Mk2 escort engine change

[Carl The Plasterer]

I have a 1976 mk2 escort which was originally a 1300L

I was contemplating putting a 1600 xflow in but I’ve also heard that I can put a 2.0 pinto in does anyone know the rules regarding this?

thanks in advance 👍🏻

[kingsblue]

The 2.0 pinto can be fitted as the RS2000 was fitted with this engine, I think you may have to trim the heater bowl near the bulkhead, also the carb & exhaust are on opposite sides compared to your original cross flow engine.

[isetta]

"the rules"    do you mean legal rules? legally there is nothing to stop you. You need to get the engine size and engine number changed on your registration document. you need to tell your insurance company, or if you are taking out a new policy you need to answer the questions honestly about modifications etc. some insurance companies are better then others about modifications. I would imagine some might ask about brakes.  I do not know if escort 1300l brakes are smaller than eg. 2 litre capri.

[Eric Bloodaxe]

No doubt @DAN@ADRIAN FLUX will be able to comment on the insurance situation. I have an idea that the MOT exemption for 40 year old cars may not apply if the vehicle has been substantially modified from original, though. 

I would think a conversion to a 1600 crossbow would be a lot simpler than a Pinto.

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi.

Yes you would need to notify your insurer of any swap to a non standard engine. If you did have any issues with insurance then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

[RRB]

1600 cross flows are very slightly taller, so things like your exhaust might start hitting the floor.  Also the 1600 had a close ratio gearbox and 3.54:1 differential/final drive.  If you leave the 1300 transmission in place it will be quick off the mark but you could end up damaging something.

whilst most saloons had the same rear suspension, estates and vans had no rear anti-roll bar and this acts as an anti-***** bar.  The RS2000 and indeed Mexico had different spring rates and no rear ARB.  Instead they had anti-***** bars that were more substantial plus the Capri struts at the front.  One of the reasons for using the Capri strut is that the steering arms bolts on, this is a huge advantage in a rally car.

the Capri had basically the same brakes, M16 callipers and solid disks so as long as it all works well a standard 2 litre should be fine in your old 1300 Shell.  The gearbox won't really be any good though as the splines are smaller and the gear ratios a bit screwed up, 1st to 2nd is far further spaced on a Pinto.

The Engine was originally a standard 2.0 HC Cortina lump, the better exhaust and Carb gave it around 108 BHP if memory serves, A 2.0 injection Sierra is about 123BHP by comparison.

Major mods:

The radiator is different because of the hoses, it has right angled pipes.  The 1600 also had a taller rad than your 1300 but the RS2000 might have been thicker too.  You have to cut metal away from the top of the slam panel then mount it with the flanges on the back face, rather than the front,  this gives you about 2 extra inches.

The engine mounts should just about line up, Sierra ones are useless but the RS2000 ones will work.  If you can't get those you might have to look at how different the Cortina ones are. or invest in a "world cup crossmember" 

Whilst I'm thinking, the 1600 cross flow had a tougher engine mount, the rubbers are round and can be replaced whereas the 1300 had bonded ones.  The 1600 mounts might also fit the Pinto but I've never tried.  You can fit Land Rover rubbers to the 1600 mounts and these are very cheap to buy.

The exhaust exits under the RHS and crosses over behind the gearbox, there is one exhaust mount you'll be missing.

the fuel system will need re-plumbing as the carb is on the other side and has a fuel return.  the pipes run the other side to stay away from the exhaust.  Possibly the  ignition coil as the dizzy is on the other side although a long lead might do the trick.  the battery tray and brake servo can stay, the airbox sits on top of the engine and a Capri one should fit just fine.

The washer bottle needs moving.

The clutch is bigger, The bellhousing is common across all engines of the period but the 'C' type gearbox used is bigger and longer, If I remember correctly an automatic prop shaft fits straight on, the output splines are bigger than the 1300 manual though so you can't just shorten the prop.

Standard RS2000 had a 2 piece prop but a single piece was an RS option I believe.

the gearbox mounts don't line up.  You can buy a kit to solve it, make your own or cut the old one off and move it.  You may have to move the gearshift hole too, many people liked to use an automatic Shell with the bigger tunnel but I don't think you have to.

If you stand a cross flow next to a pinto you'll realise the later is taller and longer.  The engine mounts are in line which is great, but the Pinto sits overall further forwards and this affects the handling noticeably.  Proper RS2000s have softer rear springs and no rear ARB to balance the handling, the combination of heavier engine and it sitting further forwards is significant.

What I will warn you is that dropping the Pinto into an Escort is far harder.  I can swap a crossflow in 4 hours on my own, but the Pinto, well you have to disconnect the steering shaft, unscrew and lower the crossmember and lower the gearbox.  Easier to drop the crossmember out with the engine on it almost than lift it out of the top.

The heater cowl does not need modifying, I think My RS even has the plastic drain still fitted.

There will be loads of other little things I'll have forgotten, but basically the RS2000 was a parts-bin conversion, so most of what you need came from somewhere else.  A Carpi engine and type 9 box for example, get the rad from there, the prop too if you can and if you can get the struts with it you're almost there.

 

Good luck if you decide to go ahead.

1600 cross flows are very slightly taller, so things like your exhaust might start hitting the floor.  Also the 1600 had a close ratio gearbox and 3.54:1 differential/final drive.  If you leave the 1300 transmission in place it will be quick off the mark but you could end up damaging something.

whilst most saloons had the same rear suspension, estates and vans had no rear anti-roll bar and this acts as an anti-***** bar.  The RS2000 and indeed Mexico had different spring rates and no rear ARB.  Instead they had anti-***** bars that were more substantial plus the Capri struts at the front.  One of the reasons for using the Capri strut is that the steering arms bolts on, this is a huge advantage in a rally car.

the Capri had basically the same brakes, M16 callipers and solid disks so as long as it all works well a standard 2 litre should be fine in your old 1300 Shell.  The gearbox won't really be any good though as the splines are smaller and the gear ratios a bit screwed up, 1st to 2nd is far further spaced on a Pinto.

The Engine was originally a standard 2.0 HC Cortina lump, the better exhaust and Carb gave it around 108 BHP if memory serves, A 2.0 injection Sierra is about 123BHP by comparison.

Major mods:

The radiator is different because of the hoses, it has right angled pipes.  The 1600 also had a taller rad than your 1300 but the RS2000 might have been thicker too.  You have to cut metal away from the top of the slam panel then mount it with the flanges on the back face, rather than the front,  this gives you about 2 extra inches.

The engine mounts should just about line up, Sierra ones are useless but the RS2000 ones will work.  If you can't get those you might have to look at how different the Cortina ones are. or invest in a "world cup crossmember" 

Whilst I'm thinking, the 1600 cross flow had a tougher engine mount, the rubbers are round and can be replaced whereas the 1300 had bonded ones.  The 1600 mounts might also fit the Pinto but I've never tried.  You can fit Land Rover rubbers to the 1600 mounts and these are very cheap to buy.

The exhaust exits under the RHS and crosses over behind the gearbox, there is one exhaust mount you'll be missing.

the fuel system will need re-plumbing as the carb is on the other side and has a fuel return.  the pipes run the other side to stay away from the exhaust.  Possibly the  ignition coil as the dizzy is on the other side although a long lead might do the trick.  the battery tray and brake servo can stay, the airbox sits on top of the engine and a Capri one should fit just fine.

The washer bottle needs moving.

The clutch is bigger, The bellhousing is common across all engines of the period but the 'C' type gearbox used is bigger and longer, If I remember correctly an automatic prop shaft fits straight on, the output splines are bigger than the 1300 manual though so you can't just shorten the prop.

Standard RS2000 had a 2 piece prop but a single piece was an RS option I believe.

the gearbox mounts don't line up.  You can buy a kit to solve it, make your own or cut the old one off and move it.  You may have to move the gearshift hole too, many people liked to use an automatic shell with the bigger tunnel but I don't think you have to.

If you stand a cross flow next to a pinto you'll realise the later is taller and longer.  The engine mounts are in line which is great, but the Pinto sits overall further forwards and this affects the handling noticeably.  Proper RS2000s have softer rear springs and no rear ARB to balance the handling, the combination of heavier engine and it sitting further forwards is significant.

What I will warn you is that dropping the Pinto into an Escort is far harder.  I can swap a crossflow in 4 hours on my own, but the Pinto, well you have to disconnect the steering shaft, unscrew and lower the crossmember and lower the gearbox.  Easier to drop the crossmember out with the engine on it almost than lift it out of the top.

The heater cowl does not need modifying, I think My RS even has the plastic drain still fitted.

There will be loads of other little things I'll have forgotten, but basically the RS2000 was a parts-bin conversion, so most of what you need came from somewhere else.  A Carpi engine and type 9 box for example, get the rad from there, the prop too if you can and if you can get the struts with it you're almost there.

 

Good luck if you decide to go ahead.