1600gt or Zetec into mk1 cortina

75corty · 24-01-2013, 12:45 AM

Hey guys i've got my hands on a 1600 gt engine (711m) and complete drivline out of a capri. It has had mild work done to it, cam, port polish, decked, extractors come with, steel bits, bored a little etc. I haven't bought the engine yet, the mk1 still has a (by the looks of it non original) 1500 pre-crossflow. The 1600 with 4 s. box, taily, diff is $1500.

Basically i'm a young guy wanting a bit of grunt for my mk1 cortina. I've been researching both engines and obviously power wise the zetec is by far way to go.
But i've had a few people say i should go with the 1600gt for originality purposes and i guess to get a bit of money for it if i ever did wanna sell it. What are your opinions, will i really get THAT much less money if i sold it say 10yrs down the track with the zetec instead of the 1600? (not that i plan to ever sell it.)
I'm just taking into consideration that i dont think the mk1s even came out with a 1600gt?

I thought i'd make two threads so my other is asking about the zetec conversion.

Im really sorry that this is such a stupid sounding question i just want opinions as it will make up my mind for me

cortinagt · 24-01-2013, 02:18 AM

Mk1s came out with a 1200 and a 1500 both non cross flow (carb and exhaust on the same side) the 1600 was introduced in the MK2 in 1967.

The 1600 isn't a straight swap you will need a 1600 cortina sump (cortinas have a front sump while escorts and I think capris have a rear sump bowl. You will need a cortina oil pick up line as well.

You will also need a cable accelerator set up for the 1600.

If all you want is a bit more power try and find a GT MK1 cortina weber manifold and weber. You can also use a 2L escort down draft weber on this manifold or more fuel delivery but it may need rejetting.

You could put a 2L escort motor in it but that's a fair bit harder, but still easier than a zetec engine.

If you we're getting an engine built one option is a 1600 block with 1500 pistons and 1500 head. Looks original but you get more CCs.

I have been mucking around with Cortinas for years so if you have any questions let me know. I might have the right answer.

As for originality I would agree with keeping with period mods. IE things they would have done to them in the 60s.

Twin Webers side drafts etc are nice but are often hard to get running right and wasted $$$ on a daily driver.

Tell us more about your car and your plans

75corty · 24-01-2013, 09:20 AM

Well its a bit of a rust bucket but i bought two mk1s for a reasonable price so my plans are to make one and sell other body after im finished. I plan for it to be a project over sensible time not rushing. First thing is cutting out the rust and taking out the 1500 engine. Once it's had That done i'm gonna have a good look at what engine to use. Thing is it's in bad enough shape and has had three coats minimum so i think doing a zetec or something other than original is a better option as its had a little bit of manipulating anyway.

75corty · 24-01-2013, 10:25 AM

Im also going for a ratty tatty show car look so a zetec would sit nicely in there.

cortinagt · 24-01-2013, 11:13 AM

This is a good source of info and parts from UK but not always cheap.
http://www.burtonpower.com/tuning-gu...k2-tuning.html

This is a good source of info on Aussie cortinas
http://www.pixelmatic.com.au/cortina/cortina.html

This is a great cortina forum and these guys mod cortinas (Nissan engines etc)
http://www.cortina-mk1classifieds.com/forum/

cortinagt · 24-01-2013, 11:20 AM

For a first project the zetec option will be very complex unless you have a good fabricator to help you. I don't know much about this conversion but know that since you are converting a FWD engine to RWD there are a lot of parts that need modifying. With only a little research I found the steering rack needs to be modified as well as custom exhaust etc etc.

If its just cheap power ou want a OHC 2L Pinto engine is a lot easier.

Would you also convert the Zetec to run on carbies?

75corty · 24-01-2013, 10:21 PM

Yea i looked into a few things, my other thread i just made explains the zetec thingy and what i know of It. Thought id make two otherwise its like a million questions! Cheers.

Neale · 24-01-2013, 11:30 PM

I think its all about the time & money that you want to spend on it. If your chaing HP then the Zetec has more power, but requires a bit of cash & mods. If you want to register it you will have to get it engineered etc. But its still a common mod & there are plenty of mods available for the zetec motor. You can also get a cam cover to make it look like a BDA motor for the period look when you open the bonnet.
Heres a pic of one in an escort

The 1600 is a bit of an easier conversion & wont require cutting the car up. In the end the car will be easier to sell if you want to in the future.

Have you thought about supercharger or turbo for the 1600? they make a huge difference to the car performance wise & still have a period appeal.
Like the one in this pic

One other thing to look into if you go down the 1600 or 2L path is getting a 5 speed sierra or celica box.

75corty · 29-01-2013, 09:12 PM

Wooooooow that 1600 looks nice. Is that what you call a blow through carburettor setup? I think I might go with the 1600 as I would love to get this thing on the road as soon as possible. Do the turbo'd 1600s have decent reliability on road? The fella i'm buying this off has paperwork for a few internal mods like headwork and blancing and lightened flywheel and cam etc. will it need more for turboing or should it have more? (obviously i will probably have to specify more that has been done but I will when i buy it and get the old reciepts etc.)

I do like the idea of the originality now that i think about it. someone who inspired me is seeing 'tony kents'(that the name?) mk1 cortina with a 1500 precrossflow running like 12s or something! obviously an intense amount of time experience and money but still inspiring!

Does anyone know whats required in converting it to the 1600? it's got the 1500 pre in it now. The 1600gt and driveline came out of a capri.

cortinagt · 29-01-2013, 09:49 PM

Check the sump. If its a rear bowl sump you will need a 1600 cortina sump and oil pickup.

You will also need to convert your accelerator to a cable set up to link the carbie. Other than that I think it should be straight bolt up with the 1500 gbox. If you use a 1600 gbox you will need to cut a hole in the tranny tunnel for the shifter. All in all its a pretty common conversion.