1979 Ford Capri 3.0 S - Knock Knock

Pictures!!!!

Who wouldn't love a Swaymar lump? Just as good as a Ric Wood in my opinion

Nice one, good result that.

I had a black 3.0S many years ago and that had a Burton built and fitted 3100 under the bonnet, no idea on the cam but it had a holley on top and the bloody thing flew when on song. It felt like it would rev like a cologne engine and pull very hard, in fact the guy that bought it from me had it reving up to 6K+ and it was still going for more. Great cars, great fun when on song.

Seems that piqued some interest then!

Swaymar were a pretty big deal back in the 80's; i've no doubt they did other stuff but they're held in high regard for their work on Ford V6s. Speciality was a full re-work of the Cologne 2.8 which they converted to a 3.2 and offered as a full package producing 260bhp at the flywheel. Not bad going but it took some serious engineering. Put simply, they knew what they were doing.

Anyway, the engine; it's currently sat in the unit with diesel in the bores - apparently the answer to my question of 'does it turn over?' should have been no, but I guess that's a chance you take buying stuff unseen. Still, a few squirts of WD40 saw the cam followers out with no wear, cam is nice and fairly fresh, so i've got hope for the rest. I already have new rings, so even if it comes to some hot oil it should be ok. Most importantly though, the heads are good. And I got a box of goodies, some stuff to punt on, and a remote oil cooler which i'll make good use of. For the price I paid, I can't complain in the slightest.

Was an odd collection though - ended up in some middle of nowhere industrial estate in Newhaven before putting two and two together. Who races Essex V6s? Banger boys. Their yard was insane, had a troop of kids race-prepping something in the back, endless dead stuff, a Datsun 180b/ 1200 estate (couldn't quite tell) due to be raced that made me want to cry, yanks, Merc estates due to go to Belgium for a series.. Mad. Really nice blokes though.

Apparently this engine used to be raced in a Mk1 Capri Super Rod, before ending its life in a Toyota Starlet (!) until the guy quit racing. Bizarre.

Either way, i'm looking forward to making it work. Project 200bhp Essex on a budget is go, here's a tease of it looking filthy.

Hepolite Powermax 10.5:1 high compression pistons, pocketed for valve clearance;




And speaking of valves;



Couldn't go bigger if you tried.

I've got everything crossed it'll turn over after a good soak, then it's time for a strip down and clean up. Probably acid dip the lot, get the heads faced, clean up the valves and lap them back in, might fit some screw-in studs although they aren't really necessary in a street car, we'll see.

It's also time to find a Swaymar inlet manifold and stick a Holley 390 on it. Will update you in the week.

Oh, and just a reminder that the car still exists;

I used a Swaymar inlet on mine too back in the day. They do crop up on evilbay from time to time. You could ask Ric Wood if he does a version?

I ran a swaymar manifold with 390 holley on my full race Essex 3.1 in my 105e anglia. Couldn't get it run properly. Carb was too big. Changed to a 350 holley and it transformed it!!! Hard to find now tho!!

Well, didn't get quite as much done today as i'd have liked, but made a little progress at least in terms of the shopping list, if nothing else.
Turns over smoothly enough, no grit in the sump, everything looks to be ok inside... Didn't ave a chance to get the pistons out, but I sort of trust this engine now. Spare Hepolites are selling on the 'bay in half an hour so there'll be no going back!

Anyway, some pictures for you lovely people;

Doesn't look like much, but I promise you it's a honey:



Bores aren't in bad shape, no scores, pitting or lips. Bit of ming on this one down to ring level, and two have some surface rust but nothing a hone won't fix:



Shells weren't terrible, nor was the crank although we'll wait and see when it comes out - may need a grind, or more than likely i'll make a hybrid bottom end from the two as it needs a flywheel anyway:







But most importantly... Check the heads! Little skim, clean up, new stem seals and lap the valves back in - they'll be beauts.

Spot the standard head:



Ported, polished, lovely:



41mm exhaust valves;



curse word photo, but inlets are around the 46mm mark;



And finally, my growing collection of dismantled V6s;



Sweet.

Plan is to pressure test the lot, then hone it, rings, shells, maybe regrind the crank, recon the heads, steel timing gear, possibly lighten the flywheel, then start putting it all back together with fresh ancillaries I guess.

Ah nice one cheers for that! I've heard an awful lot of praise for them with Rovers so that could explain it.

Will get on the hunt for a manifold and start saving my pennies, may have to get it up and running with the 38DGMS and then swap for the 4 barrel later on - I can tell already i'm going to get very impatient with this!

Happy new year Retro Rides familia.

Just been making a shopping list for the old boy, and remembered I never posted this up - PH write up on the engine episode; www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=31218

Within a month or so i'm hoping to have the car on the road again as it's being chucked out of it's current home. Massive pain in the given i've not really got the time nor the money right now, but there we go, things happen...

Not sure if i'll be able to sort the 3.1 in time for this, so the current plan is to use the known good original 3.0 bottom end see what ends up getting bolted onto it, then take it off the road again next winter for its 'final act' of the Group 1 cammed 3.1 running injection. Well, that;s the plan anyway! Watch this space.

Flippin' heck! Gutted I missed those/ don't have the cash spare, would have been a very cheap way to do it...

Got a bit of news though! Took a trip to Southend to Ilford yesterday before heading down to the workshop in Sussex.



Fine selection of bits ended up in the back...



Proceeded to nearly die on the way home; seriously need a working windscreen wiper (photo taken by a photographer I happened to have on board)



Terrifying drive, couldn't see lanes for most of it - exciting stuff indeed.

Anyway, in the boot i've got all the bits I took off the original engine plus steel timing gear, gaskets, valve stem seals, beautifully reconditioned Distributor, Sachs clutch, funky NGK plugs, Kent V63 cam, bits and pieces. Gonna see what block gets used but i'm swaying towards the original for ease at the moment. Not the plan I had, but i've got to get the rebuild complete within the next couple of weeks as i'm losing my storage space. We'll see what happens, either way I can't wait to get it on the road again.