Ford 2.8 liter Cologne V6 Conversion

[Ducsingle]

Hi from the U.S. I just joined this site as I'm considering a Mk1 V6 conversion project using a Ford 2.8 liter Cologne V6 engine:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cologne_V6_engine

This is a popular engine conversion amongst Sunbeam Alpine owners in the U.S. as the 2.8 V6 is cheap and can be tuned for reliable, tractable power. Not as much grin factor as a V8, but a lot less hassle to fabricate, and fewer cooling issues to resolve. It seems like this would be a good choice for a Cortina as well, mated to a T-5 transmission and an 8-inch rear end.

Has anyone done a conversion using this family of Ford V6's? I couldn't find anything searching the forum.

[Captin Crayford]

Hi Duc

There is a guy near me who has a 3.0 litre V6 Capri Essex motor in his MK1 Cortina. How ever this is the motor with the dizzy in the Front
of the engine. The Cologne motor should fit in but check to make sure nothing fouls the fire wall if you don't want to cut anything.

You shouldn't need to fit an 8'' rear end as the Cortina axle can handle either motor. Unless you are building a hot motor for racing.
You could fit the 2.8 Capri axle in the car. This is a little wider but will fit. You would have to change the inset on your rims a little.

Google MK2 Cortina Savage V6. this should give you an idea on the part you need to locate. Engine Xmember,front bowel sump etc... The parts form the MK2
will bolt into the MK1. These swap parts were off the shelf and came form the Ford Corsair and the Ford Zodiac MK4. Have to fab your own
headers though.



I have done these swaps when i lived in the UK into Cortina's and Corsairs. But using the Capri V6. not the engine you have. It can't be
all that different i'm sure.

You will have to alter the gearbox tunnel to fit a T-5 in there.

Hope this sorta helps a bit...

[Ducsingle]

Thanks for the info Captin Crayford!

I'm checking into a Mk1 where the firewall and transmission tunnel have been modified to fit a 5.0 liter V8 and T5 transmission. That should leave plenty of room for the Cologne V6, and I won't be modifying an original Cortina!

There's a fellow here in the U.S. who makes Cologne V6 conversion kits for the Sunbeam Alpine, including compact headers. I'm guessing those might be a good fit for a Cortina Cologne V6 conversion.

[Captin Crayford]

Hi Duc

Ah ok then. Loads of room..... Yes I guess so . Why the swap back so to speak?. Most guy here want to fit V8's...LOL...

[Ducsingle]

Why the swap back so to speak?. Most guy here want to fit V8's.

I have a Sunbeam Alpine that was converted to Tiger specs in the early 70's - - - supposedly the first Tiger clone, at least in the U.S. It has a Ford 289 and is a lot of fun to drive with the Tiger handling ills fixed with suspension and steering modifications. However, the 289 is still a heavy engine, and keeping the temperature down on hot days in stop and go traffic is challenging. I think the lighter 2.8 liter V6 would be pretty close with respect to power/weight ratio, cooling wouldn't be an issue, and fuel economy would be better. Lots of folks have converted Sunbeam Alpines to the 2.8 liter V6 in the U.S. with very good results. Much more practical than a V8 Tiger, and probably about as fast with better handling.

[cortina_gt]

Good to see another Cortina owner in the Bay Area. I'm just down the road, I work in Palo Alto and live in San Jose. Any pictures of your car?

-John

[JEM]

I've been debating a Ranger/Explorer 4.0 Cologne pushrod motor, with a turbo Zetec, a Chevy 3.1/3.4 V6, or a Rover 4.0/4.6 as fallback options more or less in order of preference.

My 'tina is a bare shell in need of quite a lot of work, so I've got plenty of time to figure it out.

The 4.0 Cologne has lots of good stuff (hyd-roller lifters, stiffer block, better heads) but none of that's interchangeable even to the 2.9s (coolant passages very different) so far as I can tell, much less the 2.8s; the 4.0 is a taller motor in general (approx 20cm higher deck height) and the stock (truck) intake's pretty tall (similar to the 5.0 chef's-hat in design) so about the only way I'll really know whether it's going to fit or can be made to fit is to spend an afternoon at the pick-n-pull digging one out, bring it home, and try it. Unlikely the truck pan will fit, but the 4.0 apparently will take a 2.9 Scorpio, etc. pan and pickup (scarce enough over here as it is.)

Unfortunately, the Ranger/Explorer doesn't look like the easiest vehicle to pull an engine out of (getting a Zetec out of a Focus looks to be a relative doddle; from what I've seen getting a Rover V8 out of a Disco means you lift the front of the body off the frame, and V6 5-speed late Camaros are not common sights in the u-pull-its.)

The Ranger used a Mazda-sourced M5R2 transmission, strong and shifts well enough but I have no clue on shifter location and the gear spacing is far from optimum for a 2000lb Cortina. A Z-spec T5 has much better gear spacing, rebuild boxes can be had for reasonable $ but so far as I can tell a bellhousing will cost you just about as much as the box. Of course, by the time you get done converting the currently worthless USD to GBP for bits from the UK to convert a 2-liter Zetec to RWD with a T5 you've spent even more. A Type 9 might be a better fit in the tunnel than a T5 but it's weaker and rarer.

The Chevy 3.1/3.4 60-degree motor makes good power, is comparable in size to the 2.8/2.9 Ford, and in Camaro applications comes complete with a compact EFI intake and T-5 transmission. It'd seem to be just about the ideal combo except for that brand thing.

Planning for an Escort WC crossmember and rack, rest of the suspension and brakes TBD. I'm starting from scratch on all of that. Looks like three active posters on this thread are all within 25 miles of each other...

[Ducsingle]

To me, the main advantage of the Cologne V6 is that it will likely fit in a Cortina without having to perform modifications to the firewall - - - and it's still a Ford engine. With a cast iron block, it's not incredibly light, but it can be tuned for good, reliable power.

If body modifications aren't a big deal, something like a Ford 289 V8 with aluminum heads, intake, and water pump seems like a good way to go. Or maybe the Buick/Rover aluminum V8. The original Buick design is really light, but my understanding is the Rover version is a big heavier, but still not as heavy as a Ford 289. Between the two I would go with the Ford 289 in the U.S. as parts are incredibly easy to find and there are unlimited performance options available.

Swapping in a 4-cylinder just doesn't do much for me. There are plenty of good engines in that category, but the appeal just isn't there.

[kenrick]

yes there is me i have the 2.8 mustang II engine in my cortina mkII they fit in those cars really good it has a 4 speed and the thing is absolutly nuts for power i hope you try the conversion it's very cheap and works very well!! the only problem with the conversion is the location of the shifter and the front suspension but i used strut inserts out of a mazda rx7 1985 and rear springs out of a olds alero 2001 so build and have a ball .

[Ducsingle]

yes there is me i have the 2.8 mustang II engine in my cortina mkII they fit in those cars really good it has a 4 speed and the thing is absolutly nuts for power i hope you try the conversion it's very cheap and works very well!! the only problem with the conversion is the location of the shifter and the front suspension but i used strut inserts out of a mazda rx7 1985 and rear springs out of a olds alero 2001 so build and have a ball .

It's great to hear from somebody who has swapped in the Cologne V6. My research indicates the Essex V6 is a very different animal than the Cologne V6, and the Essex V6 is incredibly heavy - - - about the same weight as a stock 289/302 V8!

Was it necessary to make any sheetmetal modifications to fit the 2.8 Cologne in your Mk2, or was it just a matter of fabricating motor mounts?

What transmission did you use?

Can you provide more details on the front suspension issue?

[kenrick]

i used the motor and transmission out of the mustangII ,throttle cable , clutch cable the motor mounts and transmission mount . i will try to send pictures soon to help you along ,i only had to do minor body mods . ill send them soon if you need any info let me know thanks .

[Ducsingle]

Thanks for the additional info!

All manual transmission Mustang II's used the Borg Warner SR4 (RAD) four speed transmission. It's popular to swap in a Borg Warner T5 transmission amongst the Mustang II crowd. The T5 is about the same size and weight as the RAD but has the 5th gear overdrive for better fuel economy and is a bit more robust. Also, because the T5 was used more extensively, there are more shifter alternatives. Google "Mustang II T5 and you will find a bunch of articles about the swap. I mention this because a T5 probably isn't any more hassle to install on a Cortina than the RAD, but has some additional benefits.

[kenrick]

awesome thanks for the info

[Benji]

Hello, I would to install a 2.8l v6 cologne in my mk1,
Have you many photos to your conversion please because it's hard to find it for ideas.
Thanks