[Edited on 9/10/06 by trextr7monkey]
What's the opinions re using this as a power plant in standard book chassis?
Snags /problems?
heavy, and I know this will sound like a negative answer, but they are cack!
non-tuneable, camchain tensioners cause problems (well, they run out of travel and bugger everything up), exhausts don't really exist so you are
into diy there.
Much better to sell a good one to somebody with a broken one in a sierra or granada, then use the proceeds to buy a pinto.
Also a very tall engine, so a bit of a squeeze to fit it into a book chassis and have reasonable ground clearance.
On the plus side they have a reasonable bit more power than a standard Pinto, but that's pretty much the only advantage I can think of.
I am currently building my car with a 2l DOHC and I do agree that they are a bit of a hassle for a first build. You will have to make up custom engine
mounts, chop the sump quite heavily, maybe chop the inlet manifold (Or have a bonnet bulge).
However, I know they get slated and are not that tuneable but they are damn cheap and do come with an MT75 box which mates quite nicely to a Zetec
i'm told (If needed at a later date!)
Also, if you are quick you might be able to pick up a cheap exhaust from what was Robin Hood (As they did a car based around this engine!), fits a
McSorley chassis beautifully!
Thanks for that, we do have a x flow and a spare pinto but it was the extra power froma standard unit that I wondered about an engine is free ish
[Edited on 9/10/06 by trextr7monkey]
I've said this so many times before!
USE IT!! I am!
135kg dry.LIGHTER than a pinto!!
UP the fuel pressure on an EFI, fit a decent air filter, you will have a reliable 140ish bhp.... with torque that will destroy a standard pinto.
This is the prefered engine swop for the capri club. They dump the 2l pinto & put the dohc in.
I thought about it a while ago but went pinto now with a Zetec being prep'd.
Still got the engine cluttering up the garage for free if you (or anyone else) want it.
Also got a new zorst manifold Lolocost going if wanted but need tokens for that!
cheers D 
A little OT, but what is the difference between the 2.0 and 2.3 DOHC? Stroke or bore?
Asking as the 2.3 seems bountiful in galaxies so would be an easy "upgrade" for those running the 2.0...
I'm using it,
If your not after giant costs and tuneablility just go for it.
See also my photo-archive. And Paul Buz
Grzt
While not being the easiest engine to drop into as Locost, they are just that (locost). As to tunability you can get serious gains, up to 200BHP, but at a price, ( see Burtons catalogue). But for a nice cheap, reliable lump, go for it. Ray.
there comes a point though where locost means crap.
If you are going to use this engine, use the 16v version which at least is tuneable (would love to see a 200hp version of the 8valve one!! lol )
As for using it cos its free, I recently posted about my latest Vauxhall XE 16v engine, which was also free, and in perfect condition. I paid £200 for
the car (1994 cavalier 16v) and made £285 by selling the crap I didn't want off it on ebay and weighing the shell in.
quote:
Originally posted by PaulBuz
This is the prefered engine swop for the capri club. They dump the 2l pinto & put the dohc in.
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
(would love to see a 200hp version of the 8valve one!! lol )
I apologise for being a bit sharp!
I don't mean with a turbo, that is even more daft, just turbo an engine with a stronger bottom end (the dohc is not that strong)
I know any engine has its fans, but these are not a good recommendation!
As for rwd format, yes the sumps will help, but everything else rwd just bolts on to the zetec anyway, just as with the XE 16v, nothing technical
about it!
No problem
I'm not saying that this engine is a world beater. But for me ,I want an engine with good torque as a 'street cruiser'.
I'm not interested in track days & if I was I would defo go bike engine.
All I am saying is that you show me another engine that has 130 ish BHP out of the tin.(with fuel filter/air filter tweak).
With shed loads of torque for peanuts.
The pinto needs money spending on it to equal it.
20XE has 156bhp, 150lbft out of the tin, with over 200bhp available from just bolt on bits! In stock form this engine has tractor-like torque even at
low RPM.
I will concede however, that it would cost significantly more than the DOHC by the time you sort the bellhousing and sump etc.
Plentyof food for though there- good thing about this forum is people give their honest opinions as they find it.
Stillt hinking of best route to go
I had a DOHC that i was going to put into a locost but then i got a 1.8 zetec so will be using that instead. i was then going to keep The DOHC and
bung it in a Jago geep, you could always do the same.
Cheers.
Apparently only 1" clearance between chassis uprights that carry Mcpherson struts and other complications,prop, gearbox and engine mounts etc