Buying a second hand engine or performing an engine transplant? We check out the facts and figures for some common options.

Ford Windsor

The Windsor was introduced in 1962, replacing the previous Ford Y-block engine. The name is derived from the factory in which the first engines were produced in Windsor, Ontario. In 1996, Ford replaced the 302ci (5.0-litre) pushrod Windsor V8 with the Modular 4.6-litre in the Mustang, although it was continued in the F150 till 1997 and the Explorer until 2001.

The Windsor uses a thin-wall cast iron block with a separate aluminium timing chain cover. This feature differentiates it from later Cleveland or 351-series engines, which use an integrated timing cover cast in the block.

There is often confusion about the name of the 2V and 4V Windsors. Although many people assume this to be the number of valves per cylinder, it actually refers to the number of barrels in the carburettor. Another simple differentiation between the Windsor and Cleveland series is the location of the radiator hose — the Windsor routed coolant through the intake manifold with the hose protruding horizontally, while the Cleveland had the radiator hose connecting vertically to the engine block. Until 1964 the Windor’s rods used an oil squirt hole to lubricate the piston pin and rings. (more…)

In a previous article (read here) we introduced you to world-renowned technical expert David Vizard. This month we extract as much knowledge from him as we can!

Last month we spoke with David Vizard about the who, what, when, where and how he became a key player in the production of V8 DIY manuals. We’re still amazed at how an English accent muscled its way into the realms of America’s Holy Grail, but once again we won’t dwell on this point, just marvel at the tenacity of a person who infiltrated that closed society.

David mentioned last issue that he didn’t hold opinions; instead, he reckoned his dyno defines answers to all our performance related questions. It would be great to have unlimited access to this type of equipment, but in the real world, unless you’re seriously committed to making your hobby a business, mills, lathes, a dyno and airflow benches are out of financial reach.

That’s where David steps in. As long as you believe he has taken testing to its conclusion, then owning his literature (or reading it) is as good as having a workshop full of specialist equipment.

Gone are the days when selecting a cam meant going to the bottom of the page in a Crane or Isky catalogue. David’s testing of those 23,000 cam combinations mentioned last month pretty much says it all. If there’s another person out there with that much experience in valve timing, we’d love to meet them. And just to reiterate his experience, although it’s not widely known, at any given time David has upwards of 50 record-holders running round using his specified cam sequences.

It’s not just the speed equipment industry that uses his expertise, either. NASA had him on its payroll calculating the amount of fuel it would take to economically arrive at the moon. We’d say there was little room for error on that particular project… (more…)

Selecting new engine components for a rebuild can be a daunting task, with an endless number of brands and options to choose from. The parts you will need are dependent on a number of variables, which means there really is no one-size-fits-all answer for you. Over the years I have seen countless customers who have ended up with an engine combination that is either complete overkill for their application or, alternatively, is just not up to the required task. While in the first instance the overkill engine is only likely to leave a hole in your wallet, a combination that isn’t up to the task could just as easily leave a hole in your block.

This month we will take an in-depth look at pistons. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of cast versus forged pistons, and separate some of the facts from the fiction so you can make an informed decision about which pistons to select for your next build.

Cast Pistons

Cast pistons still remain the components of choice for production engine manufacturers. There are a number of advantages to the cast piston, however, it should be no surprise that their low cost is the reason they are favoured. Cast pistons also exhibit a very low rate of thermal expansion, which means they don’t expand much as the engine heats up. This allows the clearance between the piston and bore to be set very tight, which results in a very quiet engine. (more…)

Borla Exhausts has officially arrived in NZ and the famous exhausts can now be purchased through a local online store.

Borla exhausts are made from aircraft grade stainless steel and have become well known for the power gains they can offer and also their famous throaty growl. The Borla story began three decades back when the American-based company began building exhausts for high-end metal like Rolls-Royce and Ferrari. Over the years Borla broadened the applications for its exhausts and now builds stainless systems for all sorts of vehicles from concept cars to race cars, hard-tuned imports to American muscle. They have over 400 designs in total so there’s probably going to be a system that fits on your ride.

A new website www.performanceexhaust.co.nz has just launched for the NZ tuning scene and is selling the latest Borla exhausts for a wide range of Japanese, American and Euro machines. You can save money on shipping because the gear doesn’t need to come from the States and there’s pipes, tips and full systems for sale. (more…)

Lowrider pushes it too far for the fans and flips over