Ford Kent Crossflow Endura E RWD straight forward?

[Huntsman]

Is it possible to take the later Endura E variant of the crossflow Kent engine used in the KA to 2002, with the injection gear and the loom and ECU, fit a type 9 box and bung the whole lot in a RWD car?

Background, I have a Gilbern with an MGB engine, I want to ditch carbs and switch to EFI, but the MGB head siamesed inlet ports make this tricky, developmental and costly.

I don't have much height or width, so twin OHC engines such as MX5 or Zetec are oot.

I also don't want a solution that needs Jenvey throttle bodies and an Omex ECU, as lovely as it could be, I do not want to sink several thousand pounds into that type of kit.

I also don;t want to get into anything too developmental, welding up manifolds and machining bike carbs etc, I'm looking for a mix of OEM parts I can mash together from the breakers yard.

Don't want much do I !!

[Krikkit]

If you want more poke then surely the rover V8 is the best way? It's been done so many times that there's no shortage of parts and help.

That said, according to this thread the type 9 will fit the Endura: http://forums.haynes.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-501...

[HustleRussell]

Crucial to this question is specific question is how much commonality does the 1,300cc Endura engine have with the Kent 1,300cc x-flow of the 60s. The 750mc Locost championship uses the latter with Ford 4-speed or 5-speed type 9 gearbox.

The bits probably exist to mate the engine to the gearbox pretty easily.

The benefit of using such an antiquated engine (and the small displacement variant at that) is questionable though?

[spyder dryver]

Despite having a compact block the Endura plenum arrangement makes it taller than you might think. It's only 60hp too.



Why not take a look at the injected Pinto engine. It too has a high plenum but it is easily cut down. Almost twice the power of the Endura.



Or the injected CVH?

[Tony1963]

The stock 1.8 engine from the MGB is about 96bhp. I’m not sure I’d want all the hassle and expense of changing engines for less or similar power. I’d definitely just stick with the old lump and use either stock carbs etc, or if more power is needed, upgraded cam, carb/s and electronic ignition.

I bet a who recon MGB engine could be fitted for less than the options above.

[Huntsman]

Krikkit said:

If you want more poke then surely the rover V8 is the best way? It's been done so many times that there's no shortage of parts and help.

That said, according to this thread the type 9 will fit the Endura: http://forums.haynes.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-501...

I want a 4 pot, small, light, frugal. I have a 7ltr V8 in my other car. I dislike the Rover V8, plus, my car not an MGB and I think fitment would be tricky.

HustleRussell said:

Crucial to this question is specific question is how much commonality does the 1,300cc Endura engine have with the Kent 1,300cc x-flow of the 60s. The 750mc Locost championship uses the latter with Ford 4-speed or 5-speed type 9 gearbox.

The bits probably exist to mate the engine to the gearbox pretty easily.

The benefit of using such an antiquated engine (and the small displacement variant at that) is questionable though?

I found that the endura does not have a 1st motion shaft drilling in the crank, not unsurmountable, but another job.

Good question. It just part of my search.

spyder dryver said:

Why not take a look at the injected Pinto engine. It too has a high plenum but it is easily cut down. Almost twice the power of the Endura.


Or the injected CVH?

Both a bit big and heavy?

Tony1963 said:

The stock 1.8 engine from the MGB is about 96bhp. I’m not sure I’d want all the hassle and expense of changing engines for less or similar power. I’d definitely just stick with the old lump and use either stock carbs etc, or if more power is needed, upgraded cam, carb/s and electronic ignition.

I bet a who recon MGB engine could be fitted for less than the options above.

My engine is virtually brand new, if it needed a rebuild I'd do it myself, done one before, simple as a wheelbarrow.

I'm not after more power.

i'm after mixture of low cost OEM parts that will get me a EFI engine in the car, I guess the sweet pot is 1.6 to 2.0ltr. 100hp would be loads.

No OHC, too tall.

No DOHC, too wide.

No V8s.

No megasquirt, no Jenvey, no aftermarket bellhousings.

I want to walk out of a scrapyard, with an engine, intake, loom, ECU, gearbox and clutch that can be bolted together and run. To fit I reckon it needs to be pretty compact. Ali head and block would be cool.

[GreenV8S]

Huntsman said:

I want to ditch carbs and switch to EFI

Any particular problems you're trying to address? Wanting an uncommon engine transplant is at odds with wanting to use off the shelf engine management - putting a better carb on would probably be an easier job if the current setup is misbehaving.

[stevieturbo]

So you want a rwd, fuel injected but basic SOHC type of thing ?

What about an old Volvo engine ?

Or Older BMW's, bound to be a good few options there, although their gearbox ratios may not always be ideal

Old Merc ?

[Huntsman]

GreenV8S said:

Any particular problems you're trying to address? Wanting an uncommon engine transplant is at odds with wanting to use off the shelf engine management - putting a better carb on would probably be an easier job if the current setup is misbehaving.

No, I have a rebuilt engine and refurbed carbs, runs like a dream. But I want all the benefits of EFI, not least of all because the significant increased MPG would increase the range and so visits to the petrol station would not be so often!

Carbs are st.

EFI is vastly better

I changed a '78 3.0SC with the old bosch K jet, which is no better than a carb, to a 3.6 from a 993 complete with loom and ECU, MPG went from 22 to 36.

stevieturbo said:

So you want a rwd, fuel injected but basic SOHC type of thing ?

What about an old Volvo engine ?

Or Older BMW's, bound to be a good few options there, although their gearbox ratios may not always be ideal

Old Merc ?

I did wonder about a BMW M10. I'll have a look, thanks.

The obvious answer has been answered by MGB owners in the USA, with what they call the Miata, but of course we love as the MX5, I just have a nagging doubt there is a clash between inlet and my master cylinders.

[jeremyc]

Rover K series? Readily available, small and light, and used in longitudinal applications like Caterhams.

Also a popular transplant in MG Midgets and the like, so a path well trodden.

[DeadCatWalking]

I would have thought the injection 1600 CVH with 110 bhp (Fiesta XR2i) would solve the problems of space, not wanting DOHC or too much height. Straightforward fit on a type 9 box. Comes with a nifty adjustable fuel pressure regulator and I got over 50 mpg from mine by turning that down a tad.

[stevieturbo]

DeadCatWalking said:

I would have thought the injection 1600 CVH with 110 bhp (Fiesta XR2i) would solve the problems of space, not wanting DOHC or too much height. Straightforward fit on a type 9 box. Comes with a nifty adjustable fuel pressure regulator and I got over 50 mpg from mine by turning that down a tad.

I was going to suggest a CVH....but I genuinely cant remember the last time I actually seen one !

Not hugely popular, and really not commonplace at all these days.

[Huntsman]

stevieturbo said:

I was going to suggest a CVH....but I genuinely cant remember the last time I actually seen one !

Not hugely popular, and really not commonplace at all these days.

Indeed, that's a valid point, but newer engines are likely to be trickier to install.

The more I look at it, the more an MX5 engine looks like a good bet.

[HustleRussell]

Huntsman said:

Indeed, that's a valid point, but newer engines are likely to be trickier to install.

The more I look at it, the more an MX5 engine looks like a good bet.

The K-series is lighter, less tall, widely used and offers greater tuning potential, plus it has some character and it's British, inkeeping with the character of the car.

[Huntsman]

HustleRussell said:

The K-series is lighter, less tall, widely used and offers greater tuning potential, plus it has some character and it's British, inkeeping with the character of the car.

But it means buying a rwd bellhousing and I think the intake not suited as with so many FWD installs the intake is a funny shape so does nit fit welland ECU in in the car does not respond well to a transplant.

Sure its a good engine, but, the brief is to mash together a load of OEM parts (rather that £££ on shiney shiney stuff) and I think the K series doesn't do that.

[PositronicRay]

If you've space I'd be tempted to buy a ratty, rusty mot failure of an MX5, transfer the bits I wanted, sell the bits I didn't then weigh in the shell.

[DeadCatWalking]

Let's face it. This is fantasy tuning. None of this is ever going to get done.

[spitfire4v8]

If the only reason is to get away from the carbs, and the MGB siamesed ports is your stumbling block, then both emerald and Specialised Components do ECUs for siamese ports (probably many more ecu firms do too )

SC even do a kit specifically for the MGB with people like you in mind.


https://www.specialist-components.co.uk/index.php/...

Gt to be quicker, easier and cheaper than and engine / gearbox / electricals transplant.


fill yer boots

[Huntsman]

PositronicRay said:

If you've space I'd be tempted to buy a ratty, rusty mot failure of an MX5, transfer the bits I wanted, sell the bits I didn't then weigh in the shell.

Funnily there is one here on the Island and i do have space in the carport.

DeadCatWalking said:

Let's face it. This is fantasy tuning. None of this is ever going to get done.

When it is complete, I'll be able to say it is my 3rd completed re-power.

1st - MGA 1500 4 speed to 1800 5speed. for this I forked out just over £1000 for a kit from Hi-gear engineering.

2nd - Porsche 911 SC 3.0 with Bosch K jet to a 3.6 993 non vario engine complete with the Bosch L Jet. Iput the 993 tray and ECU under the passenger seat, just like a 993 has. This used 95% Porsche OEM parts and a couple of things from Patrick Motorsports.


This time around, I want lowest possible cost and as close to all OEM parts as possible.

spitfire4v8 said:

If the only reason is to get away from the carbs, and the MGB siamesed ports is your stumbling block, then both emerald and Specialised Components do ECUs for siamese ports (probably many more ecu firms do too )

SC even do a kit specifically for the MGB with people like you in mind.


https://www.specialist-components.co.uk/index.php/...

Gt to be quicker, easier and cheaper than and engine / gearbox / electricals transplant.


fill yer boots

Very interesting thanks. I didn't know about the siamesed port code from Emerald of SC (who i hadn't heard of). I wonder how they managed injector sizing and robbing.

£1850 plus vat is a lot of dosh though.

[stevieturbo]

DeadCatWalking said:

Let's face it. This is fantasy tuning. None of this is ever going to get done.

Never say never....sometimes people come up with all sorts of surprises.

Although a meagre 1.8 etc isnt really fantasy land, and the MX5 route probably makes the most sense aside from perhaps some old Merc/BMW types perhaps, but as they would be less common to start with, support would be less.