inquiring minds...

OK, sorry about the other thread. I'll try and play better.

As I look around and try to figure out my next move in the world of rally (no, not my rally career... that'd be stupid with two 'u's) one of the questions is 'what car.'

Not a simple answer, and not a complete question... I get that.

I'm a bit curious about the new and improved Xratty, though. A neat looking car that I've had a soft spot for, even if they are a bit on the rare side...

What do we know about the drivetrain in the 'new and improved' car?

JVL categorized it as 'an a old 30 year old FORD with garage built everything...'

so stock engine warmed over? Stock gear box? T5? green suspenders?

The new and improved Merkur now uses a 2.0 ecoboost and a mazda Miata (NC) 6spd transmission. It's all bolt together parts which is nice. Engine management is the ecoboost controls pack from Ford.

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The thing friggen scoots.

No motor mount in this pictures, it was early on in the build. Maybe il make a quick how-to on installing an ecoboost...

Cost wise, it's cheaper than 3 DNFs due to older motors failing. We will see how well this thing holds up...

Gawddamit Robert, there you go again..
3 DNFs from the older motors failing..


3 DNFs---in all your vast experience can you educate us all about those 3 DNFs from engine failure?



What would you say about an olf friend from MI named Colin McCleery who did about 45 events from mid-late 90s into the 00ies with a bone stock 2300 Lima? and a Type 9?

I have been pushing the use of Dura-tecs --and the "eco-boost" is just the latest variation of the Duratec---since oh about 2002, that's why I built one in 2003 to see what the internals are/were like.

But some sort of analysis of those 3 failures and DNFs would be very informative...if people want to learn anything--a huge assumption I know.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
Robert Culbertson
The new and improved Merkur now uses a 2.0 ecoboost and a mazda Miata (NC) 6spd transmission. It's all bolt together parts which is nice. Engine management is the ecoboost controls pack from Ford.

Interesting combination.
Are there enough 2.0 ecoboost engines and miata 6 speeds showing up at the wreckers already to make this a 'cheap' and 'garage built' option?

I think so. Engine prices from Car-part are ranging from $2k to $3k locally. Transmission was less than any T5 available here locally (I don't live in the land of cheap wreckers like John does). It all comes down to how much you want to front initially for performance and reliability. You can do a decent turbo 2.3 ferd for cheapsies, but we have not had great reliability on them (especially when they get hot).

I found an ecoboost engine with 5 miles on it, and a trans with 20k miles on it. Prices were less (by a long shot) than a decent cam and head(new) for a 2.3 turbo ford.

The non-turbo Duratec/Mazda/Volvo engine can be had dirt cheap. There is a change over period where the starters swapped sides, but it seems that everything within those ranges swaps around. They start out at 150hp stock, porting+cam+pistons+management sees them at 285hp from Cosworth. Turbo kits are cheap as well (check out the turbo ranger forum for 2.3 turbo duratec craziness). You can also look into the Mazda Speed3 engine. It's a DI turbo 2.3 that will also bolt up (depending on starter location), you will just need to find an engine management solution.

Quote
Robert Culbertson
You can do a decent turbo 2.3 ferd for cheapsies, but we have not had great reliability on them (especially when they get hot).

.

Why not expand and detail what the problems were and what the solutions were...
And don't just chat--add prices, they're important..Central even and leaving out the costs and the details renders the discussion essentially useless.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

What?! People want to learn John?
I'll get some more info up in a little bit. I'm currently going between cold sweats and vomiting, so this is not my main priority today. Making it from the couch to the "office" in a timely fashion is.

I have been renewed by delicious tacos on this wondrous Cinco de Mayo.
There's a quick overview of the build in the Construction Zone.

I have to ask... at what point does a 30 year old ford stop being a 30 year old ford?

Quote
ALS FTW
I have to ask... at what point does a 30 year old ford stop being a 30 year old ford?

Throw enough new at it and it averages out to 5-10 years old or so.

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Robert Culbertson
What?! People want to learn John?

I want to learn! I'm interested in as much detail in the blown motors as you will supply. I looked into the ecoboost a lot but when all was said and done I had too many good blocks and too many good stock pistons to make it worth it. The cost to increase HP looked comparable. The lima blocks seems to be fairly reliable as long as your not melting holes in the pistons or blowing head gaskets. Both which seems to be more tune and heat related than anything. With a mild tune and decent oil cooling I've managed to have all my problems be something else. Out of 4 rallies I've only not driven 2 stages. One was for a blown turbo that we changed on the side of the road and the other was because we gave up after loosing the EGR plug in our manifold and having the fixes not last.

For comparison I will add that unless you dig like crazy your probably looking at ball park $900 for a usable 2.95 T5. Whether you buy it used or rebuild with new gears or whatever.

I bought a used complete 2.3 (turbo and un-cracked head) for like $375. You don't find those every day though.

And for just $2500 you can have a brand new Esslinger svo cnc aluminum head that will help get you 300 hp in short order.

JV, how much would one of your YB's be to throw into a rwd Ford. Compared to, say an Ecofart.

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Yes, it's a Ranger.
Xr4Ti, it is rwd and was made in Germany.