In contrast to bike engines in my other post, what about Zetecs - they seem cheap but I understand they're quite difficult to get running at a reasonable cost - any views?
The cheepest way is to use bike carbs and megajolt ignition.
megajolt 70 quid.
carbs 65 quid.
inlet manifold 150 quid or make your own.
make exhaust manifold and down pipes.
once you have got all bits you can pick up engine for 100 quid if needed.
The zetec can be done as cheap or as dear as you wish
It would seem to be quite possible to get a Zetec running on it's own management out of the donor car, I've seen cars with it done but I
dont know how well they went.
Surely if the whole system is used (loom, sensors, ECU, immobilizer unit, key reader & key etc) then the engine wont "know" that
it's no longer attached to a Mondeo/Escort?
The only thing that I hear needs sorted is a speed signal but surely it would'nt be too hard to mount a sensor on the prop?
I'm certainly going to have a go at it unless I have a go at Megasquirt.
If you look at what you would spend on other engines in total they is very little difference. If you look at a Pinto for example, you will more than likely need to rebuild it- poss fit twin webers-have to have an exhaust made up just as with the zetec and you will if lucky have 140 bhp. With a zetec you can, unless you are unlucky, just fit it without need to rebuild, sort out an ecu and fit TBs or carbs and 160bhp. If you spend out on an ecu and fancy a change of engine then you wont have this cost again. Fit a modern engine with injection and it will be reliable, powerful and run smooth from the first turn of the key! And if you do blow it up just nip down the breakers and get another for next to nothing.
I don't understand why people still think it's not possible to use the original ECU to run the Zetec. I'm using the original inlet
manifold and ECU, and it's completely reliable. The wiring wasn't that difficult either (and I'm a complete nooby when it comes to
electronics). And there's no cheaper and easier way to run the Zetec. I'm running the silver-top 2.0, and in this standard trim it gives me
a sub 6 seconds 0-60 time.
It might very well be possible that the blacktop Zetec is harder to run on its factory ECU, as that has some immobiliser-thingies on board, that the
silver top hasn't.
Some silvertops have immobilizer, depending on the model they were in.
Quote:
"I don't understand why people still think it's not possible to use the original ECU to run the Zetec. I'm using the original
inlet manifold and ECU, and it's completely reliable. "
Mave, I notice that you are from the Netherlands so your car is probably LHD which means that you don't have the problem with trying to get the
steering shaft past the very bulky inlet manifold.
[Edited on 22/5/08 by MKMike]
quote:
Originally posted by Werner Van Loock
Some silvertops have immobilizer, depending on the model they were in.
My Zetec installation [conversion from CVH] with bike carbs and megajolt cost about about £200 all in, so it can be done very cheaply. This
doesn't include the exhaust though as my CVH one fitted with a bit of modification.
Stu
I have used the ECU and wiring out of my donor escort ( it did not have PATS ), and i used a mondeo plastic inlet manifold.
simple, easy to wire in, cheap as chips.
smooth idle, no messing with MAPS or trying to get the car started for the first time,
starts first time, every time.
Really interested in some more details about the projects using the existing ECU. Is there a definitive list of what had the immobiliser system on? Failing that, megajolt looks interesting but would like to know more about how to do it that way. What's the best gearbox to mate the Zetec to?
Escorts from 1992 - 1995 ( MK5 ) did not have an immobiliser, same for the orion.
I used this ECU and the wiring loom - it results in about 5 wires that you connect up ( i have a document that i can email you ).
I used the mondeo plastic manifold as its very low profile, and clears the steering column - i had my velocity chassis made with the drivers side
triangulation chassis member moved back by 4cm to allow clearence for the manifold. I also had to strip the manifold loom on the silver over-the-top
manifold and fit it to the mondeo manifold ( this is because the connectors have different pin-outs ).
thats it. i used the escort, cause its easier than the mondeo - and it has a seperate EDIS unit, so should you want to go down the mega-squirt route
you alrady have it.
easy :-)
So do you think if you had a Zetec with immobiliser etc, if you had the key/loom/ECU etc. that it would work - I'm with one of the earlier posts that I can see why it wouldn't???
quote:
Originally posted by Jezzer99
So do you think if you had a Zetec with immobiliser etc, if you had the key/loom/ECU etc. that it would work - I'm with one of the earlier posts that I can see why it wouldn't???
later engines will work with the earilier looms apparently, i definatly read that somewhere. Not sure how well tho.
If anyone is interested i am trying to get rid of a escort wiring loom complete with ECU suitable for a silvertop zetec. Possibly later ones as well.
Whitestu - would be very interested in know more about your installation - do you have a web site or can you tell me more off line?
Cheers.