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Just read through this whole thread on my old car again. Remind me why you ave a replacement engine in hand? is the fitted one nackered? I removed my race engine when I sold it but fitted a very good one with unleaded heads.
thanks Paul - that's all I could find so I wondered if there was another reason. I'd just whip the heads off and clean it up - new HG and inlet manifold gaskets never hurt (use quality not ebay specials). Oil change and it'll be fine. They're an agricultural engine and a bit of dust and rust won't kill it
Sorry I missed the above posts - working too hard at work!
The only reason for buying the engine was to (eventually) rebuild it as it might come in handy some time in the future, plus the fact it came with a gearbox with overdrive...
I'm sure the current engine once 'recommissioned' will be as good as it was before it went away....and it was very good.
It was over 15 years ago that I rebuilt the car (and engine/box were replaced at least once after that) but you'll need to check the back axle ratio - here's some info for you:
early overdrive box (up to chassis 93/2477 - type 5 box with LH type overdrive - sometimes called the type Z as it was apparently fitted to the Zodiac?)
1st 3.163:1
2nd 2.214:1
3rd 1.412:1
o/d 3rd 1.158:1
4th 1:1
o/d 4th 0.82:1
axle 4HA 3.31:1 (first 500 cars had a 7HA with 3.58)
26.7 mph @ 1000 rpm in o/d 4th
later overdrive box (hybrid Type F box with J type overdrive)
Also remember that the overdrive clutches are hydraulic but the 4 speed is cable (there was a hydraulic Bellhousing available from Ford but rare now) so the pedal etc needs modifying. Both the 4 speed and the 3.07 axle (if you have one) are getting rarer and sought for sprint cars.
I heard from Nigel/Nike55 and although his G46 build stalled a few years ago, he still has the car and is planning to restart his build some time this year.
So with a bit of luck there will be an update at some point in 2019.
By way of an update...had a lot of problems trying to log back onto this site so gave up a few years ago but this updated site seems to work.
Work seriously got in the way of the build and the car has sat around on the drive for the last 12 years. I recently retired and moved to Kent and now have the luxury of a workshop / garage which needs organising. I have a few 'house' projects to get through before winter sets in but hope to start stripping the car soon - obviously a complete ground up restoration is required. To that end I have downloaded and printed out masses of build info and ideas from various sites and I'm looking forward to putting it all together.
Not sure if I'll post the build on here. I think I'd prefer to write a seperate blog and just post a link to it - it would give me better editorial control.