Ford 3.1L V6 Essex Engine....what do i do with it?

[Samudesu]

Hey Guys,

I'm doing up a Hensen M30, it originally came with the essex lump, but i just dont feel this will cut the mustard, its a heavy car.

Can anyone tell me what the engines are worth, and what i can feasibly replace it with? Rover/Jag/Merc V8?

Edited by Samudesu on Monday 26th June 11:18

[McVities]

V6 from an ST200/220?

[liner33]

Never really saw the logic of replacing a Essex with a RV8 , not a huge difference in performance but a lot more expensive to tune

So much choice nowadays , you have a fairly large under bonnet space , what kind of performance are you after , what will you use the car for ?

[Martin350]

liner33 said:

Never really saw the logic of replacing a Essex with a RV8 , not a huge difference in performance but a lot more expensive to tune

One advantage is that the RV8 weighs a lot less than the Essex.

[Samudesu]

Not from an RS, professionally bored out a number of years ago.

Space isn't an issue, it's fibreglass so can cut away at my hearts content to make something fit, that being said, I'd rather not if possible.

What could I expect to fetch from the engine and gearbox? Both in good working nick.

[Samudesu]

Engine in question is a V6 3.1L Ford Essex. It's a heavy beast, hence replacing. It has a 4 speed manual gearbox coupled with it.

[Samudesu]

liner33 said:

Never really saw the logic of replacing a Essex with a RV8 , not a huge difference in performance but a lot more expensive to tune

So much choice nowadays , you have a fairly large under bonnet space , what kind of performance are you after , what will you use the car for ?

As for use, a daily, a very uneconomical daily. Preferably with the capability of shredding tires in a straight line.

[PaulKemp]

It's really about your budget.
I assume you want the V6 or V8 soundtrack?
If so then there is everything from 2.8 Cologne to 4.6 Range Rover but again some clue of budget would really help the conversation

[liner33]

Martin350 said:

One advantage is that the RV8 weighs a lot less than the Essex.

Does it ? I know its often thought that it is but wikipedia suggests not

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Essex_V6_engine... (170kgs)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine ( with a dry weight of about 170 kg (375 lb )

Some of the older Lexus motors are nice , both the il6 and V8

[Samudesu]

Budget Is tight due to the car needing a complete rework. Estimated £700-£1100, the less spent, the quicker she can be done.

[Martin350]

liner33 said:

Martin350 said:

One advantage is that the RV8 weighs a lot less than the Essex.

Does it ? I know its often thought that it is but wikipedia suggests not

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Essex_V6_engine... (170kgs)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine ( with a dry weight of about 170 kg (375 lb )

Some of the older Lexus motors are nice , both the il6 and V8

I'm extremely surprised at this!

I know the V8 has two more cylinders but it's all aluminium against the Essex being all iron!

I used to pick up RV8 bare blocks on my own, but I'm sure I couldn't manage (similar to Essex) Cologne V6s.

[paintman]

So am I - having owned an Essex engined Scimitar, a Cologne engine Mk2 Granada & currently have a RRC 3,5 EFI - and the V8 was a common fit to the Scimitar.
I've had the heads off the Essex & the RRC IIRC the Ford head needed both hands to carry & I can carry the V8 one handed.

This site gives the weight of the Essex as 379lbs & the Rover 3500 as 318lbs but doesn't state - few appear to - whether that is the bare engine or dressed with all ancillaries.
http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engineweights.html

[Sardonicus]

Martin350 said:

liner33 said:

Martin350 said:

One advantage is that the RV8 weighs a lot less than the Essex.

Does it ? I know its often thought that it is but wikipedia suggests not

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Essex_V6_engine... (170kgs)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine ( with a dry weight of about 170 kg (375 lb )

Some of the older Lexus motors are nice , both the il6 and V8

I'm extremely surprised at this!

I know the V8 has two more cylinders but it's all aluminium against the Essex being all iron!

I used to pick up RV8 bare blocks on my own, but I'm sure I couldn't manage (similar to Essex) Cologne V6s.

So am I the heads are heavier and the block much heavier that just leaves the extra piston assemblies and the crank and fly difference personally being familiar with both I am not convinced either the Essex is a monster and better matched weight wise to small block yank iron IMO

[liner33]

Im surprised myself I always thought the Essex was heavier but not by much, seemed a lot of work to swap an Essex for a Rv8 when you only get 20-30hp . The Essex is quite compact though and I guess every little helps , its in no way comparable to a small block v8 though those things are a good couple of 100 pounds heavier than the little V6

I have to say I would be tempted by a iuz-fe from one of the old V8 lexus, about the same in weight as the Essex there are lots of choices for gearboxes and lots of places do adapter plates for them

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_UZ_engine

[Sardonicus]

liner33 said:

Im surprised myself I always thought the Essex was heavier but not by much, seemed a lot of work to swap an Essex for a Rv8 when you only get 20-30hp . The Essex is quite compact though and I guess every little helps , its in no way comparable to a small block v8 though those things are a good couple of 100 pounds heavier than the little V6

I have to say I would be tempted by a iuz-fe from one of the old V8 lexus, about the same in weight as the Essex there are lots of choices for gearboxes and lots of places do adapter plates for them

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_UZ_engine

SBF 100 pound heavier than the Essex but 100 pound is a 100 pound but the tuning potential is sooooo much more

[liner33]

Sardonicus said:

SBF 100 pound heavier than the Essex but 100 pound is a 100 pound but the tuning potential is sooooo much more

SBC 200 lbs heavier

[Sardonicus]

liner33 said:

Sardonicus said:

SBF 100 pound heavier than the Essex but 100 pound is a 100 pound but the tuning potential is sooooo much more

SBC 200 lbs heavier

OK ill go with the SBF you stick with the SBC seriously though if I going to the trouble of fitting a RV8 I wouldnt SBF/SBC would be my choice and I am a fan-boy of the RV8 but that dont change the facts

[liner33]

Sardonicus said:

K ill go with the SBF you stick with the SBC seriously though if I going to the trouble of fitting a RV8 I wouldnt SBF/SBC would be my choice and I am a fan-boy of the RV8 but that dont change the facts

As would i but probably cheaper to go the Lexus route and arguably a nicer daily

[Samudesu]

Probs stick with the Essex and get new heads and a 5 speed gearbox, seems pretty reliable.

RV8 does sound a lot of work, for not much in the way of gains, 302 sounds appealing but a crate will set me back way over budget.

Any ideas on sourcing a 5 speed to couple to it?

[Sardonicus]

liner33 said:

Sardonicus said:

K ill go with the SBF you stick with the SBC seriously though if I going to the trouble of fitting a RV8 I wouldnt SBF/SBC would be my choice and I am a fan-boy of the RV8 but that dont change the facts

As would i but probably cheaper to go the Lexus route and arguably a nicer daily

Got that right the UZ family of V8's are superb motor's IMO