Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Taunus V4s not EssexPhil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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does the Cologne v4 still use the troublesome fibre timing gear. What makes you think they are troublesome? Personal experience? It's usually the balance shaft bearings that give in first, sometimes stripping the balance shaft gear. The pulley is on the balance shaft, and if the v-belt for the alternator, fan and water pump is overtightened the bearings have a hard life. I've never seen a cam gear strip, and the crank shaft gear is steel. You can get all metal timing gear sets, but I dread to imagine what happens if the front balance shaft bearing fails and the gear isn't the next weak link. In practice the fibre timing gears are pretty robust, in most V4s I break they're in perfectly fine condition and measure within spec. In my experience the Cologne V4's weakest point is the PCV system. Apparently not many people seem to notice or understand this and completely neglect it, and I've seen many V4s that died as a result of black sludge. Fair to say the V4 and V6 Essex seem to suffer failures in different ways - timing gear failure is becoming quite common and there have been some instances of it happening on the Cologne V6 (in 2.8 guise). Anyway - this thread's about the Taunus/Cologne lump I think the Saab is the only car sold mainstream in the UK which had it fitted? All the Ford vehicles used the Essex V4 IIRC?
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Last Edit: Jul 23, 2020 8:18:03 GMT by Phil H
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Fair to say the V4 and V6 Essex seem to suffer failures in different ways - timing gear failure is becoming quite common and there have been some instances of it happening on the Cologne V6 (in 2.8 guise). Not sure what you mean by 'becoming quite common'. These engines have been around for almost 60 years and I doubt the rate of timing gear failure has increased, or it must be due to age. I don't think these engines, like most engines of the day, were designed to do more than 60-65k miles before overhaul. You can't compare the V4 and V6 timing gear set-up, the V4 has three gears and the pulley on the balance shaft, the V6 has two and the pulley on the crank. The crank and cam gears are not interchangeable between the V4 and the V6. Anyway - this thread's about the Taunus/Cologne lump I think the Saab is the only car sold mainstream in the UK which had it fitted? All the Ford vehicles used the Essex V4 IIRC? Yes, I think it was only in Saabs in the UK, and in the Matra M530 (not exactly mainstream) if that was ever sold here. I regularly sell V4 parts to folks who run imported German fire service Transits (which I would immediately convert to V6 if I had one...).
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Taunus V4s not EssexPhil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Jul 23, 2020 10:34:19 GMT
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Quite common timing gear failure was relating to the Essex..sorry for the confusion as I’ve just realised you could read it both ways!
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Jul 23, 2020 13:44:08 GMT
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There's an 1000cc Aprilia V4 which is very compact and seems to make around 135hp, it would still be a morris 1000 just with twice the power and a V4.
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,152
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Taunus V4s not Essexmadmog
@madmog
Club Retro Rides Member 46
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Jul 23, 2020 15:31:59 GMT
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As another thought for the Morris, what about a stout 1400 A series topped with a BMW K100 16v head, 140hp, and no issues with points Don't want to go A series or straight 4. Makes no sense I know. My sensible car will be my W114 on air with a sensible M103 engine on SU carbs. It is interesting how close the K100 head is to the A series head bolt pattern though.
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,152
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Taunus V4s not Essexmadmog
@madmog
Club Retro Rides Member 46
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Jul 23, 2020 16:06:21 GMT
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There's an 1000cc Aprilia V4 which is very compact and seems to make around 135hp, it would still be a morris 1000 just with twice the power and a V4. Never seen a complete Aprilia V4 engine or bike cheap then there's the gearbox which I think sits on the side? Very happy to go forward with the Taunus. Cars are becoming too refined in my eyes. A lot of them just make a sound like hot air. Old '60s engines sound raw in comparison.
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Jul 23, 2020 19:10:41 GMT
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Hi, Did Saab modify or improve the cologne V4 for their use compared to Fords home (German) market, as they did with the Triumph engine in the 99? It's something they have a reputation for thinking that they know better, usually correctly. It apparently drove GM up the wall.
Colin
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Jul 23, 2020 19:41:29 GMT
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Hi, Did Saab modify or improve the cologne V4 for their use compared to Fords home (German) market, as they did with the Triumph engine in the 99? No, bog standard Ford V4.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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OK so you are all talking about Saab V4's but here is my Essex V4 with Piper fast road cam alloy timing gear and Webcon Retroject throttle body and Emerald ECU Hi ! Where did you find those alloy rocker covers for the Essex v4?! Thanks!
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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