I keep thinking that my old (Triumph) toledo is too pedestrian for the use it gets (as a daily driver it is OK, but 12 car rallies, plus some of the other motorsport stuff needs a bit more power than the 90bhp I have managed out of the old 1500 lump)

No, a kitcar isn't suitable, it needs a steel shell as we often suffer a bit of "rally rash" that wouldn't end well with fibreglass

Besides, the stuff I do often needs an old car. And I really do not want to spend much

So, I have a type 9 going spare, and somewhere a megajolt. looks like all I really need is a zetec with induction. Std exhaust manifold will be fine, and not looking for 180bhp, but 130+ would be good. Yes, I could use a dolly sprint engine, but that is bound to be way more expensive and more headaxches, and the conversion would require nearly as much work.

Thinking either a way of using the std ecu/injection, or cheap way of plonking bike carbs on. Didn't someody have the carbs mounted almost directly to the head?? Sounds cheap if that is the case...

Any pointers (bearing in mind it is unlikely to even start in the next 6 months or so, another car to finish and a house to move into/extend let alone a garage to build )

This is only my personal opinion, but I feel the Zetec is grossly over rated & is usually a VERY expensive engine choice due to the fact that nothing fits as it was intended for front wheel drive not rear. By the time you've changed the sump, alternator possibly water pump, various bracketry, starter motor & unless you're able to use the original plenums etc then the whole injection & management system you'll be lucky to get away without a £2k bill.

I would have thought it would be far cheaper to go with a complete package of engine & box from something like an Omega, Bmw, Volvo, Toyota,Nissan even perhaps Saab using all the standard injection & ECU if possible.

Yes the zetec is getting a bit long in the tooth but it can still be installed for pounds not hundreds or even thousands if you don't want a race spec engine and can make stuff your self.

How about a BMW M44 engine as found in countless E36/Z3 1.8 varients? probably get a whole car for a couple of hundred quid, providing engine gearbox ecu looms prop ect, you get the idea.

M44B19 1,896 cc 103 kW (140 PS; 138 hp) @ 6000 180 N·m (133 lb·ft) @ 4300 6500 1996-2001

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M44

The Zetec is a cracking engine. It is strong, reliable and if you add a pair of Webers and a decent exhaust you get 160 bhp out of a reasonably fit engine.

It converts to rear wheel drive easily, you need a spiggot bearing in the crank and that it. The type 9 will bolt strait on with no more work.

You will require exactly the same parts to fit it as any other engine, if you can make them its cheap, if you have to buy them it gets expensive but that applies to whatever engine you choose.

I have had 3 of them, great engines.

Having said that if I was starting from scratch today I would fit a Duratec. It will give more power with the same basic parts plus its lighter. The fitting parts should cost the same but you will need a special bellhousing since the bolt pattern is different to the old standard Ford one used on the iron block petrol 4 cylinder engines.

Hope that helps.

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Originally posted by big_wasa
Yes the zetec is getting a bit long in the tooth but it can still be installed for pounds not hundreds or even thousands if you don't want a race spec engine and can make stuff your self.

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Originally posted by big_wasa
Yes the zetec is getting a bit long in the tooth but it can still be installed for pounds not hundreds or even thousands if you don't want a race spec engine and can make stuff your self.
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Very true!!

Other than my time, my complete running Zetec install probably cost £400. Thats injection system, inlet, sump, AND engine and gearbox.

So very cheap if you want to do it cheap.

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I can vouch for this - I've just spent the best part of £2k on an engine rebuild (and I mean JUST the block itself), and that excludes the cost of sump, lightened flywheel, exhaust, fuelling etc. and every other ancillary. But then again, I decided to go all out and get it done as part of the build and *hopefully* (touches a lot of wood) will never have to do anything major on it again. The idea being that this early silvertop, which does not require a restrictive cat in the exhaust system, is an uprated, almost race-spec engine with zero miles. My choice, and this was not necessary, but something I made a conscious choice to do.

HOWEVER, I also agree and believe that you can do it for a lot less, and it is quite simple by all accounts. After all, there is a reason so many use the zetec as the next best replacement for the Sierra. You can buy a running car for peanuts, and make money off the spares when you break it. There are so many companies out there who make parts for it, tuning and otherwise, and there are no shartage of spares from the dealers of scrapyards. If you're a dab hand with a welder or have a friend who is, most of the fabrication is easily achievable such as exhaust, inlet, sump and the path is so well trodden that the fuelling side has numerous options. You only have to look at posts from Big_Wasa to see that you can even use the original loom and inlet to get going if you want, and not spend extra money on carbs, TB's, or extra shiny bits!

The only downside in my opinion is the fact you still have to source running gear from an older vehicle such as sierra etc., and in this respect there are other donors such as MX5's that potentially offer the "whole donor package" in one go. But lets be honest, no-one on here came to build one of these cars thinking it would be a walk in the park....

"If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!"

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Originally posted by russbost
This is only my personal opinion, but I feel the Zetec is grossly over rated & is usually a VERY expensive engine choice due to the fact that nothing fits as it was intended for front wheel drive not rear. By the time you've changed the sump, alternator possibly water pump, various bracketry, starter motor & unless you're able to use the original plenums etc then the whole injection & management system you'll be lucky to get away without a £2k bill.

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We bought our Zetec for £50, sold bits off it for £120.
£50 for hoses
£20 for carbs
Welded sump
All we needed to buy was a waterpump and a bearing for the nose of the gearbox (we already had the megajolt).

It can be done as expensive or as cheap as you like.

[Edited on 5/12/12 by UncleFista]

What about the engine, box, ECU from an MX5 - the 1800 was around 130BHP i seem to recall and is pretty tough. As it's already RWD you may be able to reuse the existing exhaust manifold which will save you a few quid! Buy a car, strip out the bits you need and sell it on or break it and sell it (if you have the time, space and energy!)

Wyn

Power of 130bhp or so is fine.
I am not after a modified engine, std is fine. I hope that I can get an engine for £100 (or less) and bike carbs on for not-a-lot. The rest would hopefully be pretty std stuff.
I already have
Type 9
Megajolt
Starter

std sump should be fine, polo rad dirt cheap, mounts and fabrication easy enough, I really think it is just the induction, and that seems to be relatievly inexpensive.

MX5 tempting, but the bot is too long I reckon. And I really do NOT want to get a spares car to strip. The missus has been very good about stuff, and she deserves a break.

Now, how easy is it to use a ford ecu and injection WITHOUT paying much cash??

Other possibility is vx I suspect. 2 litre omega engine and box? I think the ecu's are easier to reuse than the fords?

If you're only after 130 or so just use the standard injection/induction/ECU. Big Wasa is the man to speak to I believe. It's got to be cheaper than buying and tuning some bike carbs?!

Ford will have spent millions on the engine and its map as well, so you are unlikely to find 130 more reliable horses!

and you should get more like 150bhp if you get creative with inlet and exhaust manifolds.

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MX5 tempting, but the bot is too long I reckon. And I really do NOT want to get a spares car to strip. The missus has been very good about stuff, and she deserves a break.

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My locost has a 1300 kent engine and I want to change it. I have a 2000 x reg escort 1.6 16v that I dap about in at the moment. I was thinking of swiping the engine from that. It has done 76k and I've been using it for over 4 years without any problems, doesn't use any oil or make nasty noises. It is complete, so I would guess it has everything I would need. However some pointers from someone who has already done this job would be welcome. The escort is taxed and tested till aug '13, might be usable to someone

Standard 2.0 zetec is 130bhp so just use the whole engine/induction/exhaust manifold etc. I bought a whole 2lt mondeo out of mot (suspension/abs fault) for £150, and weighed in what I didn't need for £160 as scrap metal, so engine to desired power of 130bhp would have cost -£10. Of course you need to mod the sump and I guess a full service/plugs/leads/oil/filters etc will be about £100. Dont you need a different clutch release bearing ? You might change the clutch while its so easy to do too. You will need to mod your exhaust and engine mounts, but these will be cheap (if you can weld). You may need some different radiator hoses. Is your battery man enough? If you have a rev counter that may need changing/adapting (Also temperature gauge etc may need changing). You will need some wire and crimp connectors too.
Regards
Hugh

I just lifted it in


Zetec Engine

Hmmmm I must get an estate.

Just give me a shout wasa if you need anything collecting, fun trying to get it out with your hoist tho