Hi, another noob here but looking to start my build in the next month or so...

I have both the ron champion and chris gibbs books' and will be building the haynes roadster. In his book, gibbs has a couple of pages about the possible engines/gearbox types.

I've decided that I'd be happy with the ford cvh engine which he says comes with a type 9 gearbox and was mainly available as a 1.6 or 1.8. "There are relatively few tuning mods available for these engines but they're all suitable for unleaded fuel". Suited with that, since I'm not bothered about mental power and I'd just like to build a sports car on a budget

The next engine he mentions is the dohc 8v which is "tall and heavy" and "not very popular with tuners. The engine will be mated to the later mt75 gearbox."

I'd quite like to go with a sierra sapphire since there seems to be loads of them around without hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock - and also because they're the cvh type. So basically my questions is: Are all the sierra sapphires CVH with a type 9 box? or will some of them be the dohc with mt75?

The reason I ask is because the mt75 box is wider and requires some adjustments to the transmission tunnel to make it fit. I'd rather stick with the original plans in the book since this will be my first build and I'd hate to jump in at the deep end with transmission tunnel adjustments which aren't thoroughly outlined in the book.

If there are some sapphires with the dohc 8v/mt75 configuration - how do you tell them apart from the cvh/type-9 set up?

Thanks in advance & great forum! Paul w


Not sure if anyone else on the forums does this but once I get an answer to a question, I edit my initial post to save subsequent users trawling through the thread to find out the same info as I was looking for.

Posted by AdrianH on here:
One thing I used to tell the difference between the Type 9 and MT 75 check was to check where reverse gear is.

On the type 9 reverse is top left

On the MT75 it is bottom right

I have only heard of MT75 in 2.0 DOHC in the standard two wheel drive series. I THINK that all 4 wheel drive is MT75 with an add on for the 4 wheel drive

Adrian


Posted by LesG on Haynes Forums:
the easy peasey way ask where reverse is if it is by 1st its a type 9 if its not its an mt75 (defining answer )
and it goes like this
all sub 2.0Ls use a type 9
all 2.0Ls until 1989 after 89 they used an mt75
all 2.8Ls used a type 9
all 2.9Ls used an mt 75
( only relevant if not been converted of course )

Sierra Technical Info @ http://www.fordsierraclub.co.uk/

Hope this helps any future users looking for this info...







[Edited on 21/7/08 by paul the 6th]

[Edited on 21/7/08 by paul the 6th]

Sierra Saphire's would have come in all sorts of engine/gearbox combinations.

Just pick and mix from

1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0, pinto
1.6 / 1.8 cvh
2.0 Twin cam
2.0 cosworth
2.3 v6 (?)
2.3 Diesel

gearbox =
T9
MT75
& 4x4 versions of above.


Oh and welcome to the mad house.

My 2L saphire has a pinto with type 9 1988 vintage
The haynes manual lists the CVH, Pinto and DOHC can be fitted

oh for gods sake. (joking!) lol thanks for the quick replies guys.

I'm sure someone else on the roadster forums mentioned the pinto was used until late '88.

So the sapphire will most likely come in any 3 of those combo's. Are there any distinguishing body features which will make it obvious which is which? Looking on ebay and autotrader, it's difficult to get any sense out of some of the sellers (who are selling their mother's dog's brothers' friends car because they don't use it anymore).

Obviously flipping the bonnet would reveal a twin cam or otherwise, but when the prospective donor is 200 miles away in somerset, it's a bit more tricky trying to work out what's what

thanks for the advice so far!

Think its down to cc was the easiest way to find out by asking the owner what cc it says on the v5,think 1998cc and 1993cc ring bells somewhere although I am in Portugal on my holidays and have been in the sun all day so those figures may not be accurate!
Mine was a saphirre and had a pinto in it,the saphire bit relates to a trim level or special edition.Hope this helps.Cheers Rich

Just noticed where you are,when you get going drop me a u2u I'd love to pop round for a nosey as I work in York,used to work just near the Ainsty pub but we relocted to Clifton Moor

[Edited on 20/7/08 by RichardK]

They never fitted the v6's to the saffs btw

jackpot - that's the kind of info I'm after, something simple along those lines which help sort the cvh from the dohc

If anyone could clarify/confirm this I'd be properly grateful! Also, I was aware of sapphire= trim level. They seem to be popular with the ladies. There's plenty of well looked after examples for sale Not too fussed about tune-ability or specific bits such as xr4's etc. Just want to build it close to the book so I don't come too far unstuck.

How do richard, I've only just signed upto the site today (although I'd had a quick browse in the past as an unregisterred user). I've been reading the book for about 6 months and have finally decided to take the plunge. Haven't even bought any kit yet, I've got a few tools from basic motorbike maintainance i.e. an angle grinder and 2 sets of sockets.

I'd love to have a nosey around your project one day if that'd be possible? Just to help give me an idea of the triumph and heartache involved lol. I've only just moved to york at the start of may this year. I lived in west yorkshire all my before that (mirfield to be precise).

Are there many locosters/roadsters/builder in and around our area? If so, do you have any meetings?

thanks in advance, Paul w (in switzerland til the 28th of July... drove down in my 55 plate mondeo... next time i'm coming in the roadster! the roads are immense!)

[Edited on 20/7/08 by paul the 6th]

I'll u2u my details when I'm back from my jollies,think there are 3 or 4 builders in York alone!Cheers Rich

according to haynes manual

pinto: 1796cc
cvh: 1769cc

pinto2L: 1993cc
DOHC 8v: 1998cc (wikipedia)

hope it helps

[Edited on 20/7/08 by Werner Van Loock]

You really really need to go to some kit car shows and have a really good look at the club cars. don';t be afraid to ask loads of questions.
It will save you thousands of pounds and many hours of work if you do the prep NOW

The pinto engine was fitted up to the last in 1992 mine is from a june 1992 model year

quote:

---

Originally posted by snapper
You really really need to go to some kit car shows and have a really good look at the club cars. don';t be afraid to ask loads of questions.
It will save you thousands of pounds and many hours of work if you do the prep NOW

---

One thing I used to tell the difference between the Type 9 and MT 75 check was to check where reverse gear is.

On the type 9 reverse is top left

On the MT75 it is bottom right

I have only heard of MT75 in 2.0 DOHC in the standard two wheel drive series. I THINK that all 4 wheel drive is MT75 with an add on for the 4 wheel drive

Adrian

quote:

---

Originally posted by AdrianH
One thing I used to tell the difference between the Type 9 and MT 75 check was to check where reverse gear is.

On the type 9 reverse is top left

On the MT75 it is bottom right

I have only heard of MT75 in 2.0 DOHC in the standard two wheel drive series. I THINK that all 4 wheel drive is MT75 with an add on for the 4 wheel drive

Adrian

---

people seem to worry abot the tunnel width I have made a chasis which is 4 inches wider than a standard locos and have also reduces the width id the tunnel wher the prop runs fiving me possible anther 2inch in the interior I would sugges to any one its worth looking at as it alsows wider seate to be fitted, I have covered 5k with no problems with the prop deflecting

quote:

---

Originally posted by austin man
people seem to worry abot the tunnel width I have made a chasis which is 4 inches wider than a standard locos and have also reduces the width id the tunnel wher the prop runs fiving me possible anther 2inch in the interior I would sugges to any one its worth looking at as it alsows wider seate to be fitted, I have covered 5k with no problems with the prop deflecting

---

just for anyone else looking for the same info as I was, another member on the roadster forums posted this:

hi paul
sierra owners club has definitive lists of the specs. of all sierras
and the easy peasey way ask where reverse is if it is by 1st its a type 9 if its not its an mt75 (defining answer )
and it goes like this
all sub 2.0Ls use a type 9
all 2.0Ls until 1989 after 89 they used an mt75
all 2.8Ls used a type 9
( only relevant if not been converted of course )