ENGINE SWAPS
Many different engines have been fitted into the Corsair’s engine bay over the years, and not just Ford ones. It’s the same as the Mk1 Cortina’s, which means plenty of room for either inline or vee engines.The Pinto and V6 are the most-popular swaps and we’ve detailed the basics below.
PINTO
Whether in 115 bhp, fuel-injected form or 190+ bhp, all-out street racer spec, the eight-valve, 2-litre Pinto is a great motor that suits all tastes and budgets. It works well in the Corsair, too, with no body mods needed. The Pinto features a rear-bowl sump, so to get one under the bonnet cheaply, you’ll need to convert the sump and pick-up pipe to a front bowl affair (or track down a rare front-bowl sump from the US) to clear a 1500 crossmember, and using modified Crossflow mounts to push the engine as far back as possible.The standard radiator is in the way, so you can use a Cortina Mk4 one with a front-mounted electric fan. Carb choice is free and most exhaust manifolds should fit. You’ll need to switch to a Type E or Type-9 gearbox (see Transmission) and the battery will also need relocating to the boot.
ESSEX V6
Unsurprisingly, the V6 is one of the most popular conversions with the later cars, largely because it’s more or less identical to the V4 part from the extra bank of cylinders. It’s not as easily tuneable as the Pinto, but the potential for outright power is greater, and of course, you get that fantastic V6 rumble. It may be popular, it’s not a completely straightforward swap: when you lower the V6 into the bay you’ll notice that the engine features two sets of mounting points for the engine mounts — you’ll need to bolt the V4 mount to the middle fixing and then overcome the gap to the front fixing — an inch on one side and two inches on the other.To do this you will need to either make up some adaptor plates, or cut the mount and let in the required extra metal. You’ll need a front cover and front-bowl sump from the V6-powered Zephyr Mk4s, and custom manifolds, mated to the standard system.The battery will also need relocating, but you can retain the existing three-rail gearbox and bellhousing if you plan to keep the engine in relatively standard tune.