I had a look at a DOHC Sierra tonight to use a as donor car (just engine/box, column, loom etc)
I have read here that peole have used them but looking at it, I cannot see how. It has an ally sump so chopping it would be a bit more complicated. It
is incredible tall, the head alone looks to be about 12". If anyone has used one, could you give me a few pointers?
I didn't get the car, even though it was cheap (less that £100), but because the VIN Plate had come of an '87 5 door escort, the floor plate was
missing and another VIN number had been stamped into the strut top and was a made up number not relating to any car I know (I work in a bodyshop and
deal with identities all the time).
The car was not cut and shut, so I am sure it is a ringer (very badly done)
The search continues...
Mark
the dohc engine can be summed up in 1 word avoid at all costs oh well 3 then
quote:
avoid at all costs
maths was never my strong point
yeh we do... we have finally been caught out....please be hard on us for this.. i will be sendin you £10000 but it will only be 30p i
wouldnt ha dohc even if it were legit.....timing chain is made of elastic.....and the gaskets are made of spiders webs.....thats why there 12 a
shilling
quote:
maths was never my strong point
Terrible Engine. fly wheel twice as heavy as any other. timing chains need replacing every 80k (£40 just for the tensioner - Use once only) just for safety. and they have very weak cylinder heads that crack for a hobby between the valves on either no2 or no3 cylinder. if your looking for a ford twink, then why not go mondeo if you can work out the mountings.
timing chains need replacing every 80k? I'm guessing that's a typo. Otherwise, realistically, they'd only need changing once in the engine's
liftime.
Kingr
Ford originally never specified an interval for changing the chain, like you they assumed life time use. But the problem is that the chains do wear
and they do break with monotonuos regularity. Ford within the last 4/5 years sent dealer notices to recommend chain replacement at I believe 90k. (80
is my side of safety given the number that I have changed/replaced engines.
The problem is that when the chain breaks it whips up and smashes the cam cover (about £80) it then carries on in its journey of destuction by coming
down and hitting the lip on the front of the crankshft front main bearing cap, causing the cap to crack. New caps not available this writes the
engine off. IPESS
Sorry Jollygreengiant but you give the impression of working in the engine business (as I do). If so why are you paying £40 for your chain
tensioners?
Chain failure is VERY unusual below 150,000 miles and the resulting destruction also uncommon.
I to have seen the DOHC engines self destruct below 100k (3 so far IIRC), and have managed to save countless more just before the inevitable
happened.
I guess you must of been lucky David!
Oops david I Do seem to have trodden on a toe. Yes I agree there are a few lucky ones going around with over 100k on them, I also know personally of
one that was a taxi & logged over 300K and was still running fine when sold but they are in the minority. Price wise as, I do work in the trade and
have been doing so for the past 23 years, (home brewed my own special 1660 Xflow, design & build myself twenty years ago, engieering contracted out) I
tend to refer to prices that the general public pay plus VAT from the dealers, not to TRADE only price that you obviuosly buy at. Oh and the damage
list did not include the usual bent sprocket(all) and the bent oil pump drive. Oh and lastly the engine I built I've still got it, carbs and all
(round about 180bhp I believe it was. Certainly good enough to get 140mph out of a MK1 Cortina running a 3.7 diff with 165/70R13H tyres. MMmmm me
thinks that will do quite nicely in me locost or shall I use me 2.0i pinto, or I could just be silly about it & use the V8)
Lastly with the real value of cars as low as it is now (& has been for quite some time) Engine reconditioners tell us (the spanner monkeys) that they
don't want the broken units returned cos they wont give us a refund of the surcharge if they are that badly broken, so you only get to see the units
that are fit for rebuild.
Nuff said Each to there own
You did well to get 180 out of the 1660 JGG. When the National Hot Rods packed up with the Crossflows about 15 years ago they were only getting about
190 and that was from 1800cc + and then with wild cams.
Knowing your stuff, I doubt you'll use a Pinto and very much doubt you'll use the RV8!
BTW I'm no fan of the DOHC, it's just that some engines get tarred with a brush a little unfairly. There were a great many of these made and they gave
good service for what they were intended - family saloons. I maintain that if we carried out a poll, the average chain life would be at least
150k.
As for what I see in a days work as a qualified engineer and manager of a sizable engine related business (not just and engine reconditioner) - is for
me to know:P:P