Originally posted by ThatOneEuroE30
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But not at all because it's worth money and I don't own it :(
Originally posted by LateFan
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The Ford Kent family of engines can trace its roots back to the 105E, found in things like the 1950s-era Anglia in 1000, 1200, and 1300cc variants I believe.
Next came the 115E which is also known as the "pre-crossflow" due to its intake and exhaust manifolds being located on the same side of the cylinder head. There are various pre-crossflow codes, but they're all different versions of the same engine. This engine, aside from being used in the Mk1 Ford Cortina, became a staple of amateur racing and car building. Numerous builders (like Ginetta!) liked the relative simplicity, durability, availability, and performance of the engine compared to offerings from companies like MG.
Around this time (early 1960s), Ford wanted to make a big push to remove their image as an "old person's car" and decided the Cortina sedan was the way to do it. Aiming at victory in the popular BTCC championship, they collaborated with Lotus and their in-development twin-cam cylinder head to be used in the Elan. Interestingly, the first 100 engines were 1,498cc and were used in prototypes for the Lotus 22, Lotus 23, Elan, and Lotus Cortina (also known as the Lotus 28). The bore was then increased, driving displacement to the 1,557/1,558cc it retained from then on. The Twin Cam found huge success in all types of racing ranging from saloon to sports racing to formula B. It--like the 115E--was also shoehorned into small-volume sports cars and sports racers like the Ginetta G4R and Elva MkVII. In a more subjective vein, it makes a hell of a noise :devil:
The next step for the Kent block began with the MkII Cortina: It received a cross-flow head, allowing a large improvement in efficiency and power potential. This engine was most famously the basis and foundation of Formula Ford, which retained the engine (including carburetors!) as spec until only a few years ago!
Cosworth used the Kent family of engine blocks in a mind-blowing variety of engine designs. The SCA, MAE, FVA, the whole series of BD engines....they appeared in everything from sedans to sports cars to F2 to Can Am!
The most amazing member of the BD family of engines--still based on the Kent, mind you--is the BDT, found in the RS200 and capable of 800hp!
The Kent then went through a few less-interesting iterations as the base for front wheel drive cars like the Fiesta. Interestingly, the engines were used and updated until the 2002 model year!
So basically, it's very arguably the most important engine in the history of international motorsport.
We have a couple other cars with about 190bhp, and those engines are good for 15-20 hours with a redline of 8,000.
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