I know they're not overly sort after but it's been in the family since new,and has been parked up a few years with a suspected blown head gasket.Its pristine body wise and a nice two tone blue done 74000kms. Never liked the engine and auto cause as I remember it was gutless and thirsty. Want to know roughly costs for couple options or its impractical 1 overhaul engine basically,rings,seals,gaskets,- head etc 2 repower with small v8 or better v6 ,don't know cert requirements at all or how many different steps that needs 3 turbo charge current engine and rebuild accordingly,as some were turbocharged by a NZ Ford dealership at the time 4 $1 reserve as is and let someone else play with it
richardmayes,
May 8, 2:24pm
2 litre duratec + 6-speed manual from a 3rd gen FC Mazda MX5?
Someone on the Honda forums wrote up a classic Ford Escort restomod project that was done using this engine/trans combination.
Apparently it is practically the same duratec engine as a mondeo and you can get look-alike Cosworth BDA rocker covers to complete the look for a Ford installation. 167 hp on the factory ECU and tune. At the time he reckoned he could pick up the complete engine/gearbox/loom/ecu for around $2k even at the time when that was the current model MX5.
msigg,
May 8, 5:17pm
If the body is mint ,it is worth spending 4k and doing up the engine and leave original. Will be worth about 12k probably. Not worth repowering it will loose value.
lookoutas,
May 8, 5:58pm
Up until yesterday, I never knew they existed. Mentioned in the Pinto into Escort thread.
I would guess they're as rare as rocking horse turd by now, so best to keep it original if it's already good. easily worth 12K, and increasing.
tigertim20,
May 8, 6:01pm
its a turd, Ill give you a hundy for it.
My dad had one, though I think his was manual. not a special car, but he loved his, and took really good care of his one - cleaned and polished inside and out every month without fail.
franc123,
May 8, 6:51pm
Fix the engine you've got, don't butcher it, I can put you in touch with a local specialist supplier for engine parts if you need a contact for them. I've had a Mk5 2.3 Ghia for many years and it's still an enjoyable drive, I don't think it lacks power at all, it was more than competitive performance wise with it's contemporary rivals, smooth (if a little noisy) and far better suited to being auto than the 2.0 models ever were. Not to mention a hell of a lot more reliable than the Essex V6 that was used in Zephyrs and Capris
ianab,
May 8, 7:03pm
Agreed. If it's in mint condition with low Ks, rebuild the motor and go cruising on Sunday afternoons. It's an "old school" engine, relatively simple to rebuild.
Modifying it might technically make it a "better" car, but it will be worth less.
gph1961,
May 8, 7:16pm
keep the V6 or repower with 200/250 falcon 6 like a few aussie ones that came here
laurelanne,
May 8, 7:43pm
You have got to be joking.
tgray,
May 8, 7:54pm
Don't be put off by the comments. Yes, they were not good engines, but this is a rare car now and would have a decent intrinsic value. I would bring it back to original specs if possible.
dublo,
May 8, 7:58pm
Keep it original! Its day will come (but sell it on before the decline into totally electric motoring.) Rare on the road these days like many of the 1970s- 80s cars (how many first generation Holden Commodores do you see, now?)
franc123,
May 8, 8:04pm
That isn't as easy as it sounds, Australian Cortinas had to have a heavily modified engine bay to fit the Falcon sixes due to their length. A V8 conversion would actually be easier than fitting a I6, but keeping it original is still best. The 2.3 is a nice little engine.
3tomany,
May 8, 8:06pm
Another vote for keeping it original, they are just starting to rise in value so only uphill from here.
tgray,
May 8, 8:14pm
I had a 1981 Cortina Ghia 2L. A fantastic car in it's day and 100% reliable. Gold colour, vinyl roof and 5 speed manual. Happy memories.
danchop,
May 8, 9:18pm
thanks for the opinions,keeping it original fits with me better,but anyone know what performance wise the turbo added?if any,cause turbo was the new thing back then. Mainly because turbocharged was an option from new,and with the head needing work any way maybe,i was thinking it be a little different with out it devaluing originality? I see there's one in good nick on trade me albeit not an attractive colour,or two tone. $10000 ono unsold though
franc123,
May 8, 9:31pm
Attempting to turbo it will be more trouble than its worth, How fast are you planning on driving it anyway? The standard brakes are just that, they're ok but not wonderful, ditto the auto trans and diff. Plus you will have certification costs too, trying to find one of these turbo kits that supposedly existed when they were new would be impossible these days, there would have been very few of them done. To my knowledge it was only done to order by one of the dealers in Auckland and was available on the 2 litre only.
danchop,
May 8, 9:50pm
In NZ the 2.3 only came in auto,and South Auckland Ford apparently offered the turbo
extrayda,
May 8, 10:16pm
2.3 a good engine? Really? I thought they were quite gutless. Preferred the 2.0. Is the auto the same for the 2.0 and the 2.3 ? If so, maybe chuck in a hotted up 2.0 in there, and keep the 2.3 under the bench so it can be brought back to original. Personally I think you would have trouble getting top dollar for it if you sold it, as the 2.3 is not a performance motor, and it's not a popular boy racer car either. If I was buying a Cortina (I do look occasionally) I would want the 2.0 Manual S model, or even just a 2.0 manual. Stick in a decent cam, bit of headwork, extractors and a Webber and it would run quite well (not modern Jap Turbo performance though, but that isn't the point). I like them, just not a fan of the little V6. I wouldn't put a straight 6 in it, or do anything that required modifying the structure of the car (hence keeping the original V6, but under the bench !).
nz_stacie,
May 8, 10:48pm
Saw one one there in Nelson one owner car
peanuts37,
May 8, 11:48pm
Had a 2.3 for nearly 20 years, sold it last year. Over that time, 2 sets of disc pads, 1 set rear shoes, new top tank on radiator, water pump and a new vacuum diaphragm on side of auto. fantastic motor, tappity valve gear as block castings are very thin. Oil changed every 5k they will go forever. In their day a quick car, reason the MOT used them in Otago/ Southland as pursuit cars, very hard to get away from so im told. Great tow car with heaps of torque. Bad point was diff which would at low mileage develop a whine, mine was between 95 and 100kph perfect above and below that speed. Built in Germany and sent out here knocked down and assembled here
franc123,
May 9, 1:04am
I've had mine for 12 years and it's in a different league from the 2.0 models I had back in the 90's, smoother with better low down torque for a start. Power steer and electronic ignition are welcome additional features, the suspension setup used in them is the same as used in the S models anyway, its not as soggy as a standard 2.0, the alloy wheels enhance that a bit too. I've always found it amusing that those that claim the 2.0 is better always immediately launch into what modifications are needed to make it so! The 0-100kph time quoted in the NZ brochure when they were new for the 2.0 manual versus the 2.3 auto is within one second of each other so why anyone would think it was 'gutless' in comparison is anyone's guess. It isn't.
tgray,
May 9, 7:33am
When I had my 2L Ghia 81 Cortina 30 years ago, I stuck a 2.3 badge on the back, (and when I had my 1.6L mk3 Cortina 35 years ago, I stuck a 2L one on the back). Ahh, the things you do when you are young.
the-lada-dude,
May 9, 7:55am
another totally useless and unreasoned remark. I bet you frequent the Monkey enclosure regularly at your local zoo, yeah ?
gph1961,
May 9, 8:23am
no zoo here
807,
May 9, 8:55am
The 2.3 v6 only came as auto in NZ, as far as I know.
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