what engine to put in 1.6 Laser?

[laserdw]

this is kinda a tech question so.........

my poor capri hass no engine and gearbox and no rear axle.

my upgrading/modifying days went out the window with the rover v8 (yes i'm old)

i need to use an auto gearbox

so what would be you experts advice on a good everyday running engine that a auto will marry upto ?
Always on a budget so no cossie yb suggestions please

cheers y'all,

D.

[rich_jc]

I'm going to get a name as a 1.6 lover here, but I think your answer is in the subject post.

Rich

[340truck]

Kiss it better.....Keep It Simple, Stoopid

[Ghia15]

Put a 1.6 back in the car. However put a 2.0 cam in the head, a twin choke 32/36 carb on the left and a 4 branch manifold on the right of the engine.

Would be a fairly quick car and still have fairly good MPG

All the best

[blitzy]

Erm what you haven't said is what you call a budget?
And as you need an auto do you need PAS as well?

When It come to Autos I'd say the bigger CC engines are more the field to aim for.

The YB cossie may be out of the question but have you thought about the V6 cossie and auto box from the granada scorpio?

[PeterG2.8]

Not too difficult to convert to manual and stick with the 1600....crackin' wee engines. Mine runs a 2ltr cam with just single choke 34ICH Weber, dyno'd at 92 bhp, I'm sure if I stuck a twin choke DFAV it would push the 100bhp but I like the hear 40mpg

[elliecharlie2008]

was it originally an automatic shell?

[laserdw]

wow some excellent suggestions, thanks guys.
budget is probably about a grand as it stands.
it was originally a manual shell, and that's an excellent point about powered steering as my left side ain't all that great sometimes.

just to run my colours up a bit i love the 1.6 engine, i used to run it with a 2.0 carb, k&n and it a great, unfortunately i was young so went mad with the mods. it's simple to work on cheap to run and plenty relatively small tweaks to push her along better.

i have been reading a lot about the granny cosworth engine but was concerned about the fitting of the auto-box as i thought id end up having to chop the hell out of her to make it fit, and she is a lovely shell i don't want to ruin her, also heard that the mpg on those is quite good an all.

think i'll start the search there and see where it leads me.

thanks again,

D.

[blitzy]

OK
1st I think you going to need to contact capri gear about the auto issue I am 95% the cars that were to be automatics were built with a larger transmission tunnel than the manual to take the auto box.
Martin at capri gear is possibly the only guy I can think of to confirm this.
If that is the case then you need to find an auto shell.

now IF you can still do something regarding the pinto (personally I'd run a 2.0 pinto with the auto box) then If you speak to a firm called tickover they quoted me about £200 to fabricate the pinto cross member to accept the 2.8I power steering rack.

So you are looking at £350 or so to do a PAS conversion to a pinto capri.

And martin at capri gear "might" have the engine and auto box you need (if fact anything capri he can pretty much get)

so if your budget is a £1000 ish i'd go that way going for the cosworth V6 will cost more when you factor the suspension, Axle, brakes and as it is EFI the whole issue with the correct fueling system.

[elliecharlie2008]

auto shells do have bigger tunnels than manual ones and its a lot of work to convert one from manual to automatic which you need to do as the box wont fit

[Terra-Kotta]

auto shells do have bigger tunnels than manual ones and its a lot of work to convert one from manual to automatic which you need to do as the box wont fit

Sorry. But where is everyone getting this idea from???? This "big tunnel shell"'thing only applies to mk2 escorts. I've had (and broken) more than enough capris to know all the tunnels are exactly the same. The mounts are different yes. But the tunnels are all the same 100%

[rich_jc]

I converted mine from an auto to a manual. All the holes are in the right place, and the trans tunnel is the same.

Only real difference is the battery tray location and the pedal box.

Rich

[blitzy]

Now what is being discussed here is the idea that an auto box will fit in a manual tunnel
Now As this was something that came to my attention I figured it was worth saying something
don't want this guy (or anyone come to think of it) to spend money they don't need to hence why It was mentioned and a recommendation to speak to the likes of capri gear and tickover.
At least that way the best information is out there before hard earned money is thrown at it.

Now I still recommend checking this "rumor" out first last thing anyone wants to do is to be trying to fit the engine and box in to find it won't go.

[PeterG2.8]

Can you honestly see Ford altering a shell just for a few auto boxed Capris? In a word.....Naw

[Terra-Kotta]

I converted mine from an auto to a manual. All the holes are in the right place, and the trans tunnel is the same.

Only real difference is the battery tray location and the pedal box.

Rich

Rich. The x member holes for the auto line up perfectly for the 5 speed. The 4 speed manual holes are further forwards.

[Terra-Kotta]

If the car in question here had a type 9 then the C3 will go straight in. Don't forget to wire te inhibitor switch. I've only ever converted autos to manual and all we do is bridge them.

[Ghia15]

Glyn, you say the 5 speed holes and the auto holes line up on the 4 pot,

Would that be the same on a 3.0. As in would a type 9 from a 2.8i line up with the auto holes on the 3.0?

cheers, sorry for the thread hijack

[Matty2148]

Theres only one capri Shell, they are all the same, the V6 shells have strengthening and plates under the back seats for the exhaust hangers, the V6 engine crossmembers shove the engine backwards a bit so the gear stick ends up in the same place, I`ve had a 2.3 and 2.8 cologne in a 2l auto chassis with a type 9 box and as glyn says the auto inhib switch needs shorting out and boom your off.