bit much i thought..

[Gtom]

A 2.0 zetec would make it a lovely car. Some 15" steel wheels so some bigger brakes can be fitted and maybe update the suspension using some new standard cosworth items. Sort of like a oem+ spec.

[RacingBlue]

Keep it standard I say - there can't be many unbodged Sierras left these days.

[Shadow R1]

Keep it standard.

[Hitch78]

Keeping it standard looking but upgrading the performance of the engine, brakes and suspension seems a good compromise. As a 5 door it's never going to look sporty so a sleeper would be pretty cool.

[Hooli]

hidetheelephants said:

joshc said:

DougMcC said:

Personally I love the look of pepperpots, I do still have the old wheeltrims but they are pretty had it to be honest.

I'm still unsure whether i want to do an engine swap on it. I'm in two minds whether to keep it original or not. The cvh engine in it is very slow and noisy!

If it was me, I'd keep it original. Original, rust free Ford Sierras are pretty rare and should appreciate in value. But if you start messing with the engine etc, not sure what would happen to the value. If it's that bad, maybe you should look at changing to a car with a better engine?

The twincam(these may have been fitted to late-model sierras, can't remember) out of the Scorpio should be relatively straight forward to fit if you can find one in a scrappy; it's basically a pinto with a fancy cylinderhead. Alternatively a zetec should bolt onto your existing drivetrain provided you have the right sump.

The 'I4' as the manual called it when I had a 'J' plate 2.0 GLS. It's a nice engine with enough grunt to make a Sierra move alright.

I'd be tempted to keep it looking standard with a CVH but maybe breathe on it a bit if it's that slow?

[RumbleOfThunder]

N/A YB?

[Viperz888]

Looking good, I like the sill painting, looks really fresh under there. Wheels look great too.
Dead easy to change it to a 1.6 CVH turbo, OP! Same engine as Escort/Fiesta RS Turbos. Or there's Zetecs, Cosworth I4 & V6, Pinto, etc. Sky (and wallet) is the limit really, as you can fit some pretty big engines in there (I've seen the 5.0 V10 Viper engine in a Sierra.)
Although I wouldn't bother spending anything tuning the 1.8 CVH, as you really won't see much of a gain. Also, your car has the smaller front brakes, drum rears, and an open diff, so probably isn't the best base for all out performance, though all of that can be changed with dedication. You should pop over to the Ford Sierra Owners Club if you have any questions etc. We're a good group (but not nearly as big as PH!)

[littlebasher]

Viperz888 said:

Looking good, I like the sill painting, looks really fresh under there. Wheels look great too.
Dead easy to change it to a 1.6 CVH turbo, OP! Same engine as Escort/Fiesta RS Turbos. Or there's Zetecs, Cosworth I4 & V6, Pinto, etc. Sky (and wallet) is the limit really, as you can fit some pretty big engines in there (I've seen the 5.0 V10 Viper engine in a Sierra.)
Although I wouldn't bother spending anything tuning the 1.8 CVH, as you really won't see much of a gain. Also, your car has the smaller front brakes, drum rears, and an open diff, so probably isn't the best base for all out performance, though all of that can be changed with dedication. You should pop over to the Ford Sierra Owners Club if you have any questions etc. We're a good group (but not nearly as big as PH!)

He can do all that, once he's lost those ghastly Pepperpots !

[Hooli]

Viperz888 said:

Dead easy to change it to a 1.6 CVH turbo, OP! Same engine as Escort/Fiesta RS Turbos.

Aren't a lot of them built with the 1.8 block to enlarge the capacity? I remember something like that from when I used to get Fast Ford magazine.

[Viperz888]

Hooli said:

Aren't a lot of them built with the 1.8 block to enlarge the capacity? I remember something like that from when I used to get Fast Ford magazine.

No, they use bored out 1.6 blocks or 1.8/2.0 Zetec bottom ends with a CVH head (makes a ZVH).
1.8 CVH is completely different to the others, its based on the american 1.9 CVH used in US Escorts (which were terrible.)

[DougMcC]

littlebasher said:

He can do all that, once he's lost those ghastly Pepperpots !

There not that bad surely! I really like the look of them.

I think I will just keep it standard, you don't see many Sierras around at all and the ones you do see are modified in some way.

I would still like the idea of doing an engine swap, but as someone said it would be cheaper to just buy another car with the right engine!

I know tuning a 1.8 CVH is a pointless task, but does anyone know if a different carburettor would make any improvement?