Capri Technical Forum:

I am the proud owner of a 1973 ford capri. Unfortunatley its currently being puttered about by a weasley little 1.6 pinto. Its the most asmathic, useless engine ive ever had the displeasure of driving, but im unsure what to put into the car instead?
Ive decided on either a bulkier 2.0 pinto with a reconditioned 5 speed box and more performance parts than you can shake a big stick at, or a 2.0 litre red top zetec with little or nothing done to it.
What do you sugest would be the most driveable, affordable and easiest engine to implant in my poor underpowered car.

depends what you want to do with the car,
the easiest and straight forward swap and can be done in a weekend would be the 2.0 pinto,

Tony, ideal chance there to perswade him 2 double his cylinders

Hi Paul,
long time no post mate,

Da car would be mostly for thrashing around the roads so reliability and and fuel economy are slighlty more important than outright speed or acceleration. I live in county down in northern ireland, any idea where Id be able to be find an engine?

As previously mentioned, a pinto swap is an utter piece of piss and definately a cheaper option. Nice torquey motors, i wouldnt consider anything else unless u have a a few quid to throw about. Not as good on fuel tho... Did u mean a vauxhall red top or zetec? Both good but harder to fit...

Yeah I met aguy in the pub who live twenty miles from me and is breaking 15 capris!!! Hes gonna sell me a 2.0 pinto from a late mark 2 capri that has a type 9 5 speed stuck to it. Im glad I met this guy cause I was looking at gettin an engine shipped from england and the problems involved in that are too much to think about. I was gonna get the zetec. I only had alimited idea of the sort of money, time and skill you need to get one of those to work in a capper. I was realy looking it for its mpg and driveability (this is my first car as im only 19), but I supose that the amount a money you getta spend slottin one o them in I could drive for half a year in a pinto.

Hey Fordaholic, im fairly new to this place but im 19 too and have a 1972 mk1 capri, iv got a 2.0ltr pinto engine with a type9 sierra gear box, it goes like stink and after putting it on the gas analizer, and setting the mix right on the 32/36 dgav twin stage webber carb it gets about 45 mile to the gallon at the moment, but when you put your foot down it goes like stink too, with a bit of tweaking iv so far got it from 0 - 60 in 8.5 sec. At the end of the day maty its up to you which you go for, both in my oppinion are good engines, but for the work and the hassel id say you would be best off staying away from the z-tec or the red top and sticking with the 2 ltr pinto, that engine has 200bph tuning capability should you put the money in, but little adjustments like a big bore 4 branch manifolded exhaust sytem, and taking off one of the choke butterflys in the carb out make a big difference! let me know what you think anyways!...............ste

ive messed around with pintos for more years than i care to mention

you can quite easily tune the pinto to produce more power than a std zetec,

yes the zetec is more modern and refined, not too mention more economical,
but the pinto is easier to work on, and cheap as chips too

Yeah I think im gonna go for the pinto. Ive got a 1.6 gt pinto sitting in it at the moment. Anyone know if the carb off that (i know its a double barreled weber but not much else) will do for a 2litre. or does a regular 2.0 have a better carb on it already.

yeh definately the best choice but you will need to get your carb re-jetted to get the best out of the 2litre, you could always buy an engine with a carb on it for ease.....

Slap the injected 2.0 from a Sierra in it. Unleaded capable, more power, torque...and i used to get 40 to the gallon.

With a 4-2-1 big bore system, and a good air filter, she produced the same at the wheels, as a standard 2.0 does at the flywheel.

Phil