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Which engine?
lough - 1/11/06 at 10:46 PM

I have recently acquired a locost rolling chassis which has been fitted with a 1300 cross-flow which has seen better days, long term I would like to fit a Zetec engine but believe that the SVA test is quit strict and costly for a Zetec?

Should I overhaul the cross-flow, go for the Zetec now or install the 1800 CVH engine that I also got with the chassis and later swap over to the Zetec at a latter time?


Hellfire - 1/11/06 at 10:50 PM

Welcome to the forum. Have you ever considered a bike engine?...........

Phil


stevec - 1/11/06 at 10:55 PM


mookaloid - 1/11/06 at 10:59 PM


JUD - 1/11/06 at 11:02 PM

And so it starts again


Chippy - 1/11/06 at 11:33 PM

Hi, and welcome. The SVA test is no different whatever engine you have fitted, same price, same checks.
Hellfire, not every body wants to wear ear defenders, just to pop down the shops. Cheers Ray


zetec7 - 2/11/06 at 01:34 AM

That's for sure - I like having a little bit of torque, too! And the relaxed revs when you want to just cruise for a while...
2.0 l Zetec, all the way!!


oliwb - 2/11/06 at 07:54 AM

Zetec is more hassle than xflow at SVA....but I wouldn't bother rebuilding it just for SVA....If I were you
If the xflow is runnable (or easily so) get it working and use it for SVA....in the meantime find yourself a nice 2L zetec and rebuild that....don't go mad but no harm in changing big end shells and possibly piston rings, waterpump, cambelt and gaskets etc.....after sva drop in the zetec.....Oli.


02GF74 - 2/11/06 at 08:07 AM

quote:
Originally posted by oliwb
Zetec is more hassle than xflow at SVA....


xflow at SVA: man turns on machine, waits for 1 mintue prints receipt, job done!! (no probing or measuing of anyting).

If your zetec is '95 or ealrier, then you don't need a CAT and would passwith correctly set up carbs; post '95 emissions test means you need efi - that is when it becomes a bit more £££

There are palenty of 1300 xflows on ebay going for less than a £ 100 - what needs doing to yours?


NS Dev - 2/11/06 at 08:13 AM

Everything has its merits and downsides.

A GOOD bike engine is a good option, but you will have no reverse gear (without extra spend), it will be quite noisy (but then these cars are hardly refined anyway!!! ) and powerful ones are expensive.

A decent 16v 2.0 car engine is excellent, a vauxhall 16v or zetec will yield good power but won't be ultra cheap. Zetec slightly the cheaper of the two but also the less powerful by 30hp or so.

A crossflow (good one) will yield a bulletproof drive that is great fun, most parts can be fixed using a hammer or adjustable, they make the right noises, go straight through emissions, and because they are now old hat and out of fashion, parts are cheap.

The choice is yours!

Don't worry, whatever you pick, at times you will think you have made the wrong descision, we all do it, you just have to go with the flow!


pdw709 - 2/11/06 at 08:51 AM

quote:

A GOOD bike engine is a good option, but you will have no reverse gear (without extra spend), it will be quite noisy (but then these cars are hardly refined anyway!!! ) and powerful ones are expensive.



Depends on your definition of powerful and expensive!

A Honda CBR1000F engine can be got for £250-300 and that gives you a stock 130bhp. Put that into a light car and you can easily get over 300bhp/ton....

Phil


whitestu - 2/11/06 at 09:58 AM

Hi If you decide to go for the 1.8 CVH Its an easy fit.

I put one in my Indy and am surprised how good it is.

To swap from a CVH to a Zetec later is fairly easy - exhaust on same side, similar block etc.

If you fit a pre '95 zetec there is no difference in SVA requirements.

Stu


BusaLoco - 2/11/06 at 01:47 PM

Get a bike engine! ... (I wouldn't trade my Busa for any big heavy slow car engine.) ... Plenty of power. (Lots of torque too! ... Remember the car only weighs 985 lbs.) ... Shifting (the bike trans) is effortless, smooth and lightning quick. ... It's the only way to fly.


NS Dev - 2/11/06 at 01:55 PM

ahhh, you can't beat a bit of CEC vs BEC banter on a cold winter's afternoon!!!! LOL

Fuel for the bonfire to keep us warm, lovely car engine, loads more torque and power than a busa, bit heavier, just to keep the discussion 2 sided LOL


exhaust 2
exhaust 2


Hellfire - 2/11/06 at 02:26 PM

A bit heavier The engine alone must weigh a fair bit more than a Busa and together with the gearbox, must be sufficient to anchor the Emma Maersk

Guess you need that extra bit of torque and BHP to cope with all the weight

Phil


procomp - 2/11/06 at 02:45 PM

AAAhh come on guys we all know that the original engine in the car is the best .
But it aint as quick as a 4min hellfire responce. Forget putting an engine in the car just fit a hellfire under the bonnet once you have found what he revs to .

Seriously though unless its a cost problem why not just put the zetec in straight away instead of the cvh as you will only be costing more in the long run by fitting the cvh and then upgrading to the zetec later.

Just off to see if google can shed any info on what a hellfire revs to and what his bhp is .

cheers matt

[Edited on 2/11/06 by procomp]


Danozeman - 2/11/06 at 05:39 PM

If your looking at changing later anyway. Slap th engine you really want in it in the first place.

Pre 95 zetec, carbs, megajolt away you go. Nice light revvy engine u wont have to rebuild. The 1.8's are cheaper than the 2 litres. 2 litre cams in a 1.8 makes it nearly the same power just lacking a little bit of torque.