cjwood23
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 11:48 AM |
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What should I know about the Ford X-flow?
Guys,
Possibly now looking to buy a ready built car as my budget and time contraints are getting smaller all the time 
Thing is my budget will only stretch to a pinto or x-flow powered car.
Now I've heard phrases like 'boat anchor' and 'paper weight' used when refering to the pinto but haven't come
across much discussion on the x-flow.
Will probably be looking at a 1600 or 1700 x-flow.
Budget permitting there might be the possibility of an upgrade in the future to a more modern engine (zetec or 4-age).
Thoughs and opinions on the above please.
Thanks.
______________________
Chris
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TimC
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 12:13 PM |
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I like the X-flow. It has lots of character and sounds good on carbs. Sure, it's not the most powerful unit in the world but good fun.
My 1660 X-flow in a very light Striker kept up with a mate's Zetec in a more blingy Striker.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 12:18 PM |
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Great engines in their time, loads of cheap tuning bits and the car will provide a decent base if you want to go Zetec at a later point.
What you lose in power you gain in weight savings, it will put a smile on your face.
If you look at Locost race times these are 1300cc crossflow engines, when set up correctly will still shame much more powerful cars.
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steve m
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 12:22 PM |
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There relatively cheap, and very tunable to about 145bhp is regarded top end on a standard block /head
they leak oil !!
but i dont think i will ever be with out my 1660 xflow in my 7
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 12:34 PM |
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The crossflow isn't a boat anchor, for a cast iron lump they aren't especially heavy. Generally not a bad old engine, but old thrashed
examples tend to spew oil (and burn it) at a prodigious rate.
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cjwood23
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 12:41 PM |
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Cheers for the info guys.
I know Burton do loads of bits for the x-flow, but one of the cars I'm interested in has a 'rallytune' engine - and my google powers
don't seem to unearth anything about 'rallytune'.
Any info on these?
______________________
Chris
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adithorp
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 01:15 PM |
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if you're considering a later upgrade to Zetec then a cross-flow is slightly easier as the exhaust is on the same side.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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Alfa145
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 01:16 PM |
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I have a nice 1600 that is +90 bored (so its about 1660ish?) Xflow. Bought the car 18 months ago with the intention of swapping asap to a zetec, but
I've started to like the old thing now. Great sound, nice revvy engine and pulls like a train up to 7000rpm for such a small engine. mine puts
out 101bhp at the rear wheels, approx 130ish at the fly) enough to scare me at times. And so sime and cheap to fix if it goes wrong.
Don't always believe what people tell you about an engine, unless you see receipts or the actual parts in the engine. I've nearly been
caught out before by someone stretching the truth. Rallytune could be anything.
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designer
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 01:26 PM |
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My Dutton has a 1600X-flow in it and it's OK.
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BenB
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| posted on 16/12/11 at 01:31 PM |
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I drove (and destroyed) a very nice Xflow powered Fury.
Nice power, lovely noise. Obviously not going to win any MPG competitions on carbs unless you're constantly twiddling them and they do tend to
use a total loss lubrication system 
So make sure you've got some space for a nice big bottle of cheap (thick) oil for regular top-ups otherwise Mr Crankshaft goes spiny spiny and
Mr Bearings goes "NO LIKEY!!!!!!!".
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Paul Turner
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| posted on 17/12/11 at 02:22 PM |
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Had a 1860 all steel long stoke beastie in mine for many years, had a 1700 one with a standard bottom end before that. The x-flow is a super engine,
never broke down once. Only problem I had was due to the machining shop I uesd (and nearly went to work for) not being capable of decking a block
level. Built correctly they do not leak oil, with race pistons mine drank about 1 litre a summer, 2,000 miles.
2 Litre Zetec now, in all honesty its much better a s a road engine but I do miss the old 1860 on a track thrash, last i heard it had gone to do
trackdays in France.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 17/12/11 at 07:31 PM |
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I rebuilt my x-flow before installing it - it's like working with Meccano, a really simple engine that only requires a bit of common sense to
put together properly.
It also makes a really nice noise when pushed hard! 
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cjwood23
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| posted on 17/12/11 at 07:35 PM |
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Cheers guys.
Hoping to sort a test drive out soon.
Guessing the engine is almost the same as the 1100 in my first fiesta - had fun tinkering with that.........
______________________
Chris
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 17/12/11 at 08:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cjwood23
Cheers for the info guys.
I know Burton do loads of bits for the x-flow, but one of the cars I'm interested in has a 'rallytune' engine - and my google powers
don't seem to unearth anything about 'rallytune'.
Any info on these?
Rallytune is (was?) a tuning company in Burnley, Lancashire. I have no idea if they are still going, but
this pdf shows the address as
113 Hollingreave Road, Burnley, Lancs., BB11 2HU
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trextr7monkey
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| posted on 17/12/11 at 09:50 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cjwood23
Thoughs and opinions on the above please.
One of its other names is "God's own engine"
as said above relatively simple, plenty of parts available, basic solid engineerining in a design that goes back about 45 years.
In our jeeps we much prefer the x flow to pinto as the infamous weight of the latter affects handling adversely so spoiling any gains in power, just
my opinion 
atb
Mike
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cjwood23
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| posted on 18/12/11 at 03:15 PM |
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Cheers guys.
What about converting to unleaded? Is it a case of new valves and seats?
______________________
Chris
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greed1
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| posted on 18/12/11 at 03:49 PM |
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It only the exhaust seats that need doing I belive
Drive it stright sideways
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trextr7monkey
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| posted on 18/12/11 at 09:37 PM |
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we were quoted about £70 a number of years back , but never bothered as Redex lead substitute is only 99p at Tesco and does several tanks of fuel, we
will be well into space ship mileages before we use 70 bottles of the stuff
happy motoringMike
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Our most recent pics are here:
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