| Author |
 Topic  |
|
William Marotta
Forum Hermit
Joined: 03/27/2005
164 Posts |
 Posted - 09/26/2007 : 13:54:31
|
The word is that the cylinder heads are from central/ south american fords. So far no has been able to locate any to bring home with them..... Enterprises has found a comapany that is able to rebuild some heavy damage, so if you have a head that is damaged, get some credit for it and send it back to enterprises. also oil pan baffles are usable too....
william marotta
405 612 0604
Topeka Kansas
Mid West Spec Racer |
 |
|
|
camop
Novice Typer
Joined: 04/24/2006
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2007 : 18:39:03
|
I am new to the class and very much like the racing as it is right now. . . but, would it make any sense to consider the engine Enterprises is using in the FE? I would imagine that it is lighter and maybe if it were de-tuned for the SR it would last for quite a long time. If the Ford engine looks to be a problem some years down the road maybe using the same basic engine as the FE would be good for Enterprises and for us.
Neal Norton |
|
|
|
WhatsThatNoise
Forum Hermit
Joined: 11/21/2006
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2007 : 19:07:58
|
Three of us currently racing Pintos in ITB are seriously thinking about going SRF after 2008...
1) We're tired of getting smoked by questionably prepared cars. (cheaters?)
2) We don't want something with a grenade engine.
3) we want close & cheap racing. (no burning through tires & brakes all the time)
My opinion...If you want Hp...Buy a drag racer.
100 hp and 1700lb is fine & it keeps the 'Cowboys' out.
My concern is future parts availability
I can't believe they didn't think of that last time
How long have they been using the FF engine?
The contract should say...
If you [Ford] stop building replacement parts, we have the right to reman them.
This engine changing thing is worrying us a bit.
|
|
|
|
Pinecone
Forum Hermit
Joined: 04/09/2005
197 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2007 : 07:28:58
|
The Duratec used in the FE is also available in smaller displacements. A small as 1600.
I ran across some info that in other parts of the world FF has gone to the Duratec. Only in the US are they still sticking with an engien from the 60s.
Whatever we move to in the future, and IMO it will happen at some point, I hope they pick a brand NEW to the market package, to ensure long availability.
Terry Carraway
SRF Chassis 561
Red/White #4
|
|
|
|
William Marotta
Forum Hermit
Joined: 03/27/2005
164 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2007 : 08:06:16
|
From the information I have been fed from Enterprises, I don't think the SpecRacerFord will have to worry about engines for a few years yet. I do not expect to have to even think about a different engine for at least five years, and I think closer to ten years. This is not a formula ford engine. I get the impression that some think the engine used is the same one as the formula ford. Our engine came from the Ford Escort, there are lots of short blocks around. Now we have to see if Enterprises is smart enough to buy some of these now, that will keep the short blocks going. The cylinder head is the hang up.
william marotta
405 612 0604
Topeka Kansas
Mid West Spec Racer |
|
|
|
WhatsThatNoise
Forum Hermit
Joined: 11/21/2006
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 22:20:00
|
What year Escort did this engine come out of?
We have tons of them in yards around here...
I can probably pick up a couple of heads cheap.
Is it a specific type/date code head? |
|
|
|
William Marotta
Forum Hermit
Joined: 03/27/2005
164 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2007 : 13:02:49
|
There is only one cylinder head that can be used. the casting number on the cylinder head will read RF-F4CE-BA If the cylinder head must have that number on the head.
william marotta
405 612 0604
Topeka Kansas
Mid West Spec Racer |
|
|
|
WhatsThatNoise
Forum Hermit
Joined: 11/21/2006
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2007 : 11:09:40
|
Thanks...
So what do they charge for a good core?
And what year Escort would I find this on?
I like scavenger hunts  |
Edited by - WhatsThatNoise on 11/17/2007 11:11:23 |
|
|
|
William Marotta
Forum Hermit
Joined: 03/27/2005
164 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2007 : 11:55:43
|
the engineering number would indicate a head from 1994 when it was first in the ford system. What year of escort? 1994 or newer. How much? I cant say -- but I would think two to four hundred depending on condition
william marotta
405 612 0604
Topeka Kansas
Mid West Spec Racer |
|
|
|
65Roses
Needs a Life!!!
Joined: 04/03/2002
USA
274 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2007 : 14:34:28
|
quote:
Originally posted by WhatsThatNoise
What year Escort did this engine come out of?
We have tons of them in yards around here...
I can probably pick up a couple of heads cheap.
Is it a specific type/date code head?
I don't think you're going to find that head in any USA junk yards... see the prior postings, that specific head comes from South or Central American Fords. I heard they could or would not sell them here in the States for emissions reasons. |
|
|
|
WhatsThatNoise
Forum Hermit
Joined: 11/21/2006
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2007 : 07:06:04
|
Setback...
I know 2 yard operators pretty well & they say they have never seen one.
I'm still going to keep it in mind when I go 'shopping'
Can't be as bad as finding a Brit. 12H432 head for a 1622 Elva.
(And I found 2 of those) |
|
|
|
DrewSRF24
Forum Hermit
Joined: 03/06/2007
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2009 : 21:10:56
|
Since this is a "theoretical supposition," I guess I will revive this with different tack:
How 'bout the Honda Fit engine that has recently been accepted by SCCA for Formula F (a.k.a. Formula Ford or Formula Fit, depending on how you swing)? About 110-115 hp, lighter weight, and a 6-speed transaxle? William and a couple of others mentioned that it will take some manufacturer's support to make it happen, and I would say that if Honda did that for FF racers, there would possibly be some momentum for Honda to look at where else it could get involved in SCCA racing (if any of you reading this would care to forward this to HPD, be my guest!).
I am pretty new to racing and SRF (3 shortened seasons), but I think that when I look at my suspension settings, the Spec Racer would be a lot happier with less weight on the rear, and the Fit engine is tiny in comparison to the 1.9L Escort engine. The Honda has a DOHC 4 valve head, and it revs higher, making a racing engine sound, and not a "tractor" sound (4100-5700rpm is pathetic for a racecar, IMO). The exhaust note of our cars is a serious deterent to the class, from a spectator point of view. Ask anyone at the track (whose family member isn't racing SRF!).
I have no idea how well such a package would drive, but I'll bet it would be more like the original Spec Renault engine some of the "experienced" Spec Racer drivers have remembered so fondly on other posts in this forum (but without all the maintenance the carbureted Renault needed). Engine changes would be much easier with a smaller package, too. I agree with another previous post - that if Spec Racer ever needs a new engine package, the age and supply of the engines should be factored in, too.
OK, done "supposing theoretically" for tonight. It was fun!
Drew Carlson
SF Region SRF#24 |
|
|
|
breton
Needs a Life!!!
Joined: 04/03/2002
USA
1091 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2009 : 00:11:25
|
I can give you the math since I entered the class as an SR at its peek in 1993 (right before the conversion was approved) and saw the value of the car drop instantly by at least 30% (where for years the going price stayed within a very narrow band.) Add in the $10k plus to convert the car up to Ford specs and you end up with a $13k SR now worth $16-18k as a converted SRF (or put another way, add the $10k to the $13-14k original investment and you come up with spending $23k to create a car work $5-7k less than you started). Oh, and an SR with some minor updates can kick the butt of an SRF due to the 90 lb weight advantage and better car balance.
Go forward 15 years now, and consider what it would cost to do this again with modern engines and if anyone can come up with a price less than $20k, that would be a shock. Add in the depreciated value (let's say $6-8k loss in value) and smaller potential market and you now have a car worth $20-25k that you've had to invest somewhere north of $35-$40k to bring it up to spec. The simplest equation is to simply double the conversion cost for a realistic investment, or wait for all the "early adopters" to build their $35-40k SRFits and buy one a few years later at half the price. Better off to go to an FE than convert an SRF.
For a good example, look at the going rate of Formula Mazdas, or even a decent Stohr CSR/DSR to get an idea of how quickly the marketplace can change when the "shiny new object" hits the market. After running the 25 hour with some serious machinery that walked away on the straight I'd certainly enjoy more power, but I can tell you right now that an SRF can kick the butt of 90% of that field in braking and cornering, which is still a kick considering the outlandish fun/price ratio we enjoy. As they say, "If it ain't broke..."
Bob Breton-SRF 51-San Francisco Region |
Edited by - breton on 12/17/2009 00:11:57 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Engine options
