Been searching through these pages and couldn't find much,
currently have a 1275 mayfair, with k-nackered engine! no oil pressure, no water in rad and oil is lush and white!
Have been offered a mk1 xr2 engine, 1740 with a stage 3 head reasonably cheap and was wondering how hard these are to sqidge into the front of a mini!
Am i right in thinking its a crossflow enigne?
Fairly handy with a set of tools and me old mans pretty handy with a welder!
Has any one ever done one of these before or heard of it, and is it relatively easy in comparison to the honda's etc?
Many thanks in advance
joe
Mk1 Xr2 Conversion?
Started by
jeo022
, May 27 2010 06:02 PM
17 replies to this topic
#2
minimanclive
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 06:11 PM
Anything's possible with enough work, but the thing to consider with the fiesta engine is the width as it has the gearbox on the end rather than underneath.
#3
jeo022
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 06:23 PM
Cheers, not even looked at this engine yet so didnt know where gearbox was, with this in mind looks like it may be a big project then!? may have to reconsider!
#4
The Matt
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 07:25 PM
I'd say it's a lot of effort, without gaining much, ermmm, modernisation?
I mean, the old XR2 engines are OK, I loved mine, but there are (in my opinion) far better options for an engine conversion.
Ultimately, it's your choice.......
But, there are conversion kits that will mate a crossflow engine on a mini box, but they're RARE now.
I mean, the old XR2 engines are OK, I loved mine, but there are (in my opinion) far better options for an engine conversion.
Ultimately, it's your choice.......
But, there are conversion kits that will mate a crossflow engine on a mini box, but they're RARE now.
#5
jeo022
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 07:51 PM
Cheers for that, appreciate it's probably a bit too much work for not much gain!
Does the conversion kit mean that the engine would use an existing a series gearbox then? And any ideas what one of these would cost? Probably a fair few pennies if there rare though?!
Cheers
joe
Does the conversion kit mean that the engine would use an existing a series gearbox then? And any ideas what one of these would cost? Probably a fair few pennies if there rare though?!
Cheers
joe
#6
1293sleeper
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 08:05 PM
i think you'll find its not a cross flow but a cvh (composite valve head) engine they are a good engine to tune and far better than the cross flow engine due to double over head cam and some i believe have 16v too but don't hold me to that, my old scimitar ss1 had a 1.6 xr2 cvh and with a good head and twin webbers it was pretty rapid.
#7
The Matt
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 08:33 PM
Mki was crossflow, mkii was CVH.
#8
Shifty
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 08:36 PM
Also CVH stands for
"'Compound Valve-angle Hemispherical'
(or Coarse Vibratory and Harsh!!)
http://www.burtonpow...ical_1/cvh.aspx
"'Compound Valve-angle Hemispherical'
(or Coarse Vibratory and Harsh!!)
http://www.burtonpow...ical_1/cvh.aspx
#9
M44K TS
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 08:40 PM
1740? Sounds like it's had some major work done on it. My mate has a silver Mk1 XR2 as a long term project, I say long term as he now lives about 350 miles away from the garage where the car is kept 
I'm sure his is something like a 1740 and it bloody quick too. Although, they are a bit on the large side with having the gearbox on the side.
If you don't end up going for the engine, let me know as Conor, (my mate) may be interested in it.
I'm sure his is something like a 1740 and it bloody quick too. Although, they are a bit on the large side with having the gearbox on the side.
If you don't end up going for the engine, let me know as Conor, (my mate) may be interested in it.
#10
1293sleeper
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 09:40 PM
shows how much hayness commics know in my book it says composite valve head,
#11
M44K TS
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 09:48 PM
I though Mk1 XR2's were crossflow not CVH?
I could be wrong though, infact, it's not oftem I'm right
I could be wrong though, infact, it's not oftem I'm right
#12
1293sleeper
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 09:51 PM
yeah i only just found that out 
if he was after a cvh convertion i would say go for it but i hate the cross flow engine so i wouldn't recomend it.
if he was after a cvh convertion i would say go for it but i hate the cross flow engine so i wouldn't recomend it.
#13
jeo022
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Posted 28 May 2010 - 07:35 AM
So are people thinking it's worth pickin up and doing? As I say I don't know very much about these engines?! Just know this ones had some work done and is meant to be pretty nippy, just wondered if it would go into a mini reasonably easily?
#14
wolfie
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Posted 28 May 2010 - 10:01 AM
one of my first cars was a Mk1 fiesta supersport it ended up with a 1660 engine by a company called vulcan running on twin dcoe's it was very rapid
However
The engine is very heavy (like the mini its cast iron) its ohv (like the mini) obviously you will get better engine capacity out of the crossflow but i really dont think its worth converting when a half decent secondhand 1275 lump can make a mini shift along abit
If you really have to convert from the a series and ruin another mini i would look at the vauxhall 1.4 and 1.6 lumps and the honda 16v angines i really dont think the kent engine is really worth the effort
However
The engine is very heavy (like the mini its cast iron) its ohv (like the mini) obviously you will get better engine capacity out of the crossflow but i really dont think its worth converting when a half decent secondhand 1275 lump can make a mini shift along abit
If you really have to convert from the a series and ruin another mini i would look at the vauxhall 1.4 and 1.6 lumps and the honda 16v angines i really dont think the kent engine is really worth the effort
Edited by wolfie, 28 May 2010 - 10:37 AM.
#15
pantera2075
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Posted 03 June 2010 - 10:11 AM
Just to clear things up:
All XR2s Mk1 and Mk2 were 1.6 CVH SOHC with a single Weber carb. Not a Kent or a crossflow.
For their time they were pretty powerful - 105bhp IIRC
They don't like high mileage and need regular maintenance. They're pretty coarse running. They're heavy and the gearboxes are big.
IMO this engine would be best where it came from in a Fiesta. There are lighter, smaller, more powerful and probly cheaper options out there nowadays.
Also, the CVH is probly worth some good coin to the right person - hotrodders etc.
All XR2s Mk1 and Mk2 were 1.6 CVH SOHC with a single Weber carb. Not a Kent or a crossflow.
For their time they were pretty powerful - 105bhp IIRC
They don't like high mileage and need regular maintenance. They're pretty coarse running. They're heavy and the gearboxes are big.
IMO this engine would be best where it came from in a Fiesta. There are lighter, smaller, more powerful and probly cheaper options out there nowadays.
Also, the CVH is probly worth some good coin to the right person - hotrodders etc.
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