Mk1 Mexico, engine transplant or not?
Discussion
I’m just about to start rebuilding my Mk1 Mex which I’ve owned for around 25 years. It’s a genuine AVO car and has been off the road in my garage for the best part of 20 years now with my original restoration unfinished. I’ve got a bit of a dilemma with the engine, which isn’t the original block having had a reconditioned bottom end fitted at some point (still a 711M though). I rebuilt the engine again after no.4 piston melted, so it’s had a re-bore, new pistons, cam and followers etc and is essentially ready to go back in after a check over (been on the engine stand for years). The thing is I really fancy a zetec or duratec conversion, but would I be ruining the car? The other consideration is the cost of doing a conversion as realistically I don’t have plans to keep the car much more than 12 months after I’ve finished it (I just want to have a bit of fun with it before it goes to a new home); would I just be burning money for nothing or even devaluing the car by messing with it?
I think that by changing the engine you would be in danger of devaluing (I'm no mk1 Mexico values expert though) and almost certainly (see expert comment) not adding as much value as it costs.
If you were building your dream car to keep for years then go with what your heart desires. Since you are thinking of flogging in a year then stick the (sort of) original in! Easier and quicker too.
If you put the original in, then drive about for a year and think you'd like to keep it, but would like more power, then do the conversion then!
Just my thoughts - your money / choice
If you were building your dream car to keep for years then go with what your heart desires. Since you are thinking of flogging in a year then stick the (sort of) original in! Easier and quicker too.
If you put the original in, then drive about for a year and think you'd like to keep it, but would like more power, then do the conversion then!
Just my thoughts - your money / choice
Ratty543 said:
I’m just about to start rebuilding my Mk1 Mex which I’ve owned for around 25 years. It’s a genuine AVO car and has been off the road in my garage for the best part of 20 years now with my original restoration unfinished. I’ve got a bit of a dilemma with the engine, which isn’t the original block having had a reconditioned bottom end fitted at some point (still a 711M though). I rebuilt the engine again after no.4 piston melted, so it’s had a re-bore, new pistons, cam and followers etc and is essentially ready to go back in after a check over (been on the engine stand for years). The thing is I really fancy a zetec or duratec conversion, but would I be ruining the car? The other consideration is the cost of doing a conversion as realistically I don’t have plans to keep the car much more than 12 months after I’ve finished it (I just want to have a bit of fun with it before it goes to a new home); would I just be burning money for nothing or even devaluing the car by messing with it?
You've had that long and not had it on the road, and yet after finally deciding to finish it, you don't intend keeping for more than a year after......?So, what you are saying is, you want to get the maxium value of of the car when you sell it?
If so, then putting a zetec or duratec engine in will be the sure fire way of getting the least amount of money for it.
For maxium value when selling, its needs to be a Mexico, so even with a non-numbers matching 711M block it is by far the route you want to be taking.
Sure, if you were keeping this car for another 20 years, then do with what you want, its your car.
Resto-mods are OK for a non-AVO car, as you are not ruining their value, but a real AVO car, its the other way around.
Mate with a Mk2 RS has recently removed the Vauxhall red top 16V lump to put the original Pinto back in, mainly because long term values are very much favouring originality as already mentioned.
Genuine AVO built Mexicos are properly rare - mate had a maze yellow Mk1 when we were at school still! Was apparently a very early build with the battery and spare wheel both bolted to the boot floor, plus I think an alloy bonnet. I'm sure he regrets selling it as it was almost mint.
Genuine AVO built Mexicos are properly rare - mate had a maze yellow Mk1 when we were at school still! Was apparently a very early build with the battery and spare wheel both bolted to the boot floor, plus I think an alloy bonnet. I'm sure he regrets selling it as it was almost mint.
As everyone else has said if you are planning to sell an original Mexico I'd keep it running a cross-flow, even if you make a few period mods like twin-Webers, as fitting anything else will severely limit it's value.
Most old Fords I've seen with Zetecs, Pintos and Cosworths started life as fairly basic models like 1300L, etc. so it doesn't really affect their value.
Most old Fords I've seen with Zetecs, Pintos and Cosworths started life as fairly basic models like 1300L, etc. so it doesn't really affect their value.
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