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Author: Subject: Car Engine Upgrade
mad4x4

posted on 29/7/16 at 12:59 PM Reply With Quote
Car Engine Upgrade

Have an old Zetec 1.8 and it's never run that well ,


Looking for a Cheap and simple upgrade, what sort of engines are easy to come by and hook up,.


Willing to change engine & Box if required


Was thinking along lines of a V8 but the rover v8 is a big old lump and not sure on Gearbox.





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hkp57

posted on 29/7/16 at 03:35 PM Reply With Quote
cheapest and easiest would be to drop in a 2lt black top zetec with fuel injection

what way was your 1.8 not good, was it on carbs?





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Ugg10

posted on 29/7/16 at 05:46 PM Reply With Quote
As said 2.0l silver or better black top would just bolt in, will need a tune up/rolling road, you running carbs or injection. Everything else should just bolt on.

For info the rover v8 is not much heavier than your iron block zetec, bigger in size but not necessarily weight as it is all alloy.





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MikeRJ

posted on 29/7/16 at 09:13 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
As said 2.0l silver or better black top would just bolt in, will need a tune up/rolling road, you running carbs or injection. Everything else should just bolt on.

For info the rover v8 is not much heavier than your iron block zetec, bigger in size but not necessarily weight as it is all alloy.


A Rover V8 is about 170kg compared to 116kg for a Zetec E. The Zetec might have an iron block, but it's a lightweight thin wall casting.

Not only that, but the Rover V8 is an ancient boat anchor that makes relatively little power for it's displacement and fuel economy, and has the wrong kind of power delivery for a lightweight sports car.

[Edited on 29/7/16 by MikeRJ]

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cliftyhanger

posted on 30/7/16 at 07:05 AM Reply With Quote
The easiest way forward is probably to get your existing engine running right. What is the problem with it?

Or is it running well, just not enough power (a problem that is scientifically proven to be impossible to solve)

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mad4x4

posted on 3/8/16 at 11:49 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
As said 2.0l silver or better black top would just bolt in, will need a tune up/rolling road, you running carbs or injection. Everything else should just bolt on.

For info the rover v8 is not much heavier than your iron block zetec, bigger in size but not necessarily weight as it is all alloy.


One of the problems - up here in Scotland they are a lack of Rolling Roads. And a lack of people with the knowlegde to Tune a car ( unless it has a Japanese badge on it) ... Wallace Performance in Aberdeen won't touch it ( not Japaneses)

I think there is a rolling road in Glasgow, but again not sure how good they are with Megasuirt and cobble to gether bike carbs....

Looking to try and solve problems rather that tread old ground over and over again, Car has been off road 3 Years due to Emmissons and I want to get it back on road with silly performance for a car engine . The Zetec engine in is either "Shagged" or not set up so when it runs well emissions are sky high ( HC at 1400) or Low HC and car has zero life. but never had silly performance.


So every one that has a Caterham 7 style car has

1) a Pinto
2) a Zetec
3) a Silver/Black top

There must be other engine options that will go in and give excellent power to weight ratios.... I always like the idea of v8 or v6 what doners could I perlong to get quick car.....





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r1_pete

posted on 3/8/16 at 12:09 PM Reply With Quote
How about an MX5? light, revvy, and Japanese
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Ugg10

posted on 3/8/16 at 12:20 PM Reply With Quote
Loads of options -

Budget end - mx5 1.8 with eaton supercharger, st170 zetec (badged duratec), 4age 20v, Vauxhall xe, k series
Mid range - loads of bike engines (r1, zx10, fireblade etc.), duratec, Audi 1.8t if you can find a gearbox adaptor, 200sx, bmw straight 6, Lexus v8, jag s-type v6, clairetoo mazda Klde v6 conversion
High end - hyabusa bike engine, s2000, all above tuned up to the max.

Basically it comes down to effort, time and cost but everything is possible.

Quick question, you say you are using mega squirt with bike carbs, these are not usually used together, mega squirt with bike throttle bodies or mega jolt with bike carbs.

Chester sports cars do a pre setup bike carb plus nodiz ecu if you give them your engine spec, I had this on a stock 2.0l zetec, just bolted it on, connected the two wires and off it went.

You also talk about "silly performance" but imo the best setup is around 175hp in a seven for road use, this will test your skill and 8/10 of the cars potential will be able to be used leaving a bit of headroom for the track. My opinion only, other may say you need at least 1000hp.

[Edited on 3/8/16 by Ugg10]

[Edited on 3/8/16 by Ugg10]

[Edited on 3/8/16 by Ugg10]





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britishtrident

posted on 3/8/16 at 12:24 PM Reply With Quote
HC that high generally indicates misfiring.
Is the system using a MAF ? a defective MAF causes the fueling to get progressively weaker when the throttle is opened.





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hkp57

posted on 3/8/16 at 01:58 PM Reply With Quote
Your original post stated you were looking for a cheap and simple upgrade.

Cheap and simple are all relative to how deep your pockets are and how much you are prepared to do yourself.

By far the cheapest way for you is a fuel injected 2.0 blacktop as you have most of the parts already like gearbox, flywheel, clutch, sump, prop, exhaust etc.

Going to a fuel injected 2.0 could be done for as little as 400GBP including buying the engine with a standard ford ECU which only need 4 wires hooked up.
Add a high pressure fuel pump.

You can pick up brand new zero miles zetecs for 750GBP


Once you get into another brand or model engine swap yes you can buy the bare engine cheap enough but costs soon run up very quick

Wiring loom
Flywheel
Clutch
Exhaust
Hoses
Fuel System
Engine Mounts
Gearbox Adapter plate or another gearbox such as the six speed from a Mazda
Prop shaft
and all the other odds and sods.

Then if you are wanting significant more power than a stock Zetec your into the more sought after Jap stuff such as S2000 etc and they dont come cheap.

To tune up a zetec or a duratec to lots of power you need deep pockets.

Rover V8's and even other V6 engines are not really suited for a light 7 type car, they dont have much power to start with in standard form just lots of torque and the weigh a lot more which hurts you in the corners.

Light rev happy engines are better options.

If you are really set on an engine swap dont rule out a bike engine if its power to weight that's your goal.

I have a Hayabusa powered indy and there are a lot of 2.0 zetecs mildly tuned with a cam upgrade which are not slow, and when you want they will poodle along in 5th at 30mph and be happy.

If you blow it up get another for 100GBP


With regards to getting your own engine fixed an running, a leak down check and compression test can be very quick and cheap to find out the health of your engine.

There are a few rolling roads around in Scotland and a lot of good engine tuners

To fix your existing granted a bit of a trip but both in Fife there is HQ Garage and Sitech Racing with rolling roads.

http://www.sitechracing.co.uk/

http://hqgarage.co.uk/


For Advice and help with a conversion Scottish Kit Cars

http://www.scottishkitcarcentre.com/


Beyond that there is always Moss Bank, top prices paid :-)

http://www.mossbankbreakers.co.uk/





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matt5964

posted on 3/8/16 at 02:57 PM Reply With Quote
You could try Ben at Luego

http://www.luegosportscars.com/

I went dos the tuned detect route and can confirm deep ish pockets are needed to get north of 210 reliable and drive able if going N/A





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