Kent/Cortina/uprated what's the difference

[KEVIN BOECKLE]

I am getting back into FF racing after a 15 year hiatus.

I raced in the Atlanta region where all I knew was the uprated motor and the Cortina.

I keep hearing on this board about the Kent Engine. What is it? Is it an uprated? or are we talking three different engines. Which ones are legal to use?

[Racer Bill]

Hi Bill,
I'm relatively new to FF, so I'm not an expert (and I'm sure
that someone will correct me if I'm wrong), but my understanding
is that "Kent" is the generic term for both the Cortina and the
uprated motors. As I recall, it has to do with the factory that
originally built the motors over in England.

Hope that helps,
John

[KEVIN BOECKLE]

John,

Thanks for the reply. I read a few of the "kent" realted messages that said the Cortina was not legal. I did a "say what???" to that. So the reason why I am asking.

Bill

[Racer Bill]

OK, well, I guess I'm stumped then. Someone else will have
to jump in, 'cause that's the extent of my "knowledge", such
as it is...

John

[Rick Brannon]

The Kent, and Uprated engines are the same. (I think the Kent was built in a plant in Kent, thus the designation) The Cortina was the earlier engine. The uprated has a flat head and the pistons have valve pockets. The Cortina has small combustion chambers in the head. There are more differences, most addressed in the GCR.

[Dale Carter]

Bill, if you're looking for great info on the Kent engine, do yourself a big favor and get a copy of Jake Lamont's book "How to Build Competitive Formula Ford 1600 Engines". Various vendors sell it including Larry Oliver, Pegasus, Classic Motorbooks, etc. In addition, I highly recommend the Dave Bean Engineering catalog. Go to davebean.com. It has a ton of good info on the FF1600 engine. A third source of info is the Burton Power catalog -from England. Go to BurtonPower.com. The engine info can be downloaded.

[size="1"][ November 06, 2002, 06:31 AM: Message edited by: John Merriman ][/size]

[John Green]

Hi,
Isn't the Cortina engine the 1500 from the MkI & MkII Ford Cortina? A uniside engine. The "Kent" is the same as the "Crossflow" which is 1100,1300 and 1600cc which came in the 1968 MKI Escort, Capri, English Cortina MKIII etc.
The Kent was the base for the BDA (711 block)
The 1500 was the base for the Lotus Twincam (116E Block)
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Henrik

[John Green]

Oops,
Kent=upprated.
HH

[KEVIN BOECKLE]

All,

Thanks very much for the help. I now understand the issue.

John, by the way, I have Jake's book and have read it cover to cover. There is no explanation on the difference between the uprated and the Cortina(unless I missed it.)

I guess the term "kent" is west coast lingo since we only used "uprated" and "cortina" in the Atlanta region. Us dumb rednecks I guess.....