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Author Topic: my current project Mk3 Cosworth Transit with pinto YB engine  (Read 1969 times)

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Offline Plumberdave

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my current project Mk3 Cosworth Transit with pinto YB engine
« on: January 28, 2017, 12:23:01 PM »
Hi
im new to the forum and live in the uk  my current vehicle is a 1989 Ford Transit built by Brooklands Ford with a 2.0 Litre cosworth turbo engine and a T5 manual box  it was featured in Januarys edition of Performance Ford  It Runs about 375 bhp and an extra 50 bhp with nos
The project i am wanting to do is convert to a C4 auto box as i use the van everyday for work and also on the strip  (best 13.5 at 110mph ) ive been using a Helix 6 paddle clutch but as i have to slip this for road use its not been great 
Having spoken to a drag racing mate of mine he said the best route would be auto with quick shift kit ,high stall torgue convertor ,twin step rev limiter and trans brake
Getting the auto box and ancillaries is not a problem all available from Jegs etc but what i need is part numbers or advice on the bell housing from the YB engine to the C4 auto
it has a T5 Borg Warner  manual box in now which is also used in mustangs i believe and the pintos cant be that different 
Any advise would be great 

Offline robertwwithee

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Re: my current project Mk3 Cosworth Transit with pinto YB engine
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2017, 10:31:31 AM »
Very cool, I might have a lead for you on the 2.0 C4 bell housing but let me check with owner. 

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Offline 72DutchWagon

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Re: my current project Mk3 Cosworth Transit with pinto YB engine
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2017, 02:25:45 PM »
Hi Plumberdave, that is one fantastic van you’ve got there!

I’ll try to help with some info, but have to say in advance that I don’t have any expertise in drag racing.
The bell housing you want is the standard early 71-74 2.0 Pinto C4 automatic bell housing.
Later Pinto’s  have the C3 Automatic with a different bell housing for 2.3 liters, you should forget about those, these are also in the 2.3 Mustang II’s.
The 2.0 bell housing will be a direct bolt up to your Cosworth block, which is essentially a beefed up standard 2.0 Pinto block.
I guess that a lot of Pinto club members might still have these just lying around, and Robert is already looking for you.
I’m sorry to have to tell you that I sold (for peanuts) the C4 and bell housing that I pulled out of my car called Donkey last year.
You might want to read through this article http://www.pigseye.com/sadie/trans/c4.htm to get an idea of the differences in C4 specifications .

Some reservations regarding your plans;

While  C4 drag racing transmissions are easily bought, I doubt that any of them have valve bodies that would suit your engine, let alone racing torque convertors with 143 tooth flexplates. The input shafts on these transmissions are probably not compatible with your engine.
A normal early Pinto flexplate won’t fit, because your crankshaft has a different bolt pattern.
You’ll probably need a much lower diff ratio in your rear axle (to keep it streetable), and I doubt that these are available for Transit rear axles.
The C4 is just a 3-speed, if you are going to build this, I guess it is a no compromise undertaking, it’s either strip, or street, not both. And a lot of custom work.

If you want the comfort of an automatic (and forget about the strip altogether) then find a A4LD transmission  behind a Sierra or Scorpio, but be warned, you still have to do the rear diff, the transmission can’t handle your Cosworth’s power, it will break, and the electronics won’t talk to your Magneti Marelli ecu.

By far the cheapest way to solve your problem on the street is getting a “normal” clutch.

I don’t claim to be an expert on any of this, these are just my humble observations, hopefully some of our more experienced racers can add to or correct this info.
Thanks for sharing your wild ideas with us!

Offline robertwwithee

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Re: my current project Mk3 Cosworth Transit with pinto YB engine
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2017, 08:22:50 PM »
My lead on the C4 fell through.  He turned it into aluminum scrap.  Darn. 

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Offline pinto_one

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Re: my current project Mk3 Cosworth Transit with pinto YB engine
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2017, 10:36:49 PM »
Well they are a few other options you can try , you can try to find a early 2.3 C4 bellhousing , yes they are the same bolt pattern , the only thing that is different is the dowel pin size on the engine , you can make adaptor type step dowel pin, 2.3 has a larger pin , everything else is the same , next option is you could use the A4LD , but use the guts from a 4.0 mustang or explorer , Ranger too, option #3 would see if you can find a 2.3 turbo Merkur over there , it has the C3 , and use the Aft half of a 4.0 A4LD guts in it ,  if you want to know the A4LD started life as a C3 , they just added a extra planetary to get the over drive and a inch longer bell housing for the lock up tourqe converter , go look up Transmission Center , they have a few built up ones to look at , hope this helps , later , Blaine
76 Pinto sedan V6 , 79 pinto cruiser wagon V6 soon to be diesel or 4.0