Thread: Ford Barra into D1

Originally Posted by TonyC

Thanks for everyone's input, keep it coming.

IF this happens, and it's a big IF, it will be a budget build, so it will be a naturally aspirated motor, and the lad wants a manual, hence my question on the MT82, he has muttered things about using the R380, but given the lowest output Barra is 380Nm I can see that being a short lived gearbox.

What 5 speed manual did the falcon use? A T5?

Tony

Yeah pretty sure it was a T5, the MT82 would be good since it already fits to the LT230 so just depends on the bellhousing side.

Bit pricey but could work - PAFO503: Ford Barra Inline-6 to Ford Modular Manual Transmission Adapt
– Performance Adapters

in a past life i had a NA barra with the BTR (4sp) and a Barra T again with the BTR. The NA around town was about the same burn rate as the T. On the Hwy it was better. No matter how i babied the T, i never really got it below 12/100 combined.

the Barra ZF is unique to the Barra. Can't speak for the tailhousing if its common to the Non Barra ZF like from a BMW.

A barra is about 800mm L for a long block, it will fit in a defender but will be up against the firewall. I just fitted an LS to my defender and i have a mile of room at the firewall and room to spare for a viscous fan up front. the LS is really compact for such a large capacity engine. The coyote engine is really really wide. There are a few defender coyote conversions coming out of the UK. It looks tight under the bonnet. The overhead cams take up real estate on the side of the engine that the LS is not inflected with. I'm struggling with an air filter box solution on the drivers side once brake MC and AC are in place, a coyote in a defender would be a headache.

There is a fair bit of support for the Barra conversions, but the LS support is another league. My point, you can spend alot of time and money finding a solution to a packaging or electronic problems. The aftermarket support is something that you can't put a price on. Take the M57 conversion for example. There are some lovely conversion packages (bits to bolts stuff together and engine in the car) on the market, but they are 3 times what you pay for an LS. Smaller niche market so the vendors get to charge a premium. I'd imagine a Barra will be similar for conversion support and premium pricing.

to put a bow on it. my daily is a V8. IMHO the power delivery of a V8 much better suits a 4wd than a turbo six banger.