I know this is difficult but what sort of clearance is needed between the top of the engine and the bonnet and nose cone. At the moment the engine is too high but dropping it will not be easy.

[Edited on 21/1/06 by Dave Bailey]

mine is about 1/2-3/4" (if that) look in my archive under engine positioning, should give an idea.

Ned.

[Edited on 21/1/06 by ned]

thanks!
I have a dry sump pump that is in the way and it looks as if I will need to move it and get a different drive belt. I have an ST170 engine which has a VVC valve in the head which makes it slightly higher than the std Zetec.

Dave B.

there are two soultions to this:
1. move engine down
2. move nose cone/bonnet up by adding bulges.

I would aim at 20 mm minimum.

I have about 8mm between the cambelt and the underside of the bonnet!

There is some coremat in the underside of the bonnet there though which I will remove a bit of to gain a tad more clearance.

As with all these things though, when you make the engine mounts, shim them up by 8mm or so and set the clearance like that, then you can always remove the shims later if things are a bit tighter than hoped!

My MX5 engine is close - less than 10mm in most areas.

The oil filler cap (highest point on top of the engine) actually rubs the inside of the bonnet

The cap is slowly being polished and the underside of the bonnet has black plastic dust on it where the two items touch.

I have to say none of this has ever caused me any problems.

I have less than 10mm between my cam belt and the nose cone. Used stiff engine mounts and it hasn't touched yet.