Swindon race engines

[dumpycorsa]

I dropped a spare c20xe off tonight to a local engine builder. Some may recognise his name JRE engineering. He builds some very tasty vauxhall engines. Mainly for rallying. Whilst chatting I noticed this gem sat on his shelf. I've heard alot of people say that swindon race engines are the best xe's you can buy. I know they produced the BTCC engines for the cavalier touring cars. This isn't the same engine you'd find under the bonnet of one of those is it? It's not something you see every day :cool:


http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd90/dumpydave/003-6.jpg

[Benn]

No, thats jusat a very turned xe running dry sump.
Swindon engines are a reverce (sp) head + more.

[sulphur]

Looks an awesome bit of kit though.

[dumpycorsa]

So all Swindon race engines use a reverse style head or just the ones for the BTCC cars?

[Dar]

Yup it's a swindon engine judging by the cam cover. However thats not 100% positive. They do, do other modifications that you can identify them by. Most swindon engines are not reverse head (Thats just the limited ones they did fop the BTCC as far as I know). I've seen loads of them in single seaters.

[dumpycorsa]

Yup it's a swindon engine judging by the cam cover. However thats not 100% positive. They do, do other modifications that you can identify them by. Most swindon engines are not reverse head (Thats just the limited ones they did fop the BTCC as far as I know). I've seen loads of them in single seaters.


I've never seen one before in the flesh. The reverse head style ones not really owned by Joe public I take it?

[Pistol Pete]

They cost a fair bit so i very much doubt you will see one dropped in a Nova!! I *think* the Chevrolet (sp?) are still using this technology with good results.

[Benn]

I've never seen one before in the flesh. The reverse head style ones not really owned by Joe public I take it?

Not offen anless you have big big pockets.

[Dar]

There are plenty of non reverse head Swindon engines out there and you can pick one up in a car for alot less money than you would think. I have only seen them in single seaters though.

[dumpycorsa]

JRE's engines aren't cheap either. He builds small block engines for novas corsas etc and most of his big block engines go in rear wheel drives (mk2 escorts etc). I also took a pic of a 1.6 xe he had on the bench which was 224bhp. He was selling a 1.4 engine in MSN the other month that was 194bhp!

[Rick Draper]

Very nice, quite a interesting block casting as well.

[dumpycorsa]

Very nice, quite a interesting block casting as well.

Something is definitely different. The core plugs surrounds look alot thicker on that engine than on my block. Not sure if thats all, hard to see being black

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd90/dumpydave/engine3.jpg

[Rick Draper]

Look where the starter motor should go as well.

[fearless]

Thats the first thing I noticed as well

[dumpycorsa]

See what you mean. Should have compared it to this pic instead of the last.


http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd90/dumpydave/engine10.jpg

Would they do this if it was used in a rear wheel drive

[Sloth]

looks like an alloy block????

[Rick Draper]

looks like an alloy block????

No it does not.

[Sloth]

ok, untwist ya knickers. jesus.

[muzzy]

Wish i got to work on things like that when i was an engine builder :(

[BIGS]

Yea john reed is awsome, He is going to be building abit of mine. And thos that said swindon engine only have reverse heads is rubbish. my manifold came of a none reversed head btcc car. And as you know all the early 90s cavs were tunned by swindon

[philip]

reverse heads go for about £3k bare so you can see why not many people use them! lol

[Ernie]

They are only down the road from me. I will have to go and look throught there bins lol

[Plug]

lol ernie

[dj_wudgey]

looks awesome that id love that in my gte lol

[Rick Draper]

ok, untwist ya knickers. jesus.

Sorry i just dont suffer fools lol