Kent engine options ..

T i m · 2011-04-04T10:28:11+00:00

Hi all,Just thinking out loud and I know there are some 'old skool' enginetuners / modders on here ...I'm thinking of tidying the old Rickman Ranger kitcar up (again, keepgetting distracted) we built over 20 years ago as a cheap postapocalyptic runabout and the first thing I'm considering is theengine.The current lump is a stock 1300 Kent as we pulled form a 78k 1978MkII scrote which was the main donor. It starts and runs ok but isnoisy and pretty tired in general.I also have available a tried and tested 1300 (well, tested on thefloor, it came with the gearbox I wanted but the guy pulled it fromhis own car), a 1300GT out of a second car we broke at the time (a 2door MK1 ... what would that be worth now?) and a 1600, again, wassupposed to be running ok when I bought it from a mate who had takenit out of his Ranger for a 2L Pinto.1) I know the 1300s will go straight in and everything with fit / lineup and is the cheapest insurance (GT?) and TAX but probably not soeconomical as a 1600 or as good when towing (I have a folding caravanand some general purpose / goods / motorcycle trailers).2) The taller 1600 block will need the taller turret brace (got) and abit of a faf with the windscreen wiper motor (mounts on the brace) butthe (stainless) exhaust should be ok, as should all the other stuff(dizzy / Luminition mainly). Q1. Were there any differences between the engine / gearbox interfacebetween the 1300 and 1600 Kent models can anyone remember please? I'might' have the box that came with the 1600 but again I think that'sgot different output splines so I'd need a new nose on the prop.Secondly, the gvnmt have cleverly set the road TAX engine sizethreshold for this age of vehicle at 1549cc, so if I was to go to the1600 that would take it (currently) from £120 to £215 pa and whilstthat's not a deal breaker it's a shame because we are only talkingabout ~50cc. For the same TAX cost I could go for the 2L Pinto (out ofmy old Sierra) but that's even more faf (engine / gearbox...