Fiesta X flow ?

[nevpugh308]

I've been told the Fiesta X flow engine (early mk1s?) can't be used in londitudal applications (e.g. my Westfield). Is this true ? Is it just a case of replacing the appropriate spigot bearing on the end of the crank ? (how hard ?) What other differences are there ?

Cheers

[deltaf]

Cant be 100% sure but maybe the sump and the pickup are different due to the fiestas transverse setup.
But a conversion should be easily possible.

[plipton]

Yes. UVA (now defunct) used to do a conversion kit to attach these engines to a VW transaxle if my memory serves me well.

I was going to put one in a Spider 550 replica kit car but ended up buying a 1956 Beetle instead.

[Paceracing]

I can't imagine the difference is that huge, as the good ole' crossflow was used in Escorts for years!
Maybe just things like the sump and engine mounts that need converting.

Jas.

[trefor]

I think the more recent x-flow in the Fiesta and FWD Escort (and Ka for that matter) is what they call the HCS engine. Same thing though if you look carefully.

Differences are probably more than Sump/pickup though ...

[Justin S]

It is NOT interchangeable.The block design is completely different and the only real changeable part is the head and ancillaries.This is beacause of space in the fiesta,so the crank is different and the timing gears are narrower.I know someone who built up an XR2 X flow engine and came to an expensive no-goer.

[Justin S]

Oh and Trefor,the KA uses the Ford Valencia engine.

[nevpugh308]

Going slightly off topic on my own post but ..... I thought I remembered reading recently (some classic car mag or other) that the Ford Ka engine WAS based on the original X flow (albeit evolved to a point where there were no interchangeable parts) ..... ??

[deltaf]

Nev couldnt you use the CVH engine? Its got the same bolt pattern if memory serves, and with the right tweaks can give out a fair amount of power.
Just a thought tho, what if you used the RSTurbo engine and had your baby turboed?
Gotta be better than the Xflow.
What ya reckon?

[trefor]

CVH - they're the ones you see in smoking Festas and Shedscorts aren't they?

Junstin S seems to know about Ford engines than me ... I've never heard of a Valencia (I've heard of a Cologne though!). The Ka still looks/sounds like it's running a X-flow/HCS engine to me. Like Nev says, it's maybe 'enhanced' beyond backward compatibility.

[Justin S]

Trefor,it made me laugh when Ford announced that the Ka was the first completely computer designed car to be produced and yet was using an antiquated cast ironed engine and head from the very early fiestas,which only went up to I think 1100cc.Nice pushrods and all.The crossflow is used in the 1300cc sport and 1600cc XR ranges only,unless someone knows more.I think the latest incarnation of the Ka is know using the smaller Zetec lump now.
As for fitting the CVH,I would stick to the X flow or go modern with the Zetec on carbs.Depends on cash.You can get a decent(make sure it's the blue cam cover) Zetec from a breakers for £300.Spend £200 on a re-ring and shell change.New manifold ,inlet and exhaust and a bit of engine management and wiring.Should be there for about £1500-£2000.Or £2k for a decent crossflow.It looks to me as if the inlet valve had snapped off on the old engine.If the blocks OK,you have possibly +90 thou hepolite pistons,get the engine stripped and get it rebored to 83.5mm and fit some accralites from Burtons.Then you will have a true 1699cc lump with new bores and then you will have only to search for a head.Crossflow sounds a better option.No wiring mods and ecu fitting and you end up with a fresh engine.