e30 2.1ltr zetec

[steve_k]

right i don't know is this has been asked before or not but here goes.

right i've been thinking (very dangerous i know) about putting a 2.1ltr 16v zetec engine on throttle bodies in a e30.

the reason being is i'm into my classic fords aswell as e30's.
7 i've seen a few mk2 escorts with this type of engine fitted & i was thinking (here we go again!! hold on tight!!) if it would be possible to do this to an e30??

been having a look round & it seems you can pick up a fully built & ready to go engine for upwards of £5k.

it might make a change from the normal cossie swap (it's not a dig at you fuzzy so don't worry).

so......let me know what you think.

[daimlerman]

Sounds like a fun project! Snags that spring to mind are exhaust manifold and system,and getting the Ford managment system to work with the E30 dash/instrument cluster. M50 is far cheaper,I have spent well under your quoted engine price on my entire project....

[oliwally]

Duratec is sooooooo much nicer and has more power and torque. NO and i mean NO zetec will make more than 160 bhp,unless you spend big bucks on head work or a turbo.
serious work on a zetec will only get 190bhp on carbs/bodies.
I should know,I've got one between the wings on my MK2.
Duratecs are much better alround and can be taken out to 2.5,and lastly,you can pick up a 2.0 black top for about £200,some cams,sump mods,etc should be no where near 5k

[ShakeyC]

I had same idea once but that was shelved as reselling an e30 with a proper engine would be difficult

Jokes aside is a very good conversion to do more plus points than most will give credit for and no more difficult to do than most BMW swaps either. For your budget you could do the whole conversion (i wouldn't spend 5k on the engine alone)

[stof]

as oliwally said i'd look into a duratec! I was thinking about putting one into my e30 not so long ago but i dont have the funds for it.

bit of handy information i found when having a look into them: http://www.sbdev.co.uk/History_files/Hi ... uratec.htm

[stonesie]

If you get a duratec then you need ITB's, you know that problem BMW diesels have with eating part's of their own inlet?

These pics are from a 2.0 Duratec mondeo I re-built...




Crappy phone pics but you get the idea

[e30_singh]

4 pot wrongness in every possible way

But hey thats my 2pence

[steve_k]

thanks for all that guys.

if truth be told i was only thing aloud.

you no what it's like when you are sat around bored with nowt to do lol.

any way if i did decide to do it then it look's like i should ask on here for advice as there seems to be a couple of you on here who (i take it) know a bit more about whats involved than i do.

like i said i was only thinking aloud.

[stonesie]

To be honest i don't blame you, they're a very light engine and decent power can be extracted, so why not?

There was a video posted not long ago of a BMW powered skyline

[steve_k]

To be honest i don't blame you, they're a very light engine and decent power can be extracted, so why not?

There was a video posted not long ago of a BMW powered skyline

i'll have a look for that. did anyone see the m3 powered mk2(?) opel manta in retro cars the other month?

now that did look pretty good.

[steve_k]

in a way my actual line of thought was to go down this route & build a type of e30 320is with a difference.

give it time & i'm sure some one will do it.

as for the exhaust system & manifold i'm sure there are enough firms out there that could do this type of work.

now for the engine managment would stand alone like mega squirt do the job?

also the instrument cluster.....what about a stack digital dash?? i'm sure that would be just the thing?

[UweM3]

4 pot wrongness in every possible way

But hey thats my 2pence

I like a proper 4 cylinder. you can't beat 9000rpm with a carbon airbox

And don't forget the weight and weight distribution.

[tim_s]

in a way my actual line of thought was to go down this route & build a type of e30 320is with a difference.

give it time & i'm sure some one will do it.

as for the exhaust system & manifold i'm sure there are enough firms out there that could do this type of work.

now for the engine managment would stand alone like mega squirt do the job?

also the instrument cluster.....what about a stack digital dash?? i'm sure that would be just the thing?

But why use a zetec? You can stick with BMW engines and make a 320is with a difference - n45 would be fantastic, m4x engines are a very strong design too and easily capable of the figures you're looking for. Would probably cost less (as it fits )and be more reliable too.

[oldroydsr4]

Sorry but if the build is 5k for the engine alone , i doesn't seem you get much bang for buck.

With 5k you could go to a-tech and be rewarded with some serious power.

[fuzzy]

5k would almost get you a cosworth conversion where after the initial outlay future power potential per pound is much better with 400bhp available from stock internals with an uprated turbo,chip injectors,headgasket,exhaust etc.
and its not that common a conversion.

[Jhonno]

5k will see you making huge power on a supercharged M50