I'm considering some engine modifications and want to know how far I can go with the current bottom end I have.

Currently I have a black top 2.0 zetec with balanced crank, lightened flywheel, balanced rods and Pistons, race bearings big and little, 45 weber carbs and a standard head with weber alpha engine management.

Currently limiter is set at 6,800.

I'm considering upgrading ECU to the latest alpha fully map able system and considering a new head and cams.

Questions:

How hard can the engine Rev with standard top end and current spec bottom end?

What would people's suggestions be regarding heads, cams, valves etc? And what other bits do I need to go with it?

Or for bigger rpm do I need to forge bottom end?

The car is only used on track but I don't want to run the engine on the ragged edge, it's only a track day toy so reliability is very important.

Any thoughts/advice is greatly appreciated.

Matt

Go to the burtonpower.com website lots good info on ford engines

ARP big end and rod bolts will help raise the rev limit. Balanced and matched crank rods and pistons will help as well.

Forgot to mention I've got ARP bolts.

What would you say is a safe Rev limit in current form?

I'll have a look through burton to see what I can find. I need a clutch from them so might be tempted for a few other bits too

May need heavy duty valve springs, I know the zetec se needs them over about 7500rpm. Also may be worth investigating what cam you have as there is no real benefit from reving the nuts off it when the max power point is only say 6500 rpm. On a standard cam I suspect just over 7000rpm is all you need.

Depends on where your peak power/torque is, and how your ratios dictate time in each gear. Pointless upping to 7.5 if peak power is between 5 and 7, and between 3rd and 4th you onky use 1000revs.

Edit, should finish my reply quicker!

[Edited on 17-1-15 by loggyboy]

So with current bottom end my best plan is to upgrade head, cams and springs and increase limit to around 7,500 and this will all work well together and not be too close to the edge?

Something like the 210/220 option from Raceline...
http://www.raceline.co.uk/products/part_section.asp?SectionID=53&CategoryID=4

Is the new Alpha ecu user friendly or is dealer only mapping?

The rods tend to be the weak link, rod bolts let go
ARP bolts are the least you should do, balancing does not increase the Rev limit
I would also use ARP bolts for the flywheel and probably double dowel if 7500 is going to be visited frequently

Rusty - yes the new alpha ECU is mappable by any rolling road or even yourself. If you have a current alpha they will take your old ECU as a trade in.

Snapper - so only going forged will allow frequent use of 7,500? I'm guessing putting a fancy head and cams in is a little wasted without the higher rpm?

So to sum up I need to save up some more if I want to upgrade the engine.

Description
My standard 2.0 Blacktop - anything over 5230 rpm is not doing very much

Description
My max torque is at 4140 rpm

I could squeeze more out of it with fuel injection I suppose .

quote:

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Originally posted by johnemms

Description
My standard 2.0 Blacktop - anything over 5230 rpm is not doing very much

Description
My max torque is at 4140 rpm

I could squeeze more out of it with fuel injection I suppose .

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So stick with current Rev limit and do head and cams with no need to upgrade bottom end.

Thanks for everyone's advice and the £1,000 bill you've just convinced me of on head and cams!

You can go to 7500 with ARP bolts
The Black top 170bhp engine has forged rods silver top does not
Most cams even rally cams produce peak bhp around 6000 to 6500 only serious rally or race cams peak higher
For road use and some track you'll be fine but if you hold very high revs for a long time that's when problems start
Rods are limited by revs
Pistons limited by compression
Cams with more duration that produce peak power high up the Rev range need compression
So your then into the circle of bottom end rebuilds
I have run standard Pinto rods with just ARP bolts and 1 flywheel dowl to 7500
My other engine has Cosworth forged rods and will go to 8,000 the Pistons however are limited to 7900 and 10.5 to 1
The cam I like the most is the FR32, the FR33 may be a bit better but I do run an RL31 in one engine, it looses upto 3500 then flys
Horses for courses
I would recomend building an engine to your rods capabilities

Thanks for the advice.

Mine is a standard blacktop except for arp flywheel bolts and I have a limit of 7500. Nothing has broken yet, and I've gone over a couple of times by mistake (8100 when the throttle stuck!).

A stock black top zetec with stock rod bolts and valve springs was rated at 6675rpm max intermittent and 6500rpm max continuous.
Note: not all black tops have forged rods, only the ST and Turbo have them - You have been warned!

[Edited on 17/1/15 by chillis]

Some further research says 7000 on standard rid bolts
ARP bolts good for above 7500 some say 8k but I wouldnt
Yup I go for ARP rod and flywheel set limit to 7500
Dunnel and Scolar don't go much above 7400 soft cut and 7600 hard

quote:

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Originally posted by snapper
Some further research says 7000 on standard rid bolts
ARP bolts good for above 7500 some say 8k but I wouldnt
Yup I go for ARP rod and flywheel set limit to 7500
Dunnel and Scolar don't go much above 7400 soft cut and 7600 hard

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quote:

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Originally posted by matt5964

quote:

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Originally posted by snapper
Some further research says 7000 on standard rid bolts
ARP bolts good for above 7500 some say 8k but I wouldnt
Yup I go for ARP rod and flywheel set limit to 7500
Dunnel and Scolar don't go much above 7400 soft cut and 7600 hard

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My engin was full done by Paul at dunnell and has a soft of 7400 and hard of 7600

We made 221.3bhp and 179ft/lb with Dave mapping it at emerald.

Runs perfect every time weather it be on road or track.

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Created 2.0 blacktop
Jenvey throttle body's
440cc injectors
Lightened flywheel arp dowels
Arp head bolts
Arp rod bolts
Balanced crankshaft
Ported and flowed head inc manifolds
Custom dunnell cams
Competition valve springs
Raceline sump
Lightweight crank pulley
Comp ht leads
Full custom simpson ss exhaust
K6 ecu

Think that the lot