Early Ford vane, late model 4cyl?

So...just armchair dreaming. I've always wanted an early small-box Ford van to putter around in on a local daily basis and haul my bicycles to rides. They originally ran I6s, and 302s are an easy-ish drop in. WHat would my options be for a modern 4cyl connected to an auto trans? I'm thinking something fuel injected, box-stock, reliable, efficient, and (ideally) easy. Maybe an EFI 2.3 out of a Ranger?

I'm sure I could hunt some of this down, but it's more fun to ask you guys.

Something like this, but rustier:

EDIT: Umm...that title was obviously supposed to be "van", not "vane." Can somebody fix that?

I'd pick a Zetec or a Duratec. I'd use the original 3 on the tree and adapt a bellhousing.

Those were the names that came to mind, but I know NOTHING about them. What were they in originally? How do you adapt it to RWD?

I dig a three on the tree, but this would be an easy-button auto. After a metric century road ride or a 2 day off-road bike packing trip, I don't want to push a clutch. Utility, man.

You're so van. You probably think this thread is about you.

The Zetec came in the Ford ZX2, Contour/Mystique, the fwd Cougar, Focus. The bolt pattern is the classic Ford 4 cylinder. So if you found a rear wheel drive bellhousing/transmission for a Kent/Crossflow/Pinto/Lima* it will, for the most part bolt up. The locating dowels might be slightly different and the starter moved at some point but shouldn't really matter as you should (or I would, at least) use the clutch/flywheel/starter from the RWD application.

*The lima (2.3 and 2.5 that was made famous in the Pinto, Mustang (both II and Fox Body, and the Ranger) has a dual bolt pattern. They have two sets of upper bolts holes. The upper ones are typically used for most of the rwd transmissions we got here in the states (think T-5), but some of the old 4 speeds used the more "common" lower ones. The common Ford 4 cylinder pattern is actually more common in the UK/Europoe than it is here, because of the altered version found connected to the Lima is way more common. You might be able to find the Ford of Germany (FOG) Type E 4 speed in a Pinto/Bobcat, Euro Capri, or early Fox Bodies. The Type 9 in the XR4Ti is the 5 speed version and bolts to the old bellhousing.

The Duratec is the newer Focus motor and is used in RWD in the Ranger and Miata. So lots of transmissions but not too many removable bellhousing besides bespoke ($$$) ones. The Duratec is a new bellhousing pattern from the classic Ford 4 cylinder.

You can get a 4 cylinder Ecoboost crate engine these days, that could be interesting.

stuart in mn wrote: You can get a 4 cylinder Ecoboost crate engine these days, that could be suicidal.

FTFY

no more suicidal than a 302.. probably less so as there would be less weight on the front wheels to worry about when trying to get one of those vans around a corner or to stop suddenly

Believe the engine is set back on those type vans. Seen a few years ago with big motors in them and they could easily wheelstand.

Is this just because? Or an exercise in possible economy? Ecoboost 4 would be my choice. It might be able to get out of its own way with that. Or a 6. Any kind of 6, inline or V.

Donor Ranger, easy button.

I would think that if you're not planning to carry any real weight in it, the 2.3 would move it around just fine.

I'd do a 2.3/5 speed ranger swap, you can get a rusty donor truck for peanuts. Cable shift the 5 speed and adapt it to the column shifter. I suppose you could use a ranger 4 speed automatic as well. None of this is likely to be bolt in, but making mounts for something like this is pretty straightforward and it should all fit in there with room to spare aside from a slight concern about OHC engine height.

For what it would cost to get a modern 4-banger in there, I can't see the worth of the project. A mild small block Ford V-8 can get you upwards of 20, maybe even 20+ mpg in a van like that. All while delivering decent performance and making happy noises.

Type Q wrote: You're so van. You probably think this thread is about you.

Nice.

I agree on the Ranger donor. I'd bet a modern 4 cylinder would outperform the inline 6 that came in those vans by quite a large margin.

It's mainly a desire for economy, and secondly for reliability. The inline sixes were dead reliable but economy was so-so. They were also HEAVY, contributing to the nose-over dynamics. Ditto the v8. The idea would be a fun, funky, vintage vehicle that could be driven around town regularly and wouldn't suck for an hour or two drive on the interstate. I'd plan on hauling some bicycles and gear but nothing overly heavy. The ability to tow a 1000lb sailboat would be a plus, but that's probably not a good idea with the short chassis and weird dynamics anyway.

When someone said ecoboost, I immediately thought about the big six. I had forgotten about the 1.6 That would probably be the perfect engine solution, but far too pricey. I think a 2.3L Ranger auto donor would be the ideal way to go. I've got a Mustang and a V8 Explorer for fun growly noises.

Of course, if someone were to total my Explorer tomorrow, it does have the perfect 302 drive train.....

Glad to see I am not the only one that thinks of these things. I was going to do a 2.3 turbo with a 5 speed once but the deal for the 64 E truck went south when another guy paid stupid money. Actually designed a 5 speed column shifter for the durn thing...never built or tested, but looked reasonable!

Still might put the 2.3 in a Mustang II or pinto if I can find one cheap...but I have this Cobra kit car laying around so I might just!

How about a 4BT diesel 4 cylinder turbo?

Bruce

In reply to ultraclyde:

The 3.8 v6 in my fox body only has 120 hp while the zetec is almost 130. Torque is down but a manual trans should help.

I would move up to an LFX as used by the Miata swap guys or maybe the V6 out of a late mustang. Autoboxes most likely already attached.

egnorant wrote: Actually designed a 5 speed column shifter for the durn thing...never built or tested, but looked reasonable! How about a 4BT diesel 4 cylinder turbo? Bruce

When I was in Germany one of the guys I worked with had a mutsu delivery van with 5 on the collum! I wanted but never got pictures of it. Had plans of doing a swap on my 65 f100.

I thought 4BT as well.

A 4BT weighs somewhere around 800lbs. Heavier than any smallblock V8 that has already been called too heavy. If we want to go diesel and stay lighter than a ford small I-6 I'd think a VW diesel adapted to a T5 or overdrive 4 speed auto, or something to that effect.

Remember that a base, 144ci 6 cylinder Econoline only made 84hp and 134ft/lbs through a 3 speed stick and those are probably inflated SAE gross numbers. A 1.9 TDI(edit 89-110hp, 150-173 ft/lbs, similar power bands) and a transmission with more than 3 gears would make it feel like a rocket in comparison and would weigh about the same as the stock engine.