I've just got my hands on a 1.8 Zetec which came from a crashed Mondeo.

It's got no electronics and more important for me, no distributor.

I'm guessing that the reason there doesn't need to be a dizzy it that the fancy electronics control the firing etc.

My question therefore is... If I want to run this lump on twin 40's, what do I need to get the ignition system working?

Forgive my aparent ignorance, I'm more used to 20yr old lumps with dizzy and points and not these new fangled modern electronic gizzmos. Hark at me and I'm only 32 and a computer programmer. I should be very happy with electronics on my engine

You need to get an ignition only management system to work the Zetec's twin coils. Dunnell engines supply them and are the best people to ask. If it's off a Mondy them i'm not sure but you may need to run the Cat as Mondys were 93- onwards and i think anything registered after 92 has to keep the Cat.

Look up webers on the net www.smpeurope.com They sell a kit for zetecs called the ALPHA SYSTEM,you get twin 40s and the whole management bit in one kit.
Beware though they are not cheap,probably a lot more than you paid for the engine.

Can you not fit a Dizzy somehow? Might be the simple way around it! If not, there must be some kind of engine position sensor so it shouldn't be that difficult to build a PIC based system to fire at the right time? (Especially for a computer programmer!)

Failing that, I'll buy it off you and have a go myself!

Chris

The quickest way is to get a Weber alpha ignition only kit (#345). As for the cat, you have to make it pass a cat emissions test if its post '92, but cats aren't mandatory unless it is a post '95 engine. Above all, get proof of the age! If you take it to the SVA without proof, they'll put it through a cat emissions test........

Dave

What do you need for proof of age? Will the casting date do?

Chris

I've recently been to see Dunnells (as he's only round the corner from me ) and he'll sort me out with everything I need to get the 1.8 and a type 9 g/box connected and running for the princely sum of £1800!
Bargin eh?
I have to point out that that's with brand new 45 DCOE's (£225 + VAT each!)
The ignition module he (makes?) sells is £350 and he sells it as an option 1 power pack £550 which has inlet manifold + all fittings etc.
The full list is...
option 1 pack (ignition module, manifold etc)
light flywheel (6kg)
clutch plate
clutch cover
spigot
lowline sump (£215 ouch!)
twin DCOE's
alternator kit (to mount it on the other side £150)
water pump (it has to turn the opposite way)
Anyway I've just got twin DCOM's from eBay for £159 so that'll save a fair amount and as for the rest I'll cough up for it as a when I need it.
It must be done 'cause he says it'll output about 150bhp from the standard 115 it came with. Plus the ignition module can show real time output on a puter so I can pretend to be an F1 mechanic and start the car by plugging my laptop into it

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What do you need for proof of age? Will the casting date do?

Chris

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Not sure where the cast date is - the guy who's trying to sell me an 1800 reckons his is a 92 casting so I assume it must be on the engine somewhere. I'll email him later and find out. In the mean time, anyone know if that is sufficient proof?

How easy/hard would it be to pass a post 92 test with a non-cat engine?

Chris

When you take your car for the SVA you need proof of age of your engine, otherwise you are subject to the cat test. This applies irrespective of how old your engine is, ie crossflow, sidevalve morris or whatever.

For proof of mine I sent the engine number to Ford Technical with an SAE and got a reply back within five days, stating year and month of manufacture.

I would have thought that buying a Dunnel or Webcon ignition / management system was a bit at odds with the Locost idea.

I know someon who uses a 16v Vauhall with twin 45's and utilises a Ford Fiesta/Escort HCS, distributorless system. About ten quid from the scrapyard, he runs the pick up from a homemade disc on the front pulley rather than the flywheel as per the Fiesta / Escort. Advance doesn't seem too bad, its got hot cams, sees over 200 bhp and revs to about 7250 before misfiring - due to the inbuilt rev limiter.

David
I was at one of the lads SVA tests in january,and the age of his x/flow engine was unknown. Because the x/flow kent engine was never originaly built with a cat,they tested it as pre cat 1st august 1986 to 31st july 1992.It passed with ease at idle well below the limits anyway.
This was at Yeading test centre,where did you find they test unknown engine age as cat engines,as it would be good to make a comparison of test centres.
The more info we have on this the better for all,there is bound to be one centre which is going to be the nightmare to avoid.

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I would have thought that buying a Dunnel or Webcon ignition / management system was a bit at odds with the Locost idea.

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