RS2000 16v to 2.3 conversion topic

[Mark V8]

The Ford Galaxy 2.3 shares a similar block to the RS2000 16v and it can be used to convert the RS2k to 2.3 without too much grief. the 2.3 Scorpio has the engine in the 'wrong' way round and the dipstick and crankcase breather are in the wrong place. The Galaxy block is made with the intension of using balancer shafts that spin at twice engine rpm and sap BHP The Galaxy sump will cause clearance problems for the RS2k starter motor. Galaxy engine is 10:1 CR RS2000 engine is 10.5:1 CR RS2000 head fitted to a Galaxy 2.3 block with Galaxy head gasket will give a CR of 11.8:1 ideal for LPG The Galaxy block will need some mods to fit the RS2k sump. Galaxy block with 2 litre front 'horse shoe' fitted 2 litre block showing difference skanky 2.3 balancer shafts etc RS 2000 sump on Galaxy 2.3 block showing potential for oil leaks ! Fix for problem, machine block and insert with new metal. You WILL HAVE to block this hole up that used to feed the original balancer shafts, I used 1/8 BSP plug. Pic showing parts needed from 2 litre bottom end. You will need the half moon casting, oil pump chain and oil pump tensioner along with the sump baffle and oil pick up pipe. Any questions just ask Mark

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[SeanT]

A mate of mine will be well interested in this, he has a 2.3 scorpio bottom end, and is fitting it all in his K reg saff! Your help would be much appreciated chap

[Al Bags]

Thanks a lot Mark ...

So ..

1. So there are no head to block mating probs (particularly with oil/waterways) ?

2. I take it the balance shafts were removed (as you plugged the oil feed) They
come away from the drive gear, or aint it as easy as that? re-route chain for
instance?

The rest seems staight forward enough. I may have to go look at some parts in our warehouse ; )

With that CR, and a cam change .. me van will be quite nippy ... I expect this conversion makes quite a difference to torque ... and I like torque

Cheers 4 now

[Mark V8]

Originally Posted by Al Bags

Thanks a lot Mark ...

So ..

1. So there are no head to block mating probs (particularly with oil/waterways) ?

2. I take it the balance shafts were removed (as you plugged the oil feed) They
come away from the drive gear, or aint it as easy as that? re-route chain for
instance?

The rest seems staight forward enough. I may have to go look at some parts in our warehouse ; )

With that CR, and a cam change .. me van will be quite nippy ... I expect this conversion makes quite a difference to torque ... and I like torque

Cheers 4 now

The heads swap over with no problems at all with oil and water ways.

Best thing to do with the balancer shafts is to throw the complete Galaxy sump/shaft assembly in the bin. The half moon casting on the front of the 2 litre block has the oil pump chain tensioner, so all you need to do is use this with the 2 litre pump chain. You will also need the mains studs and oil pickup etc from the 2 litre.


If you decide to use the 2.3 head on a front wheel drive you will need to get a waterway welded up that is used for the thermostat housing on the Scorpio.

2.3 head


2.0 head


welded 2.3 head


The RS2000 inlet does not seal against the Galaxy head because of some cut outs on the Galaxy mating face and the plastic isolator will need machining for individual O rings or you could just use gasket paper.

Mark

[Al Bags]

Hi mate ..

Thanks again! You have great resources on this conversion.
I'm looking for a 2.3 bottom end at the moment ... I have the 2.0 engine & box, but I need some more odds & sods yet.

I take it you have tried out both heads? The 2.3 head is better for petrol cos of the high CR obtained fitting the 2.0 head?
I wonder which breathes better. LPG has such a good mixing performance with the air charge (as its effectively vapour anyhow) it improves any lumpiness of performance cams. Proved this when running with a Shrick cam and other mods on my gas-powered Beemer.
I was going to fit Gas injection (hybrid sequential) from the outset, but I'm worried about gettinh the fuel map right, so I'll be using a standard lambda-control systen to start, or a gas carb.

Did you use any cams? They seem one of the first routes to use in a 16v.

Cheers 4 now ... Speak later!

[Mark V8]

The 2 litre head bolts straight on and will give the high CR for LPG.
The pics I've posted up were of my conversion which used the galaxy head, the castings are much the same and both suffer a bit from bad machining directly behind the valves and a bit of porting helps. The reason I used the Galaxy head was to keep a sensible (for petrol) CR without the need to skim the pistons, engine in the pics recently made 216bhp on power engineerings rollers using GSXR750 throttle bodies, kent RS2001 cams and Emerald managment.

Mark

[Al Bags]

That's cool Mark! Not a bad figure at all! Isnt the 2.3 noticeably torquier?

What made you use the bike throttles? 4 of them?
Those cams were the ones I had in mind. Know nowt about Emerald tho.

Reliable?

Cheers 4 now .....

[Mark V8]

Originally Posted by Al Bags

That's cool Mark! Not a bad figure at all! Isnt the 2.3 noticeably torquier?

What made you use the bike throttles? 4 of them?
Those cams were the ones I had in mind. Know nowt about Emerald tho.

Reliable?

Cheers 4 now .....

100% reliable and revs sweetly to 7000rpm

The 2.3 is a lot torquier

Bike throttle bodies cost me Ł80 for four and took a far bit of fitting.

Emerald is a really good system and all the software comes free when you buy it or you can just download it and have a play.

http://www.emeraldm3d.com/

Mark

[Al Bags]

I must do a bit more reading up then! Cheers mate .. thanks again.
So did you sell the car then?

Anyone else here have a 2300?

Al.

[Mark V8]

I took the engine as far as I thought the RS2000 4x4 transmission could cope with and after all the hard work I sold it

Gavin on RS2000-16V.COM has a 2.3 on bodies so does Yade and Karlos.

Rich is building a hybrid with 2.3 block, forged pistons and 2 litre crank for extra revs giving around 2.2 litres.

Ian is building a real monster with a whipple screw type supercharger blown 2.3 with Arrow steel rods, JE forged pistons, flowed head etc etc and a Cosworth plenum chamber. This lot is mated to a Mitsubishi EVO gearbox using Mitsi front diff and escort 4x4 rear casing with Sierra internals.

thread below

http://www.rs2000-16v.co.uk/forum/to...hTerms=wildest

Mark

[Al Bags]

All I can say about that is ... CHRRRRIST !!!

[ger_dood]

hi mate in the middle of converting galaxy 2.3 bottom end to the rs2k head, have you any idea if i can buy the insert needed for the sump conversion and where,?? head's been sent to be skimmed so i can put her back together

[Icurus]

This thread is seriously old!

But we can still help

Using the 2L head does not need a C/R raising skim as the CR is high enough already. All it needs is a cleanup skim at the very least.

You will have to make the mis match block yourself as each engine block will be slightly different.

[ger_dood]

ok thanks ive got a sandwitch plate to lower the compression as was running the rs2k with a turbo, would it be better for me to use the galaxy gasket on the block and rs2k gasket for the head? thanks for helping out

[Icurus]

never liked the idea of compression plates, but you would have to use two 2.3 ones, as i'm guessing that the compression plate is sized for the 2.3's bores?

[ger_dood]

the plate is off the rs2k but when placed over the 2.3 block it fits nice, thats y i thought the rs2k gasket would be better for the head, just in a pickle now with this bit that needs to be machined ;-( do you know of any other starter that would do?

[Icurus]

If the compression plate is for the 2.0 then its bore diameter is too small for the 2.3, as the compression plate would overhang the bores and cause a whole lot of problems.

Get yourself a block of aluminium and make one up, its really not that hard to do.

[Glenn.]

I know a lad who did this to is rs2000. He had loads of hassle doing it and getting it running right. In the end he put the standard engine back in.

[ger_dood]

cheers for replys! going to ditch the plate and get pistons skimmed, less to go wrong!!
on the search for block now will post how it goes asap
cheers

[ger_dood]

hi put my engine back together!! everything was gud. 2.3 bottom end pistons skimmed 2thou! RS2K head standered gasket, donne compression test ;-( 240 psi per pot. to high for turbo dont think its safe to take more off
wot ways have i got to go arround dropping compression enough for turbo?

[mar_k]

Originally Posted by ger_dood

hi put my engine back together!! everything was gud. 2.3 bottom end pistons skimmed 2thou! RS2K head standered gasket, donne compression test ;-( 240 psi per pot. to high for turbo dont think its safe to take more off
wot ways have i got to go arround dropping compression enough for turbo?

think they usualy skim 1.5mm of the pistons,
how much did you take off?

[mar_k]

also using the galaxy head will lower the cr

[dojj]

both blocks have the same holes, the fwd ones though aren't tapped for the rwd application and vice versa for the rwd lumps

[ger_dood]

hi i took 2mm of the pistons and it gave me 240psi per pot

[Mark V8]

Originally Posted by ger_dood

hi put my engine back together!! everything was gud. 2.3 bottom end pistons skimmed 2thou! RS2K head standered gasket, donne compression test ;-( 240 psi per pot. to high for turbo dont think its safe to take more off
wot ways have i got to go arround dropping compression enough for turbo?

You have to use the Galaxy 2.3 head gasket !!!

Galaxy gasket is a multi layered metal job with the correct size holes for the bore size, you will get overhang with the RS2000 gasket.

Mark

[ger_dood]

ive used the galaxy gasket mate

[ger_dood]

will the 2.3 head give me as much power as the rs2k?
ger

[Icurus]

No, the 2.3 head has bigger cc, so less compression and less power, not a lot less, but less.