NE / NEG 2.0 Pinto OHC – Ford Escort RS2000, Cortina & Capri Head Gasket Keychain
NE / NEG 2.0 Pinto — one of Ford's defining classic four-cylinders
Long before EcoBoost and modern ST models, Ford's 2.0-litre OHC Pinto engine powered some of the most recognisable rear-wheel-drive Fords of the 1970s and 1980s.
The high-compression NE family used a 1,993 cc naturally aspirated inline-four with a belt-driven single overhead camshaft, providing simple, durable performance in cars ranging from the Cortina and Capri to the Escort RS2000.
The Escort RS2000 gave the Pinto engine its strongest sporting identity. The same fundamental 2.0 OHC architecture also became familiar to generations of Cortina, Capri, Granada and later Sierra owners, making it one of the most widely recognised classic Ford engines in the UK.
This GasketKeys piece recreates the distinctive 2.0 Pinto head-gasket profile as a compact stainless-steel tribute to an engine that became synonymous with classic rear-wheel-drive Ford performance.
Engineering & Craftsmanship
- Industrial Grade Build: Precision laser-cut from premium 304 stainless steel with a durable brushed finish.
- Protective Frame: Presented inside a 3.3 mm CNC-machined PLY frame for protection and display.
- Technical Precision: Cylinder bores, coolant passages and major gasket details are digitally mapped from original gasket geometry.
- Letterbox Friendly: Slim under-5 mm packaging keeps UK delivery straightforward.
Those construction elements follow the supplied GasketKeys framework.
A subtle classic Ford memento
The Pinto's appeal comes partly from how deeply it is tied to classic Ford culture.
Escort RS2000s, Cortinas and Capris are often remembered through their styling, rally heritage and rear-wheel-drive chassis, but the 2.0 Pinto engine sits at the centre of that identity.
Rather than another Ford badge or model logo, the gasket profile represents the mechanical component enthusiasts actually recognise and work on.
That makes this particularly well suited to owners, restorers, rally fans and people who grew up around classic Fords.
7. Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine codes | NE / NEG |
| Engine family | Ford Pinto / OHC / TL20H |
| Configuration | Inline-four |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Valves | 8 |
| Displacement | 1,993 cc |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated |
| Camshaft | SOHC |
| Cam drive | Timing belt |
| Block | Cast iron |
| Cylinder head | Cast iron |
| Bore | approx. 90.84 mm |
| Stroke | approx. 76.95 mm |
| Fuel system | Carburettor |
| Typical NEG output | 72 kW / 98 PS |
| Later Pinto outputs | approximately 95–105 PS depending on variant |
| Primary enthusiast application | Escort RS2000 |
| NEG application | Cortina / Taunus 2.0 |
| GasketKeys material | 304 stainless steel |
| Presentation frame | 3.3 mm CNC-machined PLY |
| Made in | United Kingdom |