Jump to content
HybridZ

Ford SVO 4 cylinder-sounds nice


Ferd/289

Recommended Posts

I have been reading about performance enhancements to mustangs and the book raves about the SVO 4 cylinder ( I think supercharged ) as an engine. The author claims over 400 HP. Has anyone made a hybrid out of one? I would think it would be a nice conversion.

Ferd

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest KSGerry

A better option is the new all-aluminum dohc Ford-Mazda Duratec engine now installed into the Ford Ranger and Mazda B-2300 trucks, the 2004 Ford Focus, the Mazda3 and Mazda6. This engine is based on a Cosworth design intended for Formula 1 competition in the early 1990s.

 

The Duratec only weighs about 200 pounds complete due to it's all-aluminum components, a sleeved block, cylinder head, oil pan. Although rated at 160 h.p. in stock form, very little has to be done to the engine to reach over 200 h.p. Some of my naturally aspirated customers are making over 300 h.p. using forged rods and high compression pistons but with very little headwork. See: http://www.circleperformance.com or http://www.marcymotorsport.com

 

The drag racers have latched onto the Duratec too with a turbo-boosted Mazda6 making upwards of 1000 h.p. See: http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2002/news/110601.html

 

Same for the road-racers as this is the engine for the new Formula SCCA open-wheel and sports-bodied cars. See: http://www.scca-enterprises.com/formula_sportsracer.html

 

There are carbureted conversions and a stand-alone ignition that requires no computer plus several choices for drivelines including mating a Duratec to a VW trans-axle if someone wanted a mid engine Z car.

 

Regards,

Gerry Dedonis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Nic-Rebel450CA

If you only want about 200HP, a 4 cylinder would work, but if you want more HP, there isnt really any benefit from having a smaller engine. You arent really going to get any better mileage because of all of the modifications you are going to have to do. The cost of the mods is going to far offset any efficiency benefits. And the cost to build another one because you blew up the first one is going to get even more expensive.

 

And, as far as 1000 HP from a 4-cylinder? Let's see, do those pistons end up in orbit, or through the oil pan? Or heck, maybe they just disintegrate. Or maybe the nifty all aluminum block would melt and ooze out the bottom of the car. Aluminum is aluminum, it is a soft metal that melts at a low temperature. I am sure you could even determine a HP/melting point relationship.

 

I really dont see the obsession with supercharging/turboing little engines to try to get them to make rediculous amount of HP. There is only so much room for combustion in those little cylinders, and there is only so much force that the components can withstand. The streetability is going to go way down if you have a 300-400 HP 4 cylinder. Just think of how streetable a Chevy 350 would be with about 200HP/L. That would only be about 1200HP :lol: That's about 300 more than a NASCAR engine!

 

I wouldnt be surprised if the reason that you see this junk in racing is because the supercharger, turbo and NOS companies sponsor so much because they know that you are going to blow everything up and then have to buy more. I mean hey, the only thing better than someone who buys rediculous amounts of stuff once is someone who has to keep buying the stuff up because they blow it up, right?

 

Oh, and hooking up any kind of power through a VW transaxle is going to be messy. I've even heard of Harley engines (about 100HP) destroying a VW transaxle on a trike! Just think of how much less the trike weighs compared to a Z, and how much less 100HP is than what you might intend to put through it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Duratek is definatly a better engine, but have you priced a set of OHC's? 1800 Buck? WHAT? The SVO 4 cyl would be a cool implant, wanted to do one myself but got intimidated by all the WIRES in the engine bay of the Turbo Coupe I was going to buy. Never the less, someone do this swap and let me know it's not that bad. Can always make room for another car :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest KSGerry
The Duratec is definatly a better engine, but have you priced a set of OHC's? 1800 Buck? WHAT? The SVO 4 cyl would be a cool implant, wanted to do one myself but got intimidated by all the WIRES in the engine bay of the Turbo Coupe I was going to buy. Never the less, someone do this swap and let me know it's not that bad. Can always make room for another car :)

 

Yeah, In my opinion the EM-40-B billet cams offered by Circle are a huge overkill for the Duratec. I prefer the ones being made by Kent with the adjustable timing pulleys or the ones available by Web.

 

Actually, the stock cams work just fine for a street application. They reach their maximum lift at about 5800 rpm. The torque curve is flat and is reached almost immediately. By installing the 2.0 Duratec flat-top pistons the compression is raised to about 11-1. H.P would be around 225-250 at 190 ft lbs of torque. The weight factor is really the Duratec's strongest selling point. There are very few engines that weigh 200 pounds complete that need so few modifications to make power.

 

The VW transaxle housing will accept the Mk8 Hewland-Webster internal components. The road racers have used and abused this gearbox for years in 400+ h.p. cars. See: http://www.taylor-race.com

 

Regards,

Gerry Dedonis

 

Perhaps this topic should be moved to the other engines forum....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest kc280zx

an SVO 2.3L motor will blow the damn doors off all the newer 4 cylinders. They are absolutely fantastic engines for the time, they make tons of torque and a great powerband, comperable to a V8 with enough boost. The stock SVO 2.3L made 200hp and 240ft lbs torque with stock boost levels, wow, thats alot of power for a 4 banger.

 

With a decent bottom end and a big enough turbo these motors were snapping of 9 second quarter mile times in the mid 70's in pintos. (first 4 cylinder 9 second car, gg vtec.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

AND, it weighs LESS. Someone please do this swap, because I din't have the B@LLS TO. There is a Turbocoupe sitting right across the street, could have the whole car for 400 bucks. Alas I have already bought a GM T5 and I am not sure my fuel system would support it. Want to but all the wiring, vacume crap on that OEM motor scares me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm glad that this subject has come up. I've been thinking of building a car for my daughter. She loves Metropolitans, and I've been wondering if an engine out of a turbo coupe would be a hard swap. I have no problem with building a frame, but body work isn't my strong suit. So whadda ya think? (First, of course, I gotta finish the z31)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest KSGerry

Keep in mind that a Ford 2300 cc engine is very heavy...around 340 pounds for being a four cylinder. There are ways to lighten it and increase performance with an aftermarket aluminum cylinder head. The cost complete with valves and cams is about $2000.dollars. The stock naturally aspirated 2300 can be built to produce good power if you are willing to do extensive cylinder head work and raise the compression. The other alternative is using the turbocharger and the related plumbing for it.

 

Remember that the 2300 was discontinued from production in 1997 and replaced with a 2500 engine. That engine was discontinued in 2001.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

since i work as a ford dealer tech i know a little about ford.we have already changed 2 of those new 2.3 liter mazda/focus engines at work.had rod bearing problems.i dont see much strength in the parts-they are engineered just to get by and no extra.i would only swap a 4 cylinder into a pre 75 z-a light car .the old 2.3 turbo was a stout engine-i had a 88 turbo coupe.the turbo is on right side-no steering shaft problems.if you extract the 2.3 carefully you will find eec harness is separate from the car.best year for turbo 2.3 is 87 or 88 turbo coupe-these had a intercooler on top.also had 36lb injectors and a t5.the tbird was a heavy car -probably about 3400 lbs but i would go.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest KSGerry
since i work as a ford dealer tech i know a little about ford.we have already changed 2 of those new 2.3 liter mazda/focus engines at work.had rod bearing problems.i dont see much strength in the parts-they are engineered just to get by and no extra....<snip>

 

I agree the stock powder sinter rods for the 2.3 liter Mazda Focus engine are only made to sustain limited HP. The pistons are a quality piece made by Karl Schmidt but won't hold up to boost. They are dished anyway and this engine needs compression to make over 225 hp. (naturally aspirated).

 

The reason for rod bearing failures may be the engine block was not fully cleaned of machining chips. That is not a design flaw but a quality control problem. Ford had scrapped several hundred of the Ranger 2.3 Duratec blocks for the same reason.

 

I'm curious. Did your dealer send the engine back to Ford or are they being scrapped at your location?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

gerry-those mazda/focus motors got sent back.since bill ford(if my memory is correct) is running the company warrenty has got a little tighter and there are more controls in place.like calling ford for prior approval before an engine or trans is shipped.if they smell abuse (like racing or ecm mods)they cancel the warrenty.since we get time subtracted if a repair comes back the techs dont like to repair engines and trans anymore.just reload with another assembly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

What you want is the engine from either a 84-86 mustang SVO, or a thunderbird turbocoupe. The engines are identical, the 88 TC has a larger stock intercooler, but it is mounted in a way that wont work with Z car hood, unless you made one. And I speak from experience (I have a 86 SVO ;) ) they are one of the best 4 cyl stock engines there are......( I'm not saying it can't be improved upon, but I run 19psi on mine at around 312hp and 296ft/lbs on pump gas (91 octane). Only thing you have to watch for is to buy the right computer, the ones you want are PE series (any SVO) or the LA3 (a little cheaper and not as aggresive, from 88 TC). I know people who push near 400hp with the motor bone stock internally :shock: I wouldn't push mine past 360hp unless was a fresh build, mine has 119k on it :D If you can find a wrecked SVO go for it, especially if the trans is still in the car, world class t-5 :) Oh yeah, it you get one DON'T use the knock sensor, they are way too sensitive, pulls too much timing when no detonation happening :x

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Rum Runner

hey, if you're going to put a 4-banger into it, might as well go with a 91-93 toyota mr2 engine and mate it to the supra tranny. I've seen auto cross supra's with this setup, and the engine can be modified to make upwards of 600 HP reliably, and the engine is lighter than tha stock6 or a v8....just my $0.02

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...