Ford 4.0 V6 in TVR S ??

[Dave Tripp]

As a result of an engine swap project on a Gilbern, I have a spare Ford (US) 4.0 V6, which I am flogging on a well-known auction site.

I have had some questions from a bloke who asks about fitting it in a TVR S (he doesn't say which one) to replace his 2.9.

I'd love to be able to answer him, but I just don't know, my last TVR was a Vixen (1600 Crossflow).

Can any of you TVR experts help?

The 4.0 engine is the standard Cologne block bored and stroked to 4000cc. The heads have three exhaust ports. It has no distributor (crank-triggered) as installed in the Explorer, but the original mounting hole for the dizzie is there, with a blanking plate. You can look at http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/40reb... - for a full article on the 4.0 engine.

My problem is that I know nothing about the 2.9 as installed in the S - does it also have three exhaust ports, ot two like the 2.8?

I did hear some time ago from a TVR engine builder that the crank would go straight into a 2.9 to make a 3 point something, and that he had worked out a way to fit Cosworth heads, but I'm using the A4LD autobox on the other engine in the Gilbern (sacrilege, I know, but the arthritis... ) so I'm sticking to the standard Explorer setup, as I need the Ford ECU to run the autobox.

Any ideas will be appreciated, and I'll recommend this site to any further enquirers...

Thanks, Dave

[Barkychoc]

We already had a bit of discussion about your engine!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

The 2.9 does have 3 exhaust ports - whether they would line up is another story.
Would be interesting if it could be made to work though.

[Boosted LS1]

Also, iirc there may be 3 different cranks for the explorer. You need to check if the 2.9 flywheel will bolt onto your 4.0 crank as the bolt pcd may be different. It can be rectified.

[QuiteQuietCerb]

someone has done it with impressive results, do a google search and you should be able to find it, there are pics and everything but from what i remember the project involved quite a bit of work

[Orophin]

Ahhh here we go again. If it's a standard 2.9 block and bored and stroked to 4.0, it must be a fairly simple swap?

[Boosted LS1]

From reading the other link, the 4.0 sump and bottom of the block is slightly wider so you would have to redrill holes along it's length on one side if intending to fit a 2.9 sump. 24v heads will only fit with a huge amount of work so just not worth the bother/expence imo.