FORD’S TWIN-CAMS

From the ’60s Lotus to the 2000s Duratec.

LOTUS TWIN CAM

Ford’s first foray into a production twin-cam engine, the Lotus-designed eight-valver was based on the Cortina’s 1500 Pre-Crossflow bottom end, but with a cast alloy head. Blocks were bored to 82.5 mm from the standard 80.96 mm, and like the BDA there have been many derivatives so you need to know your stuff. For instance, the Mk2 versions having a thicker casting to more reliably carry the increased capacity that allowed 1558cc.These later engines also had square mains caps —the same as 711M-block Crossflow’s proper oil seals as opposed to the Mk1’s fiddly rope-type, and stronger 125E conrods.

Pros: Great parts availability, look the part Cons: Expensive, only eight valves Specialist: QED Motorsport (01509 412317, https://qedmotorsport.co.uk)

COSWORTH YB

They may well cost a fortune to buy in the first place, especially a good one, but they take the minimum to wire up and virtually bolt in place of a Pinto. Plus keeping the turbo means an easy 200+ bhp, and the tuning potential’s incredible. But they have a serious reputation for normal-aspiration, too (see right). Prior to the 1986 launch, the YB was a Cosworth venture to convert the Pinto into a BDA beater — alloy head, 16-valve, twin cam — the next-step to conquering the rally world. It didn’t quite work out that way but there are plenty of NA Cossies competing and powering road cars.Turbo or NA, these engines are now very expensive to buy and build.

Pros: Power is almost limitless Cons: Cosworth tax makes them expensive Specialist: Burton Power (020 8518 9127, www.burtonpower.com)