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Engine Dilemma
Duncan_P - 25/3/07 at 05:02 PM

After a lot of deliberation about the virtues of swapping to bike engined I have opted to stay with Zetec power as the kit I bought (part built) came with a lot of the bits for running a Zetec.

After coming to this decission I have ordered up my engine mounts from MK and have started looking around for an engine. This is where the problem starts….. Obviously out of preference I would get a pre 95 engine to simplify SVA, but the trouble is that all the suitable ones that seem to be cropping up are post 95 engines.

So should I…….

Buy one of these later engines and fit a CAT for SVA?

Accidentally misplace the block code on my engine?

Or stop being impatient and wait around for a pre 95 2ltr Zetec?


Any advice from someone who has been there done that would be apreciated.

ecosse - 25/3/07 at 05:09 PM

Personally I dont see what the big deal is with avoiding the emissions test, go for a newer engine and stick a cat on it, pre 95's are getting harder to find now are generally priced up because of it, and are not going to be as fresh as a later engine.

In fact go for a 1.8 and they nearly pay you to take them away, stick the 2.0 cams in it and its as good as the 2.0 anyway IMHO

Cheers

Alex

grahamgg - 25/3/07 at 05:22 PM

It might be worth hanging out for a pre 95 1.8 escort engine as it has all the right bits on it.You have to weigh up the costs of converting a 2litre.
It might be worth buying the whole car just for the engine like I did,I got a 1994 1.8 si escort for £170 that had only done 72'000 miles. After I took engine and other bits I needed I sold on bits of car then weighed it in for scrap"got most of my money back.
Like ecosse said putting the 2litre cams in a 1.8 gives you same power as the 2litre

ecosse - 25/3/07 at 05:44 PM

And as we speak look what pops up
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=63189

Cheers

Alex

edspurrier - 25/3/07 at 06:06 PM

Can you fit a post 95 Zetec with Weber carbs ECU and manage the emissions standard?

Thanks

Stu16v - 25/3/07 at 06:20 PM

Nope...

Duncan_P - 25/3/07 at 08:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ecosse
And as we speak look what pops up
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=63189

Cheers

Alex


Spooky

Duncan_P - 25/3/07 at 09:03 PM

I will continue looking around for one, but as recomended i will have a look more closely at which engine will be the most cost effective overall......even if I end up with a 1.8 i can always change it for a hotter 2.0 post build.

But i expect the 1.8 should be fast enough to keep me amused for a while

Thanks for the advice guys, as per usual form sound advice that stops me getting carried away

MikeRJ - 25/3/07 at 09:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ecosse
Personally I dont see what the big deal is with avoiding the emissions test, go for a newer engine and stick a cat on it,


Because a cat isn't just for SVA, it's for life

It means you have another possible failure point at a future MOT which may expensive to fix.

ecosse - 25/3/07 at 09:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by ecosse
Personally I dont see what the big deal is with avoiding the emissions test, go for a newer engine and stick a cat on it,


Because a cat isn't just for SVA, it's for life

It means you have another possible failure point at a future MOT which may expensive to fix.


The way I see it, the cat will only get used at MOT time, so you make it bolt in and out, no great shakes and it never breaks down used like that so will effectively last the "life" of the car anyway, so no fears about being abused for not looking after your cat
But realistically if your emissions are bad enough to fail the MOT with a cat fitted then it would have to be so far out of tune that it would be running like a dog, which is something you would want fix anyway?
Did that make sense or is my Sunday night beer upsetting all logical thought processes

Cheers

Alex