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Author: Subject: Hello Locost Builders.
skoze

posted on 19/6/14 at 09:46 AM Reply With Quote
Hello Locost Builders.

Hey guys, thought i'd best come and introduce myself instead of lurking in the shadows.

My name's Matt, i'm 21 from Essex/ Brighton and unfortunately i'm a bit of an imposter. I'm a big fan of the Locost ethos, but i'm here mostly to hunt down some info on engine conversions.

I've run this little beauty for a few years, which I rebuilt from nothing along with the help of some good friends:



But the main project these days is this:

[URL=http://s292.photobucket.com/user/MattPurdon/media/IMG_0899.jpg.html][/U RL]

It's a 1979 3.0S, looks alright from 10ft but is never gonna be a minter. I've spent most of my time rolling around underneath it, so it's got M16s with some Mintex M1144s, vented drilled and grooved discs, Goodridge hoses, coilover-converted 250lb Bilsteins on the front, Leda rear springs and Spax dampers with some shiny new Toyos. Goes alright for something that originally handled best when you're looking out of the passenger window.

Naturally, the next step is to make it quicker. I love the Essex and would love to tune it, but at £5k to build a 180bhp engine i'd rather not. I've gone through all the usual ideas for engine swaps, Rover V8, Cosworth BOA, Ford 302, but what i'm really interested in is the idea of a Duratec 30 out of a Jag S-Type. It's still a 3.0 Ford V6 after all, and i've not seen one in a Capri yet.

One thing that does seem to be apparent, though, is that you guys really seem to be getting your teeth into them. My current thoughts are to use the engine and box as they come, so i'm just gonna be floating about looking for the pitfalls of the set up, dimensions of things such as the Getrag 221 (how much bigger is it than a Type 5/9?) and most importantly how to tackle the engine management issue.

Hopefully i'll be able to return some knowledge on a few things too, if they ever your parts bins extend to what I know!

That's me anyway, thanks in advance for your help.

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Ugg10

posted on 19/6/14 at 10:05 AM Reply With Quote
I have a Mazda KLDE 2.5l V6 out of a mazda MX6 (same as Ford Proble engine) that can be mated to an MX5 gearbox and will be much lighter than the Jag unit. These make 200hp on throttle bodies and a megasquirt. Do a search for Clairetoo on here and see what this is capable of. If you are interested then drop me a u2u. I'm in Worthing so close enough to have a look, it is partially stripped ready for a TB conversion and I have the injectors, stainless exhaust headers and coil pack available as well to kick the TB conversion off. It is being extracted next week so can be on a pallet to pick up if you are interested.

I've got a mate who is looking to put one of the Jag units in a Scimitar and there is a thread on Pistonheads about a guy putting one in a TVR 3000M that might be worth a read (needed lots of engineering to get it to fit).

Cheers.

[Edited on 19/6/14 by Ugg10]





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1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

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mark chandler

posted on 19/6/14 at 10:46 AM Reply With Quote
Series 1, I stuck mine on coils with a RV8 years ago, now sadly sold BDX 861, also had a 3.0 litre S in the day mine had a 390 Holley, hot cam and 2" pipes, it went well enough for the times.


If your Essex lump is okay you could drop on some triumph throttle bodies and inject, it's never going to be a great engine for power though, Popular conversion on scimitar's is the v6 vauxhall lump with box from a scrap omega as it's compact.

Personally small block ford would be my choice, see what real steel offer in Uxbridge for ideas then look too the USA for much better pricing.

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Ugg10

posted on 19/6/14 at 11:26 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
Personally small block ford would be my choice, see what real steel offer in Uxbridge for ideas then look too the USA for much better pricing.


Like this one - http://www.oldskoolford.co.uk/ipb/index.php?/topic/78291-small-block-302-engine-and-auto-box-£450/

Needs rebuilding but comes with Capri engine and gearbox mounts which are a direct fit on the original mounting points, no welding etc.





---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

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mark chandler

posted on 19/6/14 at 11:47 AM Reply With Quote
Rebuild parts for yank engines are really cheap, you can get complete sets of parts shipped and just use the UK for machining.

It's the engine the car always needed after all.

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Ugg10

posted on 19/6/14 at 11:53 AM Reply With Quote
Should have added the engine in the link comes with most of the rebuild parts and two carbs (2 barrel and 4 barrel). and by the way is is NTDWM just thought it would be of interest.

[Edited on 19/6/14 by Ugg10]





---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

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coozer

posted on 19/6/14 at 12:35 PM Reply With Quote
My choice out of your list would be the 302.

Brand new engines are cheap and bag for bucks...





1972 V8 Jago

1980 Z750

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Miks15

posted on 19/6/14 at 12:48 PM Reply With Quote
Very jealous youve actually got round to doing something. Ive been wanting to do the exact same thing for a while! (Proof to show I am not just copying Link) Just money time and everything else has got in my way so far! Still wanna do it in the future as I love the capri.

I'd say go with the V6, because thats what i think it should be, i like the idea of a 3.0 V6 Capri, keeps it more original.

Been a while since Ive been through what other people said on my original thread but might be worth glossing over.

Good luck with it

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Mr Whippy

posted on 20/6/14 at 11:38 AM Reply With Quote
really love your landy, looks just fab

Capri is quite cool too but would go for the landy

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skoze

posted on 20/6/14 at 09:50 PM Reply With Quote
Cheers for the warm welcome, guys!

Keep it between us, but Bernard (the Landy) is my favourite too - he had a service and a clean today in preparation of seeing some active service again.

As for the Capri, the 302 on OSF is very tempting - wrong gearbox for me though, has to stay manual I think!

Mark - do you now of anyone who's done the Triumph swap before? I've always liked the idea of a fuel injected Essex, could be a very quirky little set up.

Will have a good read over your thread too, Mr 15. I would have been surprised to not have anyone else contemplating it as it makes a lot of sense, I guess someone's just gotta take the plunge.

I'm gonna save hard and get it in the workshop over the winter. It'll come out with something interesting under the bonnet!

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mark chandler

posted on 20/6/14 at 09:58 PM Reply With Quote
Just thinking aloud on the triumph TB's route, get a couple of sets off eBay then chop and weld the inlet, better sticking a Holley on TBH.
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skoze

posted on 22/6/14 at 04:09 PM Reply With Quote
Just had a little look on the 'bay - Christ they're cheap.

I'll have a word with my megasquirt guru and see what he reckons (i'm happy with carbs but have zero ECU experience). Would be great to do something a little unusual.

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