Stupid Question.....

MissDMeanor · May 1st, 2006, 08:42

Please forgive my ignorance.....

I know quite a bit about old Fords, mechanical engines etc etc but tbh have lost touch in the last few years. I've heard talk of redblocks and whiteblocks....what does this mean. Is it NA and turbo?

Geezer · May 1st, 2006, 08:56

Hi Julie,

No...it's not a stupid question as far as I'm concerned.

I've seen references to these types of engines before and to be honest...I have no idea, but I would like to know what they are? How can you tell one from the other...differences in HP etc. etc.

Can those in the know please explain as I'm sure that there's plenty of us that would like to know.

Cheers,

IC · May 1st, 2006, 09:06

Whiteblocks are the modern aluminium alloy engines found in the 850 and 70 series and redblocks are the cast iron engines found in the 200, 700 and 900 engines, I'll leave it to the experts to give more detail!

IC

TheJoyOfSix · May 1st, 2006, 11:11

Basically our ice cream loving friend has summed it up perfectly.

The Redblock is the cast iron block engine that came in two basic guises; the overhead valve upright engine found in the Amazon, 140, 160 and a few early 240's, and the later overhead cam slanted engine found in the 240, 740, 760, 940, 960 and 360 (and a few early 340GLS's if we're being pedantic!). It is the later OHC engine that is usually referred to as a Redblock.
These (the OHC) are all 4 cylinder engines with cast iron block that is painted red (hence the name!) and with a aluminium head. They could be had in 1784cc, 1986cc, 2127cc, 2316cc and 25xx guises with the latter being for the marine engine only. They could be had with carbs or injection, NA or turbo. Almost all are 8v, but towards the end of the '80's a 16v injected version made an appearance in 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 guise with the turbo option on the 2.0.
The engine numbers are either two or three digit (B19, B230 etc) and the OHC engine lasted from 1974 to 1998.

The Whiteblock is the family of engines that first made their appearance with the 3.0litre 6 cylinder in the 960 and is of all alloy construction with cast iron liners. They are unpainted so gained the nickname whiteblock.

They are a modular series of engines available in 4, 5 and 6 cyl guises with 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 4cyls, 2.0, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 5cyls and 2.4, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0 6cyls. All are injected with some benefitting from turbos. They are all Twin-Cam with most being 4valves per cyl (the exception being the 2.5 10v 5cyl in the 850/S/V70).
They all have 4 digit engine codes (B4204, B5234, B6304 etc) and were made from 1991 to date.

1stRaven · May 1st, 2006, 15:34

I think gramps just summed that up perfectly.

I didn't know that the 16v turbo only came on the 2 litre thou.

MissDMeanor · May 1st, 2006, 17:35

Thanks guys.....for unveiling the mystery

Geezer · May 2nd, 2006, 07:33

Thanks for that Guys,

OK... now I have a "dumb question".

Can you please now tell me what a "blue top" engine is? I think it might be related to S/V & C Series although I'm not too sure.

Cheers,

Glen Morangie · May 2nd, 2006, 07:58

Why is the B230K engine known as the 'heron head' ? The cylinder head is flat, with combustion chambers in the pistons - but I don't get the connection with herons.

The only possible connection I can see is with the shape of the combustion chambers in the pistons - it looks a bit like the shape a heron might leave if it stuck it's head in mud or snow.

Do herons do that, or do they have flat heads? They do 'head for the mudflats'!

Sorry can't help with bluetops BTW - too recent for me I think.

(edit)

It seems some types of heron do have flat heads, only really obvious when viewed from the front, so that must be why the tag.

Oli · May 2nd, 2006, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geezer

Thanks for that Guys,

OK... now I have a "dumb question".

Can you please now tell me what a "blue top" engine is? I think it might be related to S/V & C Series although I'm not too sure.

Cheers,

The engine of my V70R AWD has a blue top. See my strutbrace picture below:

TheJoyOfSix · May 2nd, 2006, 21:05

As I understand it the 'Bluetop' is the later version of the whiteblock 5 (may also apply to other whiteblocks - I don't know) fitted to the S/V/C70 and had stronger rods and crank, a revised injection system and the all important blue cam cover!

May 1st, 2006, 08:42	#1
MissDMeanor Corruption rules Last Online: Dec 23rd, 2011 08:05 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Select from list View Photos By: MissDMeanor	Stupid Question..... Please forgive my ignorance..... I know quite a bit about old Fords, mechanical engines etc etc but tbh have lost touch in the last few years. I've heard talk of redblocks and whiteblocks....what does this mean. Is it NA and turbo? __________________ The Mouthy Blonde is back on the road....& still dangerous Corruption rules.

May 1st, 2006, 09:06	#3
IC S60R/V70R Last Online: May 26th, 2024 10:59 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Brumbeldore View Photos By: IC	Whiteblocks and Redblocks Whiteblocks are the modern aluminium alloy engines found in the 850 and 70 series and redblocks are the cast iron engines found in the 200, 700 and 900 engines, I'll leave it to the experts to give more detail! IC

May 1st, 2006, 11:11	#4
TheJoyOfSix N.F.I Last Online: Oct 28th, 2023 23:33 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belper View Photos By: TheJoyOfSix	Basically our ice cream loving friend has summed it up perfectly. The Redblock is the cast iron block engine that came in two basic guises; the overhead valve upright engine found in the Amazon, 140, 160 and a few early 240's, and the later overhead cam slanted engine found in the 240, 740, 760, 940, 960 and 360 (and a few early 340GLS's if we're being pedantic!). It is the later OHC engine that is usually referred to as a Redblock. These (the OHC) are all 4 cylinder engines with cast iron block that is painted red (hence the name!) and with a aluminium head. They could be had in 1784cc, 1986cc, 2127cc, 2316cc and 25xx guises with the latter being for the marine engine only. They could be had with carbs or injection, NA or turbo. Almost all are 8v, but towards the end of the '80's a 16v injected version made an appearance in 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 guise with the turbo option on the 2.0. The engine numbers are either two or three digit (B19, B230 etc) and the OHC engine lasted from 1974 to 1998. The Whiteblock is the family of engines that first made their appearance with the 3.0litre 6 cylinder in the 960 and is of all alloy construction with cast iron liners. They are unpainted so gained the nickname whiteblock. They are a modular series of engines available in 4, 5 and 6 cyl guises with 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 4cyls, 2.0, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 5cyls and 2.4, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0 6cyls. All are injected with some benefitting from turbos. They are all Twin-Cam with most being 4valves per cyl (the exception being the 2.5 10v 5cyl in the 850/S/V70). They all have 4 digit engine codes (B4204, B5234, B6304 etc) and were made from 1991 to date. __________________

May 1st, 2006, 17:35	#6
MissDMeanor Corruption rules Last Online: Dec 23rd, 2011 08:05 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Select from list View Photos By: MissDMeanor	Thanks guys.....for unveiling the mystery __________________ The Mouthy Blonde is back on the road....& still dangerous Corruption rules.

May 2nd, 2006, 07:58	#8
Glen Morangie Economy motorist Last Online: May 16th, 2024 23:05 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London	and another Why is the B230K engine known as the 'heron head' ? The cylinder head is flat, with combustion chambers in the pistons - but I don't get the connection with herons. The only possible connection I can see is with the shape of the combustion chambers in the pistons - it looks a bit like the shape a heron might leave if it stuck it's head in mud or snow. Do herons do that, or do they have flat heads? They do 'head for the mudflats'! Sorry can't help with bluetops BTW - too recent for me I think. (edit) It seems some types of heron do have flat heads, only really obvious when viewed from the front, so that must be why the tag. Last edited by Glen Morangie; May 2nd, 2006 at 15:17.

May 1st, 2006, 08:56	#2
Geezer Senior Member Last Online: May 16th, 2022 12:04 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wangavegas	Hi Julie, No...it's not a stupid question as far as I'm concerned. I've seen references to these types of engines before and to be honest...I have no idea, but I would like to know what they are? How can you tell one from the other...differences in HP etc. etc. Can those in the know please explain as I'm sure that there's plenty of us that would like to know. Cheers,

May 1st, 2006, 15:34	#5
1stRaven Forum Support Team Last Online: Mar 14th, 2018 13:07 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln View Photos By: 1stRaven	I think gramps just summed that up perfectly. I didn't know that the 16v turbo only came on the 2 litre thou.

May 2nd, 2006, 07:33	#7
Geezer Senior Member Last Online: May 16th, 2022 12:04 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wangavegas	Thanks for that Guys, OK... now I have a "dumb question". Can you please now tell me what a "blue top" engine is? I think it might be related to S/V & C Series although I'm not too sure. Cheers,

May 2nd, 2006, 21:05	#10
TheJoyOfSix N.F.I Last Online: Oct 28th, 2023 23:33 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belper View Photos By: TheJoyOfSix	As I understand it the 'Bluetop' is the later version of the whiteblock 5 (may also apply to other whiteblocks - I don't know) fitted to the S/V/C70 and had stronger rods and crank, a revised injection system and the all important blue cam cover! __________________

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