116E engine - Pistons - help!

[terryp]

I am currently rebuilding a Cosworth 1500cc pre crossflow engine for use in another project (Hopefully!)
Anyway due to the piston rings having not arrived , crank / cam is in and the rest is waiting to be assembled.

I wanted to see whether the compression ratio would be OK as it needs to be in excess of 10:1 as I have an A2 cam.

On sloting in a piston without the rings (but with the shells!) they are 3.3mm down from the top of the block.
I have checked the Cosworth rods and they are fine at about 122mm center to center , so it would appear to be the pistons (Pistons were described on ebay as pistons are forged slipper type )

Has anyone any ideas what I have and what is wrong and how I get out of it!

Bores are + 030" if anyone has 4 spare pistons

Thanks
Terry

[nigelrbfurness]

Perhaps the pistons are intended for the 1200cc or 998cc block? They're both shorter in height than the 1500cc block. Can't remember off hand if the rods are different for those blocks. Been a while since I saw one!

Nigel F.

[terryp]

Think you may be right , luckily I have managed to get some new Hepolite pistons for ?80
My eBay purchase is looking sick!
Thanks
Terry

[promotor]

All original Ford/AE pistons for pre crossflow engines are the same compression height.

The rods at 122mm are correct for a 1500 engine.

It looks like the pistons you have are forged short compression height ones. At a guess I would say they could be either Cosworth MAE or SCA pistons. I had a set of MAE ones and they look almost exactly the same.

You just need normal +030" pre crossflow pistons to sort the issue out provided that your block hasn't been skimmed extensively. If it has been skimmed plenty you might need a custom thickness head gasket.

[Elan45]

Terry,

At first I thought you might have the 4.800 length rods (which you do) and might need the 4.828" ones, but at 3mm down the bore, that's an eighth of an inch. I think you need a set of 4,900 in rods, (pretty common, as IIRC, they are typical 1600 x-flow FF length). They should go right in assuming you have normal width big ends (not narrow journals like a BDA). Slightly longer rods will give you a bit flatter torque curve too.Most Formula Jr 1000 to 1100cc motors are built w/ either 4.800, 4.828 or 4.900 in long rods.

Good luck,
Roger