$10 000

Cosworth BDA 1600 Engine

ADDED: May 01, 2024
Car Details
Category Race Car
Type Drag Race
Year 1970
Mileage N/A
Transmission N/A
Stock id 6889
Seller Note

This is a rare opportunity to purchase an original Ford BDA 1600 engine in road-going specification, stored for many years and never used. When stripped to confirm specification and internal condition we found that the block has never contained water, the wet-sump system has never operated, and fuel has never entered the carburettors. This engine has never run, even on a dynamometer. This is an as-new example of a BDA with original, period and now rare parts.


Build quality is exceptional. TD Reid was an esteemed Cosworth customer, working closely with key staff (and mentioned in at least one book about the company). Tommy recalls, and we believe, that this engine was specially built for him by Cosworth, designer of the BDA for manufacture by Ford.


The engine has been carefully stripped, inspected and reassembled with a focus on preserving originality, with the understanding that a buyer will (in any case) want to strip and rebuild to their own specifications.


A new cam belt is needed and valve clearances should be re-shimmed, otherwise this BDA is ready to run.


Specification includes:


Cast iron block , South African, line honed


BDG aluminium alloy head and cam box


Ford crankshaft and rods, all nitrided


Ford BD1 camshafts


Bore 81mm, stroke 77.62mm


Piston clearance 0.004” on all four cylinders


Compression ratio 10.75 on all four cylinders


Inlet valves 1.230", exhaust valves 1” diameter   


Ford standard, wet sump lubrication    


Weber 45DCOE152 carbs, with extended anti-standoff tubes


135 tooth ring gear



Asking $10,000


John Kirby

5908 C 41st Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136

360-358-7245

bigkirbyte@gmail.com