MK2 Escort - Pinto Upgrade

Royman · 14-06-2008, 07:47 PM

Hey guys,

Just a few questions regarding fitting a pinto to a MK2 Escort. I have a 78 1600 manual escort and have picked up a 2.0 OHC to fit in it. I think the engine is out of a Cortina as it has a deep sump.

Just want to know if i need to change to an escort sump & pick up? also will the 2.0l Cortina engine mounts work on the Escort crossmember? Will the old 4 Speed Bolt up and work? And will the 1.6 Radiator (with a good cooling fan) cool it or should i upgrade that also.

Anyone that has done this conversion (seems like alot from what i have read on forum) any tips, tricks or advise would be awesome....

Cheers
Lee

smciner1 · 15-06-2008, 07:37 PM

You will need to move the Radiator Forward to get it to fit. Best bet is to have a look in the Engine Bay of a Factory 2 litre Car to see where it goes.

dougo · 15-06-2008, 08:18 PM

Pretty sure the sump for the escort is different to the cortina...there is a dimple or "dent" in the escort sump...I had a cortina sump and changed it over..not sure if yuo could make it fit, we didnt bother just went for the change....not sure about the engine mounts....The gearbox should bolt straight up.....radiator up to you and the condition of the existing one and what mods u plan for the pinto etc....Cheers Doug

dougo · 15-06-2008, 08:22 PM

oops forgot to add that the radiator on the 2litres sat sort of inside the radiator mounting brackets...so it was almost snug with the front grill support panel...the 1600 sat closer to the engine.....isnt a big drama to cut out the metal top so the radiator fits in but where the bottom of the radiator sits needs to be cut out to suit the 2litre location.....a piece of steel needs to be welded in....I recall these being available on eBay in the UK a while ago....simply cut out and weld in the new bits.....will see if i have a pic of the two different radiator mount styles....Cheers Doug

bygonfixation · 13-07-2008, 10:57 AM

The sump wont fit you will have to get a escort one the dimple commented about stops the sump getting rubbed away. Radiator will have to be moved forward. Cut the lower section of the rad support from under the radiator neatly then turn the cut piece upside down and weld it back into place you will also need to remove the top plate and possibly a little more as for the fan from a 1600. Ford spent millions of dollars researching so why change it, the 1600 fan is a different size and pitch to the 2ltr fan. Or you could always jsut hook up an electric one. The gearbox will bolt up without a problem but you will need a new startermotor and some rewiring not onlyfor the starter but the dizzy oil pressure switch and water temp sender, the most important part of the engine to gearbox changeover is the 3/4 inch spacer behind the clutch fork forget this and no clucth, give the bolt that retains this spacer some loctite as we dont need this falling out. Good luck

Mooa42 · 14-07-2008, 06:20 PM

As "bygonfixation" said you will need to change some wiring, including the alternator. Depending on what year your car is, it can pay to move the fuse box, (some early ones are mounted vertically on the firewall which is hard to get too when the 2lt goes in).

You don't have to move the radiator forward, but if you don't, you will need to remove the fan and spacer from the water pump, shorten your radiator hoses, (if they are 2lt Escort ones) and get an electric fan to mount in front of the radiator. If you don't use the timing belt cover make sure that the top hose doesn't expand when it's hot and rub on the top pulley.

You will also need to redo the exhaust as it is on the driver’s side on the 2lt and yes you do need the sump and oil pickup from an Escort. If I remember correctly the engine mounts on a Cortina are the same but the brackets that they bolt to are different, (a 2lt Escort mount is about an inch and a half to 2 inches thick and about 3 inches round with a thread coming out each end. Looks like a hockey puk with 2 d#@ks)

My other suggestion is to ensure that the carby has had the brass fuel inlets replaced with tapped fittings as these had a habit of blowing out when the car backfires which results in dumping fuel over the top of the dizzy and then you end up with a black smelly car!

The gearbox will bolt up but the 1st and 2nd ratios will be a lot lower than the 2lt box. You can use the Cortina starter but there is an Escort one that is shorter and is easier to remove in the future if you need to.

Think that about covers it, apart from diff ratios, but it's a good conversion good luck.

Royman · 04-08-2008, 10:11 PM

Thanks everyone for your help, the 1.6 is out and the 2l ready to go in. Hopefully everything goes together sweet, just got a bit of engine bay work to do (speaking of that anyone know the best way to tackle rust around the firewall heater bubble?). Cheers

Sterling · 04-08-2008, 10:44 PM

rust in the heater bubble is done properly by cutting and welding up basically then respray in primer and painted over, but i just cut mine out riveted a plate in, bogged over and painted, not even noticeable..

i coudnt be bothedr reading all the replies to your swap questions, but i did it.. and the radiator does NOT have to be moved forward unless you want to use the origonal pulley powered fan, the fuel line has to be moved to other side at the diff, becuase the exhaust will melt the fuel line.

wiring is exactly the same just move to other side. i have the 1600 fan, maintaines about 60% heat.. which is normal. if its thrashed it rises to about 80% i had to remove my alternator to fit the motor in, then reinstall the alternator once in.

the 4 speed box and 3.77 diff you will probably have will work well, will be faster than a standard rs2000 in acceleration. probly only make it to about 160, but who needs speed

speed kills, burnouts dont

and yeah everything else straight forward... you will LOVE the improvement in power. shreds the tyres with ease.

good luck

jorgan92 · 24-08-2008, 01:43 PM

are you selling the 1600?