NickW Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 Hello, I need some info about the Cosworth BDR please: Whats the difference between a 1500cc BDR and a 1700cc BDR, Bore size, stroke or both? Is it the same block even? Therefore, is it possible to convert from 1500cc to 1700cc and is it worth it? Was the 1500cc BDR ever a standard fit to a Caterham? Many thanks in advance. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMMO Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Nick Chris Rees' book shows only 1600 and 1700 BDR engines being fitted to Caterhams. The 1600 has a 81 x 77.6 mm bore and stroke and the 1700 is 83.5 x 77.6 mm. AMMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 The BDR was a kit produced to convert the xflow bottom end, the xflow wasnt produced at 1500cc. AFAIK there were 120 and 150BHP versions. I think the 150s were 1700cc and had a cam change and a little work on the head. Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmandsd Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 I think Ford had to work hard to get as little as 120 bhp from a standard 1600 BD engine and the BDR Caterham derivatives are only lightly breathed on to give 150 - 170 bhp. Home of BDR700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdg Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 I think someone must have transplanted a BD head onto a 1500 Cortina block if it genuinely is 1500. In which case the bore and stroke would be 81mm x 72.75mm. The 1500 block is 11mm shorter in height than the 1600, and I think that it has the weaker round mains caps. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 According to Graham Robson's book, the BDR kit was used by Caterham to produce 1.6 and 1.7 litre engines, using the Kent XFlow cottom end. 120, 150 and 170 BHP are all quoted. In the escorts they were homolgated at 1601 cc instead of the kent 1598 cc because they used the production maximum bore and stroke figures instead of the nominal bore and stroke. This allowed the escorts to compete in the 2 litre class. 99,000 miles so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickW Posted January 4, 2003 Author Share Posted January 4, 2003 Just been doing soem digging on the net. A 1962 - 1968 Lotus 7 Series 2 was available with a 1500cc Cosworth engine. This was based on the Ford 116E block (OHV, 5 bearing crank, 80.96 x 72.7) The fast road version did 100BHP, the race version did 125BHP, both using twin 40DCOE's. So, in answer to my own questions: No, you can't convert a 1500cc to 1700cc. Thanks to all the very knowlegable people that replied. What a wonderful resource. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 That 1500 Cosworth has 8 valves, a BDR has 16. Some 1300cc BD's where made for the USA but it has the same "Kent" engine, even 1100cc is possible but i don't know if that is ever done by someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickW Posted January 4, 2003 Author Share Posted January 4, 2003 At the risk of sounding completely stupid ( and showing my lack of knowledge for the internal combustion engine we all know and love).... The Crossflow is an OHV engine that Cosworth took and slapped on a DHOC head and called it the BDR. So, that must mean there is a bit of space left in the block were the cam used to be? Sorry, just a thought that popped into my head. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmandsd Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Some people use cut down crossflow camshafts as jackshafts in their bd's. Home of BDR700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Nick, The jackshaft powers at least the oil pump and possibly the distributor (ready to be corrected there!) in a BDx Greg, Q 86 NTM (Green 185BHP XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 This is a good resource for the different flavours of BD whatevers over the years: http://www.race-cars.com/utility/coswrthr.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 This is a good resource for the different flavours of BD whatevers over the years: http://www.race-cars.com/utility/coswrthr.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Oopps. They both are actually.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Hi Greg Your quite correct The jackshaft powers at least the oil pump and possibly the distributor Mine still powers the dry sump pump. To add to Chelspeed post there is also lots info here 'Can you hear me running' ......... OH YES and its music to my ears 😬 😬 😬 1988 200 bhp, 146 ft lbs, 1700cc Cosworth BD? on Weber's with Brooklands and Clamshell wings, Freestyle Motorsport suspension. Q 979 CGY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickW Posted January 6, 2003 Author Share Posted January 6, 2003 I have found some conflicting info on the BDR's produced for the Caterhams. One source says the 1600 BDR is 120BHP and there were two versions of the 1700 BDR at 150BHP and 170BHP. But I believe that it was the 1600 BDR that was 150BHP and the 1700 BDR that was 170BHP. Here's the info I found: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fe.joucla.free.fr%2F7book%2F&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&prev=%2Flanguage_tools It's a translated version of a French site. It's basically the info from Chris Rees's book. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmandsd Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 I'm thinking of changing from a BDR700 to a GBA2500 Home of BDR700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Hi Nick Well a lot has been said in the past about the 1700 BDR making 170 bhp. Quite a few only seemed to make 165 but whats 5 bhp anyway on a good day. The 1600 BDR was 150BHP as far as I know ❗ 'Can you hear me running' ......... OH YES and its music to my ears 😬 😬 😬 1988 200 bhp, 146 ft lbs, 1700cc Cosworth BD? on Weber's with Brooklands and Clamshell wings, Freestyle Motorsport suspension. Q 979 CGY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 Okay Dave, whats a GBA2500 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now