Head Rebuild

[Neville Smith]

Hi Guy's

I currently have my cylinder head in bits to see why the engine was a bit smokey on start up and as expect the oil seals are rock hard, cracked and two of them have disintegrated so I have new ones to fit, I will replace the valves as it is easier and fit new cam bearings.......now to the question......the cam and followers are shot so I want to replace them, what are my options on cams? the engine is a 1600 pinto from an escort mexico mk2

[Steve Kerswell]

Easy option is to use a 2.0 cam, or if you want to go hotter FR31. Its common knowledge that a 2.0 cam will give you one stage hotter on a 1600 pinto. Depending where you want to go, fast road or track? Loads of info on the web, dont forget the spray bar !

[Neville Smith]

Thanks for the info Steve, spray bar is knackered, so I will replace that also.

[Steve Kerswell]

I expect someone will suggest going for a 2.0 pinto engine full stop.

[Neville Smith]

This is a temporary patch up for now with a view to replace with a 2.0 zetec in the next couple of years which will have plenty of power, I would then want to do a major rebuild and go 5 link and strengthen the chassis.

[Adrian Southgate]

There is nothing wrong with the 1600 SOHC in one of these. Its a perfectly adequate engine providing you remember the fuel additives if running a leaded head.

[Big Vern]

You need to check the wear in the valve guides, the valves generally don't rear that much, its the guides as they're only the cast iron parent metal and are prone to wearing due to the side loads caused by the design of the valve gear.

If its from an Escort Mex it may already have the '2.0L' cam as I believe they were the same spec as the MK3 Cortina GT (bigger inlet valves and 2.0L cam +twin choke carb - around 90BHP IMSC)

What ever cam you use its worth the investment of Burton Power phosphate coated followers.

1.6L pinto is not a bad little engine just a little heavy for the power it produces - does respond well to using a higher lift cam as do all pinto's.

[James Doulton]

I have a 2 litre Pinto and I fitted a high-lift cam which is supposed to increase torque and to raise the power by 14%. It's a Kent Cams FR30. I needed to replace the springs to allow greater valve movement and I had to take a mm or 2 off the bottom of the 'top hat' that holds the top of the spring because that would hit the valve seal at maximum deflection. It was simple to do with a lathe, would be less fun with a file. I found that the cam lifted the engine throughout the range, including top end. I didn't go for a hotter cam because I didn't want to rev it too high as I believe that the standard conrods are only good for about 6,500 rpm. I replaced the followers and the oil spray too.

The only problem is that I still haven't managed to stop the rocker cover from leaking.

[Dave Adams]

the pinto is an expensive engine to tune, its generally cheaper to change the engine.

there are two rocker cover gaskets for the pinto...you need the right one. you can get away with fitting the later one (its much wider) but the most common mistake is fitiing it by over tightening the rocker cover bolts....they basically need doing up just a bit tighter than finger tight...grease the cork gasket prior to fitting.

[Neville Smith]

Thanks for all the advice, all the parts needed are now on order :-)