Opinions on this as a donor, I have read that the engine is heavy, obviously a drawback, but I'm also getting decent alloys + discs all round for about the same money as bog standard 1.6 pinto engined car, is it really that bad an engine.?

The engine is tall, virtually no go faster bits, breaks camchains if not correctly serviced.

If you are happy with 125bhp (certainly enough to put a grin on my face!), and can get the motor in your chassis, then build on.

Thought it was quiet on here tonight then remembered there's some unimportant football on telly. Think I'll go and watch it anyway.

As said if you dont want an out-an-out racer and are happy with 100-125 bhp the motor is fine. It pulls like a train.

Down side is its very expensive to work on and there are NO of the shelf bits and that incluedes manifolds. Its cheaper to buy a fresh engine than it is to do the head gasket It also comes with mt75 gearbox that wont fit a lot of kits. You wont get a type 9 on it because of the huge flywheel.

I had great fun with mine in the donor but gave it away. There are more things against it than for it Imho

It's the donor I had just sold the bits I didn't want, If I remember correctly big_wasa had some of the bits.

As I'm going Rover V8 I didn't need the engine or Box but everthing else is fine.

Dave

eer not me guv

if you get one with a good headgasket and dont want it - i may be very very interested in buying it

OK, thanks guys, got a bit of thinking to do.

same donor that i used. Got mine for £20. Engine was no good but got approx £30 for the MT75 box. If the mechanical bits are Ok then get it. Its hard to be choosy these days over Sierra donors. An injected pinto sierra would be nice to get but you'll have more luck getting rocking horse poo!

I was going to use this engine, the only reason i'm not now is that i got a 1.8 zetec very cheap. More and more people are coming round to the DOHC, it is a big and heavy engine but it will fit, it has plenty power, tons of torque and you can pick them up for next to nowt. if you can find them you can use the 16v ones that were used in the Escort rs2000 and the late Scorpios as well. 150bhp+. The MT75 box is a bit bigger and some say heavier but it is bloody strong too.
Cheers.

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

And so am I

mine is now only 40 mm under the frame so the height isn't the problem.

Only if you want to use to EFI. You have to short the mainfold or have to make a "breather" on your bonnet.

Grzt...