UK 280i vs US 280i Engine spec
Discussion
Good afternoon Gents,
Picked up my 280i coupe as most of you have seen. The previous owner claimed the car was a, grey market car (what the US called cars that were brought in illegally) and had a different cam. It does run good but since I haven't had a 280i in 10 years it might just seem good.
Do you guys know if there really was any differences between the two back in 1984? Probably in the emissions system but what about the engine?
Picked up my 280i coupe as most of you have seen. The previous owner claimed the car was a, grey market car (what the US called cars that were brought in illegally) and had a different cam. It does run good but since I haven't had a 280i in 10 years it might just seem good.
Do you guys know if there really was any differences between the two back in 1984? Probably in the emissions system but what about the engine?
From what I've read, so could be wrong....
Apparently the European 2.8 cologne engine was never approved in the US. TVR added emissions equipment - a cat converter, and extra safety gear (intertia switch and electronic timer?) to the injection system for US export.
The US spec 2.8 engine was quite different - it shares the same block, but heads and cam, inlet mfold are different, and US version only ever had a carb fitted (at the time of the wedges). A Euro carb mfold will not fit the US spec engine, and vice versa.
So I don't know whether they had a different cam, but no mention of it in the TVR books...
Original injection system had no timer at all, just a switch on the metering flap to run the pump - this got changed later in Europe for safety reasons.
Ford made a 'purple/pink' relay which was a timer + relay and was used in several Euro vehicles. It was triggered by ignition pulses
From what I read here, the US version had some kind of 'white box' which appears to be timer + inertia (=crash) switch ??
Hope this helps.
Apparently the European 2.8 cologne engine was never approved in the US. TVR added emissions equipment - a cat converter, and extra safety gear (intertia switch and electronic timer?) to the injection system for US export.
The US spec 2.8 engine was quite different - it shares the same block, but heads and cam, inlet mfold are different, and US version only ever had a carb fitted (at the time of the wedges). A Euro carb mfold will not fit the US spec engine, and vice versa.
So I don't know whether they had a different cam, but no mention of it in the TVR books...
Original injection system had no timer at all, just a switch on the metering flap to run the pump - this got changed later in Europe for safety reasons.
Ford made a 'purple/pink' relay which was a timer + relay and was used in several Euro vehicles. It was triggered by ignition pulses
From what I read here, the US version had some kind of 'white box' which appears to be timer + inertia (=crash) switch ??
Hope this helps.
From what I understand.....it’s all emission stuff. The engine is the same. The Federal version has more Bosch electronics on it, such as an 02 sensor and a frequency valve. The injection system is still basically mechanical but employs the electronic aids to help reduce emissions at idle.
Oh, and the exhaust manifolds on the Federal spec were swaped over, right side on the left and left side on the right, so the manifolds point forward and not back. Probably to facilitate connection to the cat under the sump. Common modification is to switch the manifolds back to the ‘ correct ‘ sides and delete the cat under the engine. Then install a true twin pipe exhaust system. The 02 sensor is pre cat so can be plumbed in anywhere. Running the engine in de cat form will not effect the emissions system, it doesn’t know there is no cat. If your state requires a cat add two high flow ones under the seats. My car has a weird set up, cat delete pipe under sump, factory silencers under the seats and two magna-flow high flow cats instead of rear mufflers. It’s not efficient and needs sorting. Sounds pretty good however.
Edited by GBinUSA on Wednesday 16th May 14:51
When I moved my 280 to Texas I had to add back the cats. It was recommended that I add two near the rear as it was easy to plumb them in. I later learned that they were too far aft and needed to be much closer to the engine and hot exhaust to do their thing. Fortunately, I aged out of emission testing.
Info in case it helps any ....
There was a later 'electronic' version of the injection system, which had an O2 sensor and a small control box to provide mixture trimming for cleaner emissions.
This was fitted to later VW and Audi cars for example. There is a different 'lump' on the side of the main banjo, which is an extra control valve, with several wires connected to it.
I don't know whether this was used on US Wedges, but I guess it's possible.
Cats work best when close to engine, not at the far end of the exhaust !!
Yes, some later wedges had manifolds swapped over as well as I've read , but early wedges had one Ford manifold and a TVR special on the other side.
There was at least one wedge made a 2.8 Efi setup (EEC-IV) in it.
There was a later 'electronic' version of the injection system, which had an O2 sensor and a small control box to provide mixture trimming for cleaner emissions.
This was fitted to later VW and Audi cars for example. There is a different 'lump' on the side of the main banjo, which is an extra control valve, with several wires connected to it.
I don't know whether this was used on US Wedges, but I guess it's possible.
Cats work best when close to engine, not at the far end of the exhaust !!
Yes, some later wedges had manifolds swapped over as well as I've read , but early wedges had one Ford manifold and a TVR special on the other side.
There was at least one wedge made a 2.8 Efi setup (EEC-IV) in it.
From my understanding Charlie the Euro cars were an open system meaning that they lacked the frequency valve and o2 sensors which would adjust fuel back to the tank based on if the o2 sensor was saying it was running too rich. That part of the system worked primarily on deacceleration I think. I do not believe they had a computer regulating it either. The injection system I am running is out of a English Capri Injection and from what I could tell from the parts I got with it and the remaining parts I had on my car when I got it that was the biggest notable difference. You can really tell the difference when I go off the gas and stop. It pops and farts as it the system is still sending fuel rather than sending it back to the tank.
Confirm that all Euro Capri and Granada (= Wedge) were indeed 'open loop' with no feedback at all. It is entirely mechanical with no extra 'sensors'
Interesting though, all the 2.8i engines I had (Granada and TVR) did NOT pop or misfire in any way, and were perfectly behaved (once it's adjusted correctly) on leaded gas.
With unleaded gas , Ford recommend you disconnect the vacuum advance and retard timing a little.
My wedge would indeed 'kick back' and cough with vac advance connected with NZ unleaded gas, even with 'super' (euro spec 95+ octane), but a little 'flat'
on throttle pickup with vac adv disconnected. I ended up with static timing at 10 BTDC instead of 12, (ford recommend 9) which was OK overall.
If you are interested in a modern DIY setup for it, with far bvetter mixture control, do a web search for 'FrankenCIS"..... It's interesting at least.
Interesting though, all the 2.8i engines I had (Granada and TVR) did NOT pop or misfire in any way, and were perfectly behaved (once it's adjusted correctly) on leaded gas.
With unleaded gas , Ford recommend you disconnect the vacuum advance and retard timing a little.
My wedge would indeed 'kick back' and cough with vac advance connected with NZ unleaded gas, even with 'super' (euro spec 95+ octane), but a little 'flat'
on throttle pickup with vac adv disconnected. I ended up with static timing at 10 BTDC instead of 12, (ford recommend 9) which was OK overall.
If you are interested in a modern DIY setup for it, with far bvetter mixture control, do a web search for 'FrankenCIS"..... It's interesting at least.
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff