Phil Wheatcroft Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Afternoon all just joined the Club Just collecting parts and advice with the aim of upgrading my fairly tired a series to a Redtop plus 1.8 gte box(both items already purchased) and looking for a heads up on the challenge from somebody who may already have done similar. If there’s anyone out there drop me a note as any previous experience and advice gratefully received 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian N Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 (edited) You'll probably need the 1.8 engine mounts, dipstick and sump as well to help with fitting the engine in. Sides that, probably a smaller brake booster (VW polo Mk1?) is needed for clearence. The stock XE engine loom and ECU can be used, and just requires 4 wires splicing in from memory. Sides that, an upgraded radiator would be a good call Edited January 31 by Ian N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wheatcroft Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 1 hour ago, Ian N said: You'll probably need the 1.8 engine mounts, dipstick and sump as well to help with fitting the engine in. Sides that, probably a smaller brake booster (VW polo Mk1?) is needed for clearence. The stock XE engine loom and ECU can be used, and just requires 4 wires splicing in from memory. Sides that, an upgraded radiator would be a good call Cheers Ian good to hear from you So from your reply are you 100% that I’ll need the wide winged sump? they seem difficult to find, retro power not longer selling Do you or anyone know of any possible sources U.K. or Europe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Unsure about fitting XE to A series. But I'm sure loads have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 you might find a mk2 escort XE winged sump (steel), but I am unsure if these 100% fit an A, but been steel piss easy to mod if they need a little trio for the lower ARB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I fitted once an original Manta B 1.8 engine into a Manta A, remember I just had to make spacers between the 1.8 block and the alu mounts and used longer bolts. The wide wing sump fitted nice. Think the XE block is the same as the 1.8. Succes with the build 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Yep need big wing sump Phil. I found the 1800 to be sloppy so went with a r25-28 from omega. Modded prop done at Dave Mac Coventry, they have the correct flange fur gearbox end on n the shell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wheatcroft Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 👍appreciate all the feedback n info guys good need I guess in that I know I’ll defo need the wide winged sump bad news is they seem to be like rocking horse poo to find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 They are about, sold my last one last year. But as said the escort steel ones will be fine just need the bowl at the rear Exhaust is a pig in the A as there is less room with the anti rollbar in the way unlike the B which is foward mounted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 58 minutes ago, Paul Barrett said: Exhaust is a pig in the A as there is less room with the anti rollbar in the way unlike the B which is foward mounted. Remember that, yes was a pain in the a**. Was in 1993... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wheatcroft Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 Cheers Paul Looking forward to the exhaust challenge then!….not 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1200bandit Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Just a thought,can you run the exhaust to the front then route to the back, have seen it done,can’t remember what car it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 1 hour ago, 1200bandit said: Just a thought,can you run the exhaust to the front then route to the back, have seen it done,can’t remember what car it was Then you have to run under subframe which is no good, seen it on a Cleveland V8 A series. Rubbish IMO. the best solution is to space down the rollbar which has been done before with some alloy blocks milled out to profile, a nice solution for extra room. or compression struts and do a away with the rollbar, I have this setup on an A series subframe from my past V8 build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Dropped mine originally on the anti roll bar as Paul suggested. Gives you much more room but then ended up making my own full system, so made it to fit nicely through the gap, its all a bit close btu works ok 🙂 Not sure if the wide sum gives you any issues? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wheatcroft Posted February 3 Author Share Posted February 3 Nice one 👍 plan A then to space down the anti roll bar i have read somewhere that it may be necessary to cut off one side of the wide winged sump to allow exhaust manifold/ exhaust to pass? Did either of you guys have this issue? Gear box is on its way up from Taunton so timing wise start the dismantling beginning March with time off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 1 hour ago, Phil Wheatcroft said: Nice one 👍 plan A then to space down the anti roll bar i have read somewhere that it may be necessary to cut off one side of the wide winged sump to allow exhaust manifold/ exhaust to pass? Did either of you guys have this issue? Gear box is on its way up from Taunton so timing wise start the dismantling beginning March with time off I stuck with the old CIH so no sump issues as using the steel sump. I spent ages trying to get a bought system to fit by modifying it and then realise the sensible plan was to get everything all fitting in and then make that section (i also ended up maing the manifold in the end) to fit just how i wanted it. There is so much available these day for exhausts these days that its really easy to make up a system. I just tacked mine together and then took it to a local welder who then did it all properly with the tig welder. Its so much easier to see how to get it to fit when its all in and spacing that roll bar about an inch will help loads. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wheatcroft Posted February 3 Author Share Posted February 3 Sound advice, many thanks 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 1 hour ago, Phil Wheatcroft said: Sound advice, many thanks 👍 Be good to see your pictures as you progress with the build. Here is mine all setup. Took a while to get there 🙂 https://www.theopelproject.com/engine-all-setup/ Not sure on the setup for yours but i did a hydraulic clutch on mine and its so much better than the old cable and means no cable getting in the way. https://www.theopelproject.com/hydraulic-clutch/ Im just about to fit a set of these (https://tiltonracing.com/product/600-series-overhung-mount-aluminum-pedal-assembly/) so then there will be no pesky brakes in the way! as all the master cylinders will be tucked up under the dash inside 🙂 Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny mc Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 On 01/02/2024 at 18:42, Phil Wheatcroft said: 👍appreciate all the feedback n info guys good need I guess in that I know I’ll defo need the wide winged sump bad news is they seem to be like rocking horse poo to find! https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1089490852383651/ The rocking horse has pooped 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 No need to cut sump at all ill try and get some pics 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 19 hours ago, Benny mc said: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1089490852383651/ The rocking horse has pooped Good price that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wheatcroft Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 Sadly the poop got scooped up b4 I got to it! appreciate if any ones sees another ad 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam.in.head Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 just a question . sort of relevant but slightly off topic . whats the advantage of using a wide winged sump anyway . ive heard it mentioned many times especially when fitting family 2 engines into mantas etc . the original sumps on a 1.8 i guess were "normal size " ?. anyway and perfectly capable . is it a capacity issue or cooling ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Guessing capacity, couldn't go down or wider, so wings increased capacity, wouldn't get too much cooling behind cross member. But just glad it works and they are available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam.in.head Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 ok thanks.was wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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