Ford Capri: What engine conversion?

[crofty1984]

When I finally get a place to live I'd like to do an engine conversion as a little project. I was thinking of something close to 200hp, or high 100's at least. Not strictly limited to a capri, if I could get hold of a MK3 cortina (or even a later one, but I prefer the MK3 "Go make us a cup of tea Tyler!") Id do it to that. I'd love a mk2 escort, but the scene tax is a bit prohibitive. So! 70's/80's RWD Ford, probably a Capri 1.6 base model, what do you do to it?

I know Rover V8's are pretty standard, Zetec would keep it in the family, but what else do you think? Would an E36 engine fit in? I saw the turbo'd nissan engine in a spitfire in this months PPC, maybe that's an idea.

Ohh! speculation!

Dan

[roboxm3]

Cosworth; depending on budget you could either go full on 2.0l turbo nutter bd or the V6(?) out of the Scorpio!?

[hman]

I've seen a sierra cosworth engine in a capri, it went in fairly easy as I remember.

It was a young lad at work who did the swap in his lock up, went like the proverbial after the transplant too.

HTH

[JamesM]

I'd say a V engine of some description, just to give it the grunty sound/feel a car like that deserves.

[hal-finch]

Cosworth 24v BOA or BOB. Use mt75 hybrid box, or stick with the type 9 and go easy on it.

BOA with BOB cams and sprockets. Vectra injectors, de-cat, suitable exaust will get you 215+ bhp maybe more.

See here for further info.

http://fordpower.org.uk/forum/index.php?act=idx

http://poweredbyford.co.uk/index.php

http://www.turbosport.co.uk/

[hairykrishna]

Big yank v8 - make it the muscle car it always should have been.

[OJ]

I 'know someone who' got shafted by box hill in an F430 a few years ago by a Capri with a Ford small block V8... the supercharger sticking out of a hole in the bonnet should have been a clue to what was coming.

Nice chap though (apparently), he said he'd had it dyno'd at 750bhp

[tog]

hairykrishna said:

Big yank v8 - make it the muscle car it always should have been.

I sold a Torqueflite auto box recently to a bloke who was going to put it into a Mk 1 Capri with Mopar 273 (IIRC) V8.

[pwd95]

Something like this?...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/655955.htm

[Boosted LS1]

The cosworth 24v BOA engine is a fairly straightforward install but there's also the rover v8 to consider. It's fairly light and can be bought in a decent capacity. I've installed a rover v8 twin turbo into a capri. It fits but the turbo's are shoehorned in. They were t3's.

[tomTVR]

Ford mustang cobra V8 - really cheap to buy and would suit the character of the car - plus keeping it Ford. Just a standard 300bhp jobbie should do the trick.

[aeropilot]

I'd keep it simple.....so, Cossie YB would be my choice.

2nd choice would be small block Ford V8.....as per the South African factory built Perana Capri.

[planetdave]

It's feasable to get nearly 200 from a Cologne, if you pull out all the stops, but that kind of power is a lot easier from the Cosworth V6 (without doing anything to it). Apparently it's a fairly simple fit (though the standard gearbox might not last long). Cosworth lump good for 240 without trying too hard (and more if you go silly).

After that the RV8 is a well known conversion and smallblocks will fit too, it's a moderately well sized bay.

I'd have an LS in mine anyday if funds were available.

[pugwash4x4]

LS1 any time

not much more expensive than a rover V8 and in £/bhp they are WAY WAY cheaper!

and if you can fit a rover v8in then you can fit an LS1 in as they are pretty much the same size and weight!

[BigLepton]

Vote here for the Rover V8. There are lots of other good options, but none as cheap to buy, with such good parts supply or as lightweight to maintain the balance of the car. A good 4.6 will cost next to nothing and give you more power than you have asked for, but not too much more.

[uk_vette]

crofty1984 said:

When I finally get a place to live I'd like to do an engine conversion as a little project. I was thinking of something close to 200hp, or high 100's at least. Not strictly limited to a capri, if I could get hold of a MK3 cortina (or even a later one, but I prefer the MK3 "Go make us a cup of tea Tyler!") Id do it to that. I'd love a mk2 escort, but the scene tax is a bit prohibitive. So! 70's/80's RWD Ford, probably a Capri 1.6 base model, what do you do to it?

I know Rover V8's are pretty standard, Zetec would keep it in the family, but what else do you think? Would an E36 engine fit in? I saw the turbo'd nissan engine in a spitfire in this months PPC, maybe that's an idea.

Ohh! speculation!

Dan

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.
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The Ford 302 ci V8 go's well in a Capri.
This was a standard up grade in South Africa.
http://www.capri-perana.co.za/subscribe.html

or like this
http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/c-Cars-for-Sale-ca...

Read about the conversions here
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford...

[uk_vette]

aeropilot said:

I'd keep it simple.....so, Cossie YB would be my choice.

2nd choice would be small block Ford V8.....as per the South African factory built Perana Capri.

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.
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See my post

[wolf1]

I'd also plumb for some serious suspension mods. The Capri always did handle like a boat. You could five link the rear or at least fit one of the X frames if there's any still hanging about.

[matt uk]

Whatever happend to Barker's project in Evo? Wasn't he putting a Rover V8 into his Capri years ago.

I remember he got it up and running, had some handling issues... than my subs ran out and Evo turned boring so stopped reading it..

[crofty1984]

I take it it's not a simple matter of putting cossie heads on a essex/koln bottom end?