More problems with the Cortina.

[xdee]

Also, how can I eliminate the resistor in the loom that Danielson mentioned??

It's a resistor wire. Either just disconect it at the coil end and run a seperate switched wire off the ignition switch. Or (dodgy) find another wire in the engine bay that has 12 Volts and tap off it. Reverse light 12 volt is easy to find on Fords. Don't know about cortys but the resistor wire on Falcons is about 3 metres long and winds its way backwards and forwards throughout the engine bay loom. Its easier to just disconnect it than rip it out.

 

[73GreenMachine]

Have any of you guys had much experience with LPG systems?? I am about to buy a TD Cortina from a friend from work for $500 and it has a LPG system installed on it. I have even found someone that will switch it into my car for around the $400 mark. The next step is modifying the head to suit LPG.
Does anyone know what compression ratio I can safely run with LPG(I have a modded 250 pre xflow)? What about changing the sparkplugs and distributer timing? Is there anything else I should be aware of when doing this? Do I need to run a valvesaver type fluid even though I have unleaded seats?
Initially I am going to run the original gas system as is, but in the near future I will switch to a proper gas carby and mixer setup (Impco 425 gas carby and an appropriate gas convertor). I am basically going to run this on the head by removing all of the log intake, attaching pipes down the intake runners and have them all going into a large plunum chamber like the moderm EFI cars have it.
Is there any suggestion about the size of plenum chamber relative to engine volume? ]
Thanks.

 

[TCSTEVE]

Finding a Corty with gas isnt that easy so for $500 its a bargain.
Gas has a high octane rating,more than premium unleaded so the comp ratio isnt a problem. It is under 12 right??

Your idea for the modded log intake for ya gas system sounds great. You could mount a carby on the plenium you make or to save room perhaps a gas throttle body on its side up front? Either way you got to get your flow right for the plenium to work nicely. Does that sound right guys?
Souldnt have to use valvesaver fluid and theres no point changing plugs and points till you get a new jetted gas carby, then tune from there.

 

[Anonymous]

To bypass the resistor on my cars I use a relay that is activated by the wire that previously powered up the coil, and a wire running straight from the battery via the relay to the coil. Runs heaps better this way. Otherwise the spark will break down in no time.

 

[73GreenMachine]

Sweet thats sounds like a really good way to do it. Did you notice much difference before and after doing this, that is did the car run better afterwards?

 

[Anonymous]

car ran alot smoother/cleaner than before. Before the coil was only getting 7 volts with the engine running. Now its got 12-14v.
You will notice the motor pulling alot better, especially as the revs/load increases.

 

[woodbutcher]

If you keep having trouble with the Cortina,just remember the joke about the jockey that always seemed to win ok on worn out horses.
The track officials started to drug test the horses to see if they had been doped.They had`nt.So finally the head official at the track went to ask the jockey what his secret was.And this was the jockey`s reply.When the mount started to loose ground he would wiser in the horses ear:
"ROSES ARE RED,VOILETS ARE BLUE
HORSES THAT LOOSE ARE MADE INTO GLUE".
Modify to suit vehicle.
Leo

 

[73GreenMachine]

Now that I'm on holidays things are finally happening again with the car! After being ripped off and screwed around for 8 weeks by a dodgy engine builder to do some very basic work on the head, having to pull the bottom end out again to get it modified (by a much better engine builder) and working on an LPG conversion, I get to go and pick up my completed motor on Monday (Read very little for me to stuff up this time)This means I should be on the road on petrol inside a week from now! Fingers crossed the startup all goes to plan. I should have some progress pictures up soon.

 

[addo]

Don't forget the hex shaft this time!

 

[73GreenMachine]

Don't forget the hex shaft this time!

I bet you've been waiting to say that Let's just say I have well and truly learned my lesson. Two dead motors is enough for me for the time being Once I get these stupid twin 10" electric fans mounted in front of the radiator(so far involving lots of grinding\hammering\swearing), I can drop the motor straight in. I thought I had the setup nailed until I realised I couldn't close the bonnet because the latch hit one of the electric fans! I am hoping to be able to move the latch to another location. Once this is done, it just leaves sorting out the ignition system (that plagued me last engine build) by eliminating the resistor wire and installing the HEC716 ignition coil. Then, I should be ready to fire it up again!
Something I found out from my engine builder the other day too: the spring pressures on the head as I had it before were way too low(the guy that ripped me off on the head didn't even set them up first time round), confirming the suspicion that they were the cause of the valve bounce I was having. Lets just say I am very happy the Ford six is a non interference motor!