Ford Zetec powered E30

Discuss general engine, turbo and supercharger conversions in this section

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Sawyer_E30
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Post Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:47 pm

Apart from Fuzzy has anyone else on the zone got a Ford power house under the bonnet?

Quickly asking as their are many a cheap 2.0litre Zetec in the scrappers. And don't say that's where they belong! :teehee:
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Alex
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Post Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:18 pm

And don't say that's where they belong!
noo they should be put straight on the scales winkeye

what sort of power figures do the 2.0 zetecs push out :)
12345kevin
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Post Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:21 pm

I looked a the possibility, but it gets expensive if you want to go over 200bhp, would make a well balanced car though :-)
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Post Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:28 pm

lousy motors... unless your thinking about the st170 lumps
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
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Post Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:30 pm

They take well to turbocharging. 450bhp isn't unheard.
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:53 pm

130bhp from the standard 2.0 Mondeo featured lump.
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pac1982
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:00 pm

All i'm gonna say is why????
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Sawyer_E30
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:50 pm

pac1982 wrote:All i'm gonna say is why????
Zetec is a brilliant engine to start with, and has great tuning potential. :)
Last edited by Sawyer_E30 on Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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pac1982
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:53 pm

So do lots of other engines, like the vauxhall VXR engine but you dont see people putting them in E30's do you, why not just get a nice BMW engine you have loads to choose from.

A dirty ford engine is a BMW is just wrong
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rix313
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:55 pm

Some inovative and different.
pac1982
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:56 pm

You want something different why not fit a new M5 engine in an E30 now that would be cool

(by the way i know this would be stupidly expensive)
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Sawyer_E30
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:09 pm

pac1982 wrote:So do lots of other engines, like the vauxhall VXR engine but you dont see people putting them in E30's do you, why not just get a nice BMW engine you have loads to choose from.

A dirty ford engine is a BMW is just wrong
Completely agree with you the vauxhall lumps but VXR engines aren't that plentyful tbh!

Also they are quite a few people (not bmws) who have done zetec fwd to rwd.

I was just querying it to see if anyone had.
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Sawyer_E30
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:11 pm

pac1982 wrote:You want something different why not fit a new M5 engine in an E30 now that would be cool

(by the way i know this would be stupidly expensive)
Yes it is stupidly expensive. Look here though for someone doing the swap: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2929437 :thumb:
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pac1982
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:22 pm

Thats crazy i almost tossed one off
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pac1982
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Post Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:32 pm

Sawyer_E30 wrote:VXR engines aren't that plentyful tbh!
Not if you know where to look loads of young chavs seem to buy VXR's as there quite cheap to insure considering how fast they are hense alot get written off because they cant handle the power.

A mate of mine is putting a VXR engine in an old Astra GTE
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Sawyer_E30
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:09 am

pac1982 wrote:Thats crazy i almost tossed one off
I thought it was cool too! :P
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:23 am

bss325i wrote:They take well to turbocharging. 450bhp isn't unheard.
Why not turbo an M20?
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:49 pm

Morat wrote:
bss325i wrote:Why not turbo an M20?
That would be faaaaaaaar to straight forward. :wink:
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:53 pm

Morat wrote:
bss325i wrote:They take well to turbocharging. 450bhp isn't unheard.
Why not turbo an M20?
I didn't suggest putting a zetec in an E30, i think its wrong to.

Its just a zetec E is easy to turbo.
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Chase007
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:21 pm

Fu*k all that now i want an M5 conversion now! I nearly fainted 8O :cool: :) :D
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:26 pm

how does the zetec compare to the old faithful cosworth for cost and tunability?
Sawyer_E30
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:42 pm

fuzzy wrote:how does the zetec compare to the old faithful cosworth for cost and tunability?
Fuzzy nothing compares to the YB. 8O I think anything that can take 3 bar boost is pretty impressive!! :)

Tuning Zetec's are just a bit cheaper to tune (initally) because of their availbility. Not sure how each one compares though stat for stat.
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:56 pm

Standard YB cannot take 3 bar reliably :cry:

As for costs finding a good YB can turn into a costly affair as so many had head skims and worn bores not to mention all the additional gubbins need replacing or uprating.

But lets say for example you had a good YB vs Zetec to tune the difference would be even with buying a used zetec-e then to rebuild with steel rods and pistons, headwork to achieve same power levels as a good standard YB, the zetec would still be considerably cheaper overall. If you had bit more money a duratec would be engine of choice but as its still relatively new parts are more expensive as expected.

The key is building correct spec engine from the start and sticking with the plan :wink:
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Post Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:22 pm

Sawyer_E30 wrote:Fuzzy nothing compares to the YB!
+1!

600 reliable BHP can be easily achived all be it expensively and 900 isn't unheard of now!
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:15 am

ShakeyC wrote:If you had bit more money a duratec would be engine of choice but as its still relatively new parts are more expensive as expected.
Duratec's have also got a chain driven cams wink:
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:30 am

all this talk of ford!! whats the forum coming to!!?!?!? :eek:
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:46 am

£10-12G would see you with a reliable 600bhp yb built by a reputable tuner such as reyland.
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:56 am

fuzzy wrote:£10-12G would see you with a reliable 600bhp yb built by a reputable tuner such as reyland.
That's some serious dosh! 8O
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:27 pm

after reading their site perhaps that £10-12G is an old figure and possibly cheaper these days?
Reyland Motorsport can build/rebuild Cosworth YB engines to ANY specification - standard, mild, and wild! - and would be happy to quote each person for their specific requirements. E.g. 605hp engine can be produced for less than most other tuners charge for a 520hp t4 8 inj unit.
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:39 pm

I was muttering about this last night at the Yorkshire meet.

If I had to start over again with an engine swap, I'd not even bother looking at a BMW mill. Small Block Chevy all the way.
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:40 pm

Sawyer_E30 wrote:That would be faaaaaaaar to straight forward. :wink:
I like the way you think, but seeminly as you want to stick in a foreign engine thats easy and cheap to tune, then why not go for an engine out of a written of civic type r?

Theyre on almost 200 bhp as standard and have a lot of potential!
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:47 pm

a small block chevvy was a consideration of mine but several specialists told me the weight difference would fook up the front end balance as its allegedly much heavier.
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:52 pm

madaboutthe30 wrote:
Sawyer_E30 wrote:That would be faaaaaaaar to straight forward. :wink:
I like the way you think, but seeminly as you want to stick in a foreign engine thats easy and cheap to tune, then why not go for an engine out of a written of civic type r?

Theyre on almost 200 bhp as standard and have a lot of potential!
if your going to the trouble of a foreign engine conversion i wouldnt bother with something like that and would go for turbo or big power to start with. torque in a type r is very low. also the electrics in japanese cars tends to be a nightmare as a twin turbo skyline engine was an original plan of mine but no one would quote me on insurance for that and specialists werent keen on tackling the wiring.
in the engines i looked into the cosworth ticked the most boxes for cost,future tunability, ease of fitment, simple uncomplicated engine etc.
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:03 pm

madaboutthe30 wrote:I like the way you think, but seeminly as you want to stick in a foreign engine thats easy and cheap to tune, then why not go for an engine out of a written of civic type r?

Theyre on almost 200 bhp as standard and have a lot of potential!
One problem with foreign swaps is that every manufacture has a different method for dealing with it's engine management.

A different way to handle the idle - A different way of fuel management - A different way to supply and monitor air

From ICV to MAF AFM and MAP and Wideband 02 sensors. They all have they've all got their own methods and it's a pain to try an intergrate with our machinary.
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Post Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:04 pm

madaboutthe30 wrote:I like the way you think...
Thanks! :D
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