V6 ford Duratec

[mgbond]

Hi Guys,

I'm now deffo coming out to OZ nxt Aug with the Noble. At some point I may want to change and strengthen the engine.

I can buy and Engine new from the US for 1-2kGBP. Not sure if it would be cheaper to ship it to UK before I go or get it sent to OZ.

So npw the real question. Is this engine alreay out in OZ and used in any fords?

My understanding is that there is a 3.5ltr Duratec that will fit in the Noble and I herd a rumour that there will be a 4ltr version.

Can anyone help.

Thanks

Martin

[deviant]

The 4.0 Litre engine you have heard about is a straight six found in the Falcon. It comes in naturally aspirated and single turbo form with some very silly torque output.

As far as I am aware the Duratec is not available here in any production car. We got the Mondeo for a short time but only in its most basic forms. Ford just bought the latest shape over here but no V6 models are available.

Maybe it came here as a Mazda unit?

I dont think you would have any trouble finding someone to build an engine for you though and I assume consumable parts are just pattern parts but I would think you could have an engine built quicker and cheaper in the UK where there are already aftermarket parts on the shelf and knowledge of the car. Just make sure you tell them the best fuel you can get is 98RON and it has to live in temp range of 0-50 deg celcius depending on where you live!

Also be carefull with the import laws...do your research!! There is a thread running with some good info in it.

[mgbond]

Thanks

The 4ltr I was refering to is a V6 Duratec possibly coming out in the US the 3.5 is already about.

I already know about the pain of getting the car out but I know of one Noble already out there. Would there be any issues in having an engine sent to OZ from the US?

Bondy

[Burnedout]

Ford had plans to replace the 4 liter-in-line six which is in production here with the V6 3.7 duratech which would be developed into the production falcon sedan/utes.

This has now been dropped and the current in line 6 will remain in production until at lest 2013.

Mazda use a V6 duratec in vehicles here however its the little one.

Edited by Burnedout on Monday 26th January 11:32

[deviant]

mgbond said:

Thanks

The 4ltr I was refering to is a V6 Duratec possibly coming out in the US the 3.5 is already about.

I already know about the pain of getting the car out but I know of one Noble already out there. Would there be any issues in having an engine sent to OZ from the US?

Bondy

I cant see why there would be an issue. There are tons of companies bringing in the LS series V8 so I dont see why they could not source one. Maybe go with a twin turbo V8 in the back of your Noble?!?!

The only problem I could see is the cost of freight, you might only be able to get it as far as the eastern states by boat and then have to organise a freight carrier to collect it for you and truck it over. I dont know if any ships go from the US to WA.
It would take forever for the boat to get here to!
Also there will be import tax on anything valued over AU$1000.

ETA: I dont know why I assumed your moving to WA so ignore the last bit if your not

Edited by deviant on Tuesday 27th January 01:42

[ariddell]

Doesn't the Mazda CX-9 use a 3.7 Duratec? It's probably the closest thing available locally if it does.

Wouldn't have seen any issue with shipping in an engine from the US in terms of physically getting it here, problem is likely more going to come up when fitting it to te car after it's already registered as it'd likely need an engineers certificate - which could be a problem to get on emissions grounds if that engine was never in a vehicle sold in Australia.

[mgbond]

If its a direct replacement then surley it wouldn't be a problem? If I want to go bigger then yeah maybe thats an issue.

[ariddell]

I vaguely recall having read somewhere that the engine used in kitcars needed to be one supplied officially to the Australian market to allow them to get an engineers certificate, so was thinking it may be the same for swaps.

[Burnedout]

ariddell said:

Doesn't the Mazda CX-9 use a 3.7 Duratec?

Yes it does.

Edited by Burnedout on Wednesday 28th January 09:35

[deviant]

ariddell said:

I vaguely recall having read somewhere that the engine used in kitcars needed to be one supplied officially to the Australian market to allow them to get an engineers certificate, so was thinking it may be the same for swaps.

Bit of a grey area on engine swaps for one off imports I think. Each state has different rules on engine swaps depending on weight of the car and engine size or if you are using an engine available in other cars from the same range...I.E going from a naturally aspirated engine to a turbocharged version normally just requires an engine number change form filled in (for WA) but say going from a 4cyl to V8 is a whole different ball game.

[ajg31]

I personally would get the lump and put it in with the container you bring the car in. Nice to know another Noble is hitting these shores (Hopefully moving to the city where the other one i know of lives in May), although i can honestly say with the roads and drivers in WA i have not missed mine once yet

[Stv]

Hey Martin. Good to hear you are finally making the move. Why not side step all the what ifs and get the new engine from the US and fit it before you ship the car. You could also crate up the old one for spares and bring it in the container, then submit an import licence application with the new engine number.

I believe the duratec isn't in anything over here, though there are some common parts with the V6 Couger. Consumables like belts, filters, plugs etc are easy to get from the ford dealers. But bring a few spare front splitters - I'm on my third, and get all of the Air Con serviced. Its 44 degrees here today.

[mgbond]

Stv said:

Hey Martin. Good to hear you are finally making the move. Why not side step all the what ifs and get the new engine from the US and fit it before you ship the car. You could also crate up the old one for spares and bring it in the container, then submit an import licence application with the new engine number.

I believe the duratec isn't in anything over here, though there are some common parts with the V6 Couger. Consumables like belts, filters, plugs etc are easy to get from the ford dealers. But bring a few spare front splitters - I'm on my third, and get all of the Air Con serviced. Its 44 degrees here today.

Hi mate,

I can't afford to get the engine and fit it before I come. I'm on 35k at the mo and I expect at some point I will need to change or rebuild the engine. I want 400+bhp so I will want to upgrade pistons valves etc and would do this over time with the new engine so its ready to go in if mine goes.

So It was either find one in oz or ship it here and bring it with me or ship it to OZ. Might have to get one and bring it out.

Splitters are not an issue. I have 1/4 splitters and they are made out of acrylic. I drew them on cad and they cost £30 for a new pair. So its just finding a Arcylic dealer with cutting from cad.

I plan to get the air con done before coming out and I will be fitting and inline charge cooler in addition to the intercooler. This is tested on one other Noble and keeps very good intake temps. So far the CC has cost under £600 I just need pipes and the time to fit it, so its cheaper than putting in an uprated IC and is much better.

I may just try and find a Mondeo V6 2nd hand as It will be rebuilt anyway.

I won't be out until Aug 2010 but I shall be applying soon, because if there are any issues then I can sell and get something else and still own it for a year before brining it out.

Bondy

[mgbond]

ajg31 said:

I personally would get the lump and put it in with the container you bring the car in. Nice to know another Noble is hitting these shores (Hopefully moving to the city where the other one i know of lives in May), although i can honestly say with the roads and drivers in WA i have not missed mine once yet

Hi Adam,

Did you sell yours to a Guy called Kevin in Worthing, was it a titanium GTO3?

Bondy

[deviant]

I would start contacting some engine builders in Aus before you commit to anything. You might find it hugely expensive to do here.

[mgbond]

deviant said:

I would start contacting some engine builders in Aus before you commit to anything. You might find it hugely expensive to do here.

Interesting, I thought labour rates were cheaper out there and tuning houses are all over the place.

Bondy

[deviant]

Not cheap once your earning the aussie dollar especially with what would probably be a one off engine build.
Even installing something like a Motec ECU on a one off installation is $2K +

I would start your research now to avoid any upsets when you get here!

[ajg31]

mgbond said:

ajg31 said:

I personally would get the lump and put it in with the container you bring the car in. Nice to know another Noble is hitting these shores (Hopefully moving to the city where the other one i know of lives in May), although i can honestly say with the roads and drivers in WA i have not missed mine once yet

Hi Adam,

Did you sell yours to a Guy called Kevin in Worthing, was it a titanium GTO3?

Bondy

Hey mate, i sold my titanium 3R to a Stealer. The new owner did email me asking for some history as i had to have a rebuild done on mine, but i cannot remember his name. As mentioned above, the cougar V6 is the only duratec i know of out here. Its not cheap to get anything done out here mate, and agree once you factor what you earn into in its even less value. My S2000 got serviced today (minor 60,000km one. Nothing wrong) and it still cost me half my weekly wage. Consumables like discs and pads are a joke for anything more than a Holden, and i cannot believe the tyre prices in WA. Check out some F1A's in Noble sizes and seee how it compares to mytyres or similar. I would fill a crate up with as much as you can afford.

[mgbond]

deviant said:

Not cheap once your earning the aussie dollar especially with what would probably be a one off engine build.
Even installing something like a Motec ECU on a one off installation is $2K +

I would start your research now to avoid any upsets when you get here!

I have a Australian Haltech ECU fitted to mine and I was the 1st it cost 2k + lots of playing with it costs so that doesn't sound to bad. you can now get the same ECU fitted here for 1.8k as they now have maps.

I'm looking at getting a Mondeo V6 3ltr 2nd hand to bring out with me and then over time get it re-built. The only issue I have is the Noble Engine had oil squirters to cool the underside of the pistons so I need to find out if anyone out there can do it. I have emailed a few tunner/engine builing companies.

Also I may if I'm lucky be able to earn the same money out there as I do here so that will be good. Also the bird is a Doctor and will be starting working her way up to consultant so I may have to get her to help out (This may mean I have to cut off a ball of something as she hates the car as I have spent too much on it)

Martin

Edited by mgbond on Friday 30th January 18:27

[mgbond]

ajg31 said:

mgbond said:

ajg31 said:

I personally would get the lump and put it in with the container you bring the car in. Nice to know another Noble is hitting these shores (Hopefully moving to the city where the other one i know of lives in May), although i can honestly say with the roads and drivers in WA i have not missed mine once yet

Hi Adam,

Did you sell yours to a Guy called Kevin in Worthing, was it a titanium GTO3?

Bondy

Hey mate, i sold my titanium 3R to a Stealer. The new owner did email me asking for some history as i had to have a rebuild done on mine, but i cannot remember his name. As mentioned above, the cougar V6 is the only duratec i know of out here. Its not cheap to get anything done out here mate, and agree once you factor what you earn into in its even less value. My S2000 got serviced today (minor 60,000km one. Nothing wrong) and it still cost me half my weekly wage. Consumables like discs and pads are a joke for anything more than a Holden, and i cannot believe the tyre prices in WA. Check out some F1A's in Noble sizes and seee how it compares to mytyres or similar. I would fill a crate up with as much as you can afford.

I use Bridgestone RE050 all round and they cost about £515 fitted so lets say the exchange gets back to norm so 2.5 so $1.3k, how does that stack up.

Martin