Ford Sierra engine & gearbox

[Nick Jones]

Well, they are plain wrong about the 1500!  All Spitfires from some time in 1974 until the end of production were 1500.

Surely the easiest and ultimately the cheapest route is just to a get hold of a 1300 or 1500 Triumph engine?  Come to the UK for a holiday......

Either that or a Suzuki 1300 engine and box from an SJ413 jeep - or are they rare/expensive in Finland?

Nick

[Paul Garvey]

Nothing wrong with a 1147 engine once the head flowed, a decent cam and a DCOE or DHLA - may be an easier and cheaper option?  

[heksu]

I have found several type9 5 shift gear box for 150€..and an unused propershaft that fits to spitfire and type9. Is it requested to change the location of the shiter ( what you use when you change the shift) meaning is it requested to make the gearbox shorter to fit to spitfire so that there is still room for the hand brake.

I think I will go either with triumph 1500 engine or 1,6 ford ohc engine. I'm not interested for fuel injection. Still the ford engine is quite modern and I assume it will move the car much better than this 1,2 what I have. There is lot of information how to improve the motor.

I also found Ford M16 calibers second hand free of charge..need some work but for hobby I have time.

My question is..is there enough space for this 1,6 ohc ford engine in height &lenght?

[Clive]

Hugh (can't remember his surname, but he wrote about it) fitted a 2.0 pinto engine in a spitfire, and I think others have too. Not sure if they used a gt6 bonnet, or what carbs were used, though I think Weber dcoe but maybe downdrafts will fit,
Get the callipers and check they fit you upright s OK. They should.
T9 will move the shifter back. I moved my handbrake back and used a different shorter brake cable. Lots of boat places cN shorten cables. Be aware that a premade propagate may not fit. As the engine position etc is unlikely to be the same as a triumph engine. Some investigation may be required, but Gain there must be somebody who can make/alter propagate in Finland?
I have a t9 to triumph diff prop here, I should measure it....

[RedRooster]

You can get shorter tail housings for the T9 or i have seen a DIY blog about doing it yourself if your handy with a TIG.

Here it is, bit expensive though.

http://www.frontlinedevelopments.com/part/full-5-speed-gearbox-kit-short-remote-1300cc/

[heksu]

Quoted from cliftyhanger

First thing is to find out what is allowed 🙂
Uprating brakes is not too hard if you can import some things, or better still can get parts machined/altered.
you can use ford capri vented discs, just need to redrill the attaching bolt holes, I did this at home. Then you can buy "princess 4 pot callipers" or import modern copies.
Another is use M16 callipers off a ford, and then get a GT6 disc machined down a little so the callipers will fit.


I have a 1800 Zetec in my car, effectively from a late ford escort. Needs a few modifications to fit, and your rules may affect all that. Plus the standard injection is hard to use (maybe impossible in a spitfire, have seen it done in a herald)

The small focus engine may be OK, but no idea about the standard fuel injection. Here most people fit aftermarket injection, or 4 carburettors off a motorbike.

Hi,
Does 1800 zetec fit to your car without modificationb of engine cover( what is this in English?)?
Why standard fuel injection don't fit? Space? What after market injection you are using?

[heksu]

Quoted from cliftyhanger

. Be aware that a premade propagate may not fit. As the engine position etc is  Some investigation may be required, but Gain there must be somebody who can make/alter propagate in Finland?
it....

Actually we should be able handle this..Finns are quite good in engineering and motor sports. We are less than 6 miljon but there is 2,5 Finns driving in F1 as Nico Rosberg father is Finn Keke Rosberg who won F1 championship some time

[Clive]

Just read my posts, written on my phone. Apologies for spelling/autocorrect and my failing eyesight! I think I should stick to using the 'puter for posting

[Clive]

The 1800 zetec needs a special sump modifying, and a few bits shaved off the chassis to get the gearbox in. But the bulkhead needed a lot of cutting.

The factory injection is often too high. Mine uses jenvey throttle bodies and a DTA/Dunnell ecu.

The simple solution is a set of bike carbs, but if you have problems with inspections go the smaller 1.4/1.6 engine type that is a simpler fit. That needs a special bellhousing for the gearbox though,

Simple solution to the carbs/injection is again bike carbs. Buy an inlet manifold flange, and get carbs with rubbers that attach to the bike engine. These can be screwed to the flange. Needs something like megajolt/nodiz to provide the sparks, and the carbs will need setting up by somebody who understands bike carbs,  or you may be lucky and fnd the information on the WWW.

[heksu]

Hi, do you think that 1,6 zetec will fit with out bulk head modifications, i have found a shop that can handle the fuel injection. Modifying the space for the gearbox should not be a problem. I would like to keep original bulk head unchanged.

Sorry for lot of questions..

As far as I have understood the 1,6 zetec is smaller than 1,6 ohc?

[heksu]

The Ford 1,6 don't fit in spitfire with out bonnet modification. To get gt6 bonnet is order to UK..transportation cost could be quite high. I think I will get a type9 box and 1500 triumph engine. Even though its wery difficult to find a triumph engine here. Well I learn something new

[heksu]

I think I will try to get a 1500 triumph engine & type9 gearbox. In Sweden they have install Volvo B18 motors but I don't know how much work there is to install it. These Volvo motors are easy & cheap to get and those are extremely good.

[JensH]

We have about the same limitations here in Denmark
You might find some useful info on Dave a**wipes (...) old blog:
http://crazyspitfire.blogspot.com
Cheers jens, Copenhagen
Ps about 5-600 spitfires in dk

[heksu]

Anyone use Toyota motor with type 9, how to fit those two?

[ferny]

I did consider fitter a mk1 mr2 engine, but gearbox options were very expensive.

[Mark Hammond]

MX-5 works well, and cheap and plentiful.

M.

[Clive]

The usual toyota route is to use a toyota gearbox. Find a RWD corolla (if you can!) and use the complete engine and gearbox.

[heksu]

We have lot of Toyota here, corolla has been top seller in many years. How T40/50 shifter fits to spitfire..is there enough space for hand brake?

[John Bonnett]

Why not save yourself a whole lot of trouble and just fit a Triumph engine?


[Sorry, link no longer available]

Even taking into account the shipping costs this surely has to be the best option.

[heksu]

Yes one option could be to get a Triumph engine. I have try to get it from Finland. Here is one 13oo that needs to be machined. What has been use here is Kent engines it's old technology yes but fits under bonnet and alot of parts with reasonable price & knowhow is available. 1600 Kent with type9 is legal to install with 5 speed gearbox should be quite nice to drive? Megasquirt fuel system to Kent?

It is not that simple to get engine from UK..i would like to know what I'm getting. People are not willing to ship engine. It should be packed in wooden box..

As I have understood, 1300 is better for tuning as stroke is shorter?  

I will not use the car in winter we have lot of snow and with this car it is not any fun. So I have at least 6 months to change the engine. I'm planing to change the suspension and the bushes. I will also install GT6 discs in front.  

[ferny]

Based on your restrictions I'd probably do something a bit silly.

I'd do some research and some chatting to users and try to find a reliable source for a Triumph engine (1300 or 1500) and an overdrive unit. That source could be a member or a show known to have good traders. Obviously there's Stoneleigh here (in February) and I know there are others on Netherlands and Germany. A reputable member could bring one to the show for you. Then here's where I'm different. I'd buy a clunker of a van, cheap and not interested in looks. I'd jump in it and drive. Take a week off work and have an adventure. Grab your engine and other parts you want and then head home. Sell the van afterwards for pretty much what you paid for it.


I'd go for that option. I think with yours you're going to get a bit of a mish-mash which may work, may not. But ultimately isn't anything exciting and if you get the wrong Type-9, you'll hate it.

[heksu]

Hi again..I have bought a ford 1600 Kent and type9 gearbox with shorten shaft. I found some pictures of motor support, quite easy. How about the support for the gearbox. There is several types of supports to the gearbox..there is bended and straight alternative? Width?

[BiTurbo228]

Well, late to the party (after you've bought a kent engine), but there's a Spit on ebay at the moment with a CVH engine so it does fit:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162158869803

Make sure you post pictures up here of how you go about fitting the Kent engine in case people want to try in the future

[heksu]

Yes you will have some pictures...i will go this way. parta for Kent are easily available for reasonable price. In Finland the motor is use for rally so we have lot of information how to get power out of it.

[Jonny-Jimbo]

If fitting a Kent you may as well go for a Lotus Twink or BDA etc...