So I'm going to rebuild my 2.8i motor while it's out- change all gaskets and seals, check and replace rings and shells if needed...

is it worth changing the exhaust manifolds and camshaft? Is much gained? And anything else worth doing whilst in bits?

 

I would defo change the exhaust manifolds. This will free up a few bhp.

 

Is it worth exploring what they did to the 3.1?

 

The 3.1 was the ESSEX v6 which was a much better engine as far as tuning was concerned, the 2.8 is the cologne v6 which has Siamese exhaust ports on each head where as the Essex had 3 branch manifolds, I had the three port heads from the boss mustang from the states on my 2.8 Granada which bolt straight on to the cologne block with no modifications needed, coupled with a four barrelled Holley carb sat on top, my Granada was carb not injection.

With the 2.8i cologne I’d defo look into changing the exhaust and manifolds to a janspeed or something like that, change the cam shaft as well, but without doing a twin turbo conversion, boring the block out or slipping laughing gas into it you can’t screw much more power out of them, I had my 2.8 in my Granada bored out to 3.1, as above cam, exhaust and carb conversion and she made around 180 bhp iirc

 

Top info there Charlie.

 

Thanks for the replies! Turns out I already have updated manifolds as they are tubular and not cast.

any suggestions on what cam kit to go for and where to buy?

 

Give Burton power a shout, they do bits for a vast range of ford engines

 

Cheers 👍

Are there any advantages or disadvantages of upgrading the can gear to a full metal one? I'm guessing it's stronger but will it be louder?

 

Steel timing gears are very Winey imo, I've heard you can alloy ones that are supposed to a little quieter tho !

Adder