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Cossies in America

5K views 19 replies 2 participants last post by  Big Block Ford 
#1 ·
#2 ·
BUT THERE ARE and have been Cossies here for decades!
In fact there were Cossie Fords before Cosworth was worth mentioning!
Good Ol EnFoCo (as usual) hired Cosworth to develope the First Capri GTwhich came out in Feb 63! The motor had been reworked with Weber Carburation, Headers, Cam, bigger valves, head work, HD inside bits etc. The car gained full instrumentation, a snazzy remote shift, better upholstry and brakes(the First Disks for EnFo and probably FoMoCo.) This seems to be the only PRODUCTION two place sportscar Ford has made., another point of uniqueness.
Finally, as far as exclusivity, they only made about 2000 GT's making them one of the rarest models.
Comments?
Michael
 
#3 ·
yes you are right youcanrace. The post was mainly referring to escorts and sierra's from europe. Cosworth also did plenty of work on the smallblock ford V8 for formula 1 racing as well.I see you posted a pic of the capri in another thread.They sound like a cool car for the day.Have you driven a cosworth one .
 
#4 ·
'Mornin BB'
Yes, Mine has the Cossie MkIX motor, the CR transmission, Lotus wheels, A front and rear ARB, special ratio shocks, lower suspension and so on. It has been much more developed than the GT. I found it in San Jose, Ca. about three decades ago but have never been able to determine it's history. Ford DID develop one or two like this but who knows if this is one of them. It isn't a fireball by todays standards but was competitive then. I plan to install a bolt in roll over bar and fuel cell and run it in the VARA vintage races-- It's about time that FORD has representation in the small production classes other than the Lotus Cortina sedan!
I have a 'rescue' that the PO butchered that I'll fully develop later.
I used to own Performance Research in SJ and roadrace a Lotus 7 so I have lots of goodies left over.
The GT was equivelant to the Sunbeam alpine 1500cc in size, weight and Hp and will run in the same class. I think I can beat them (presuming I can drive well enough)
BTW, which BB are you referring to? I've got a few of them here also.
 
#5 ·
Mornin youcanrace or "ycr ".Hey it's gunna be great hearing how you get on with the car and racing it. Perfomance Research, seems like a name i should know.A cosworth M1X motor is this the same as the MK1 cortina engine as in the precrossflow type that has had magic from cosworth done or is this one of the fancy ohc lotus types. The BB i have is a 429SCJ and if you have bits around for one of these I would be very pleased.It is in a 71 mach1 Mustang. I have seen a few MK2 lotus cortina's around here in NZ but havn't come across any MK1's but I guess they are here somewhere.
 
#6 ·
You mean BIG BLOCK!

There's a contrast! I take it you got the SCJ elsewhere and put it into the mustang. I had a 72 Mach 1 with a pumped 429 YAHOO!
I soon figured out that one can race in all kinds of different sizes, the smaller the cheaper!
I have a Coffield MkIII with a debored (sleeved) EnFo 105E to fit into the 850cc modified class here, a 460 Lincoln Continental (as well as several others in between)
Interestingly, the Cosworth moter in the Capri GT's and the Cortina GT's (1500 cc pushrod) 78 Hp @5300 were the first motors done for FORD and didn't get a series number. The Mk-IX had several other improvements done to it over the Mk-VIII rated at 85 Hp and used in the SCCA Lotus super 7 and using one 40 DCOE.. The Mk-IX is rated at 125 Hp and has some more reliability items. It was still a streetable motor though.
In the early 60's, no one knew anything of these cosworth guys so there was no reason for Ford to brag about their Cossie motor. I believe that Ford was Cossies first big contract, before that they were primarily busy building Formula Junior motors for Lotus--no giant either then and other little companies and individual racers. I got my first motor back then, a Mk-II a 60 cu motor that made 75 Hp. (yow)
Seems you fellows there like big boomers, I've talked with several with XJ -8's with BIG BLOCKS they roadraced!
Here's a picture of a car of mine you can relate to.
 

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#7 ·
Nice pic ycr.Is it a BB.You know your cosworth's too. The Mach1 I have is a factory orig 429SCJ. I'm restoring it. I love other Fords and cars as well including cosworths. I have worked on a number of cortina's before and Anglia's which had the 105E engine.There are still alot of these cars in roadworthy condition here as car enthusiasts love them. I see plenty of them displayed at all Ford days. Great to have someone in here that knows about these cosworths.
 
#8 ·
Factory SCJ's

Hi again BB, I didn't know that Ford offered SCJ's in the mustangs. I've got one in a 71 4 spd and a CJ/AT in a 70. Funny thing is that the 4 spd has a a'c, the At doesn't!
What's the status of the 61-64 Capri down there? I'm doing research on these.
The Anglias were a real toy when they came out-- seems a car HAS to be 'affordable' for we enthusiasts to get into it. Look at the Frogeye!
I'll be trying to sell the cobras in the Future if you know of someone that just HAS to have one-or two.
Tell me what you are looking for, the parts are easier to find here probably.
 
#9 ·
Hey ycr.When you say status of the 61-64 I guess you are looking for numbers of cars.I havn't seen one of these for ages but I have seen them so they are here.I will talk to some of the Ford club guys and see if I can find something out.As for the 429 SCJ parts , the motor is pretty complete but i need a right side exhaust manifold and a clutch bracket that bolts to the clutch housing. I think the clutch bracket is unique to the 429 as the one I have seems to be off a 351. I plan to post this up in the mustang area as well. What was performance research involved with or should I say what happened there as it sounds real interesting. I used to be a Ford mechanic and worked on and owned a number of English Ford's mainly Cortina's.
 
#10 ·
Status of early Capri and 427scj's

Hi BB, I have the numbers made etc but I'm trying to determine WHY they seemed to be a flop as far as enthusiasts were concerned. True the early ones has only the 1340 cc motor and a wide ratio non syncro first but they performed about the same as the other comparable cars of the period. They cost about L100 less than them also. That Cosworth,Broadspeed, Holbay etc were all developing the package would seem to have motivated enthusiasts even more!. The 1340 was too big for the <1300 class and too small for the >1500 class but the GT was optimal. Looking at the race results there, there were NO Capris running but the Sunbeam Alpine and MG's etc were. If I were going to run such a class (which I am come to think on it) with a pushrod car (ie mid priced) I'd pick a Capri over either of them. I have 6 MGB's so I can't think them trash! True, I think a Fiat 124 or an Alfa should be even better but the former is newer and the latter cost MUCH more. SO WHY are Capris such unknowns/unloved??
I'll ask a friend about the clutch arm suport bracket
Why are you running the gawd awfull heavy factory exhaust manifolds when you can run headers and help the Front end weight? Or are you making a 'numbers match concours car"
 
#11 ·
hey yca. I have been trying to keep the stang as close to orig as I can tho it may not make concourse but most things will be pretty much factory. as for those ealy capri's well I can't say's I liked the look of them much so maybe that is a reason for low sales or maybe the Cotina took the sales away from it but it is interesting to figure it out. I had a look in a classic car mag today and never saw any for sale here(early capri's that is).
 
#12 ·
ARG! an original Hipo!

I understand that there are --for some reason --people that want things as the Factory did themI just don't understand. They were making something they could sell, the owner is making something that THEY want to do what they want!
Perhaps the looks are the reason-- It was very yank! looks like its related to the 63 TBird etc. They were also saving $$ by using the same bits as the Saloon,. This prevented the L o n g bonnet and short boot--but look at it and the new stuff and I see lots in common! Perhaps the Brits were just not ready for the yank stuff.
Consider the T-bird and its everlasting success! It AINT an Aston Martin but it has made it to ICON status yet it doesn't have much going for it other than it is the only Amurikun Ford 2 placer.IMHO the Capri had more going for it!
 
#14 ·
jKeeping the raries original

True! if it is an original rarie than there is justification for not messing with it--in addition to the increased $$ value. I'd guess that there wern't many made so at least to some "We have a responsibility" (ARG!) I have the same thought about my GT although it was thoroughly "accessorised" when I got it. That is why I'm trying to determine its history. It all seems to be Factory stuff which makes me wonder if it was one that EnFord did for someone!
While I could easily get the original build sheet for my Cobras and the Triumph TR-3A, Ford didn't archive the history of their cars.
On My XK-120, the parts book tells me which cars every part was used on!!!!! My car has a dash instrument holding plate that was used only on a few cars and I needed one. Think about that project! fortunatly, a fellow not far away needed a Coil for his Jag (that was only used for some years) that I had. Now if I could find a method of getting others spare time. I've got more projects than I'll live long enough to get to--not the worst thing that can happen! Know of someone that wants to come here and do olde limey cars to Flog?
 
#16 ·
YouCanRace said:
Hi BB, No luck on your bits so far, I'll keep looking,.
Re-reading my listings you can see that FF needs a spell checker(=<
Michael
Thanks for tryin. I thought there was a spell checker.I'll find out but don't sweat it ycr everything looks fine to me.Mate you have some nice project cars and I'll be keen to hear how you get along with them.
 
#17 ·
Unending projects--consider the alternative

Mornin' (here) BB, I've got more than enough! Need to get another worker so I can get the less loved ones out! I don't really need six MG-Bs or 10 Spridgets etc!
I bought a Camcorder on Ebay the other nite to back up my anchient one so I can do videos. Streaming video would seem to be the way but at least on my computer, it doesn't stream--probably too cheap. just about everyone in the us has a vcr, how about there?
Question" do all Fe 360's have streel cranks?
 
#18 ·
Hey ycr .Everyone here has a vcr.they are in most households.DVD seems to be the in thing now.I'm looking in some books about the FE360.At a guess I would say the steel crank wouldn't be standard but not sure. Streaming video is cool but I only use 56k dialup so get sick of the buffering.
 
#19 ·
Mornin' BB! same here onthe buffering I'm supposed to have 56 but never get above 28 so it just doesn't work. If 'everyone has a VCR, then thats the thing to use.
Finally got my new windscreen in my 70 F-250: ported, 750 vac holly, headers. Got a hot deal on a set of nice looking wheels from summit: $116.oo for 4 Took it out last nite seems to do OK-- for a 4600# lump. I'll put my"G meter" on it for laughs (and probably disappointment) to see how well.
BTE I see your a donating member--whassat? also there is a bar graph under your namewith the info below.
Level: 28
HP: 639 / 691
MP: 353 / 1269
Exp: 67%
One of your cars has 639 HP, the other 691, the first 35.3 MPgallon, the other 12.69 and this all is 67% of what you espected? =<)
Just heard of another virtue of owning an 'oldie' down in NZ: the magpies can't tear it apart like they do the modern plastic stuff.
Jeez! man against nature!
'
 
#20 ·
Mornin ycr.$116 for 4 wheels is a good deal.Let us know what the G meter said.
re the donating member tag ,A couple of months ago the site was looking a bit shakey for funds to keep it operating so some of the members chipped in with donations to keep it up and running.As the site builds then hopefully advertisers will cover running costs.Till then John the administrater covers the costs of the bandwidth with help from donations.This is totally voluntary tho so the site is free for everyone.If anyone donates then you get the tag.
The bars are john the admins idea.They are to do with the amount of posts and the length of time the member has been on here.This is still new and for fun.I think there may be some perks that will come from certain levels the bars reach yet to be worked out .
I have checked out the crankshafts and from what i can find until 65 all FE's had iron cranks.There seems to be models 361-T ,391-T ,66-67 427 that is all steel cranks.I don't know if this is much help to you .The book also lists part# too .
Hehe those magpies will wreck anything.I have a bit of a shoot up on the farm to keep them down every now and then and havn't seen too many lately.
 
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