Hi everyone. Went to TotalKitCar show last week at Brands Hatch & after a drive in the R1 signed on the dotted line.
My kit should be here early Jan. I've got a 1.6 Sierra donor lined up but I've also got a new Zetec engine in the garage.
Reading the posts on this forum has made me realise that going straight for the zetec will involve a lot more initial expense & time to get it SVA'able than I first imagined.
I'm thinking of using the pinto to get the car up & running & SVA'd & then dropping in the zetec as a later project. What's the best thing to do on the chassis regarding specifying engine mounts? Phil at MK was talking of putting in a metal plate that I could drill out for different mounting options.
Is that sensible or should I just go with the pinto mounts & worry about modding for the zetec later?

Bit of a newby so any help appreciated.

I am doing a similar thing - CVH for SVA and easy emmissions and then 1.8 Blacktop zetec next winter.

My swap should be fairly easy as the Zetec and CVH are not too dissimilar, although I'll still have to sort out fuelling and ignition.

Going with a pre '95 Zetec would make SVA easier. If your Zetec is later than this then you'll add a lot of expense and hassle to do it before the SVA.

Stu

If your definately going to change i'd put the loom for the Zetec engine in whilst building and leave it disconected when running the Pinto and then just rip the pinto loom out when it comes time to change and connect up the Zetec loom.

I thought ours was a nightmare to do when just swapping from the Pinto ECU to megajolt, nevermind a complete new loom for a more complicated engine.

It takes hours nelt down bent over the side pannels and chassis tranna change over the loom, was much easier when it was installed the 1st time.

I went pinto as it made SVA easy and I'm now upgrading to a modded 2.0 pinto.

Next step will be BEC or Zetec/Duratec

When I started I knew very little about engines so it was great to start with something dead simple and work up.

Megajolt is about my limit at the moment but when I've got that sorted I might start reading up on Megasquirt and throttle bodies but that will be for my next car.

Welcome by the way, you've joined a great site and can expect all the help you need from some great people

[Edited on 20/10/06 by pajsh]

why not save the cost and hassle (exhaust/mount/plumbing) and get a pre "95 zetec and build it once....fit the zetec for the SVA. Keep the new engine for a spare.

or just put a bike engine in and have done

Welcome to the forum.
Think a lot, move a little,thats the way.
There is no rush.
Steve.

Hello and welcome you went out in an R1 and
goin CEC behave only on way to go BEC
live the thrill!!!

Hi,

I would have to second Zetec & SteveC..

Put the right engine in first time and then enjoy it.
Would you really drive the car out of the SVA and back into the garage
to change the engine over? Not literally i know.....

MY mother in law gave us curtains to make do 'til we got sorted.
They were still up 2 years later.....that pinto may hang around longer than you think

But what the hell do I know..mines no where near finished.

Cheers

Steve

[Edited on 20/10/06 by StevenB]

Thanks for the replies. I understand what you're saying StevenB & believe me it's very tempting with a brand new zetec sat in the garage, but I think getting this engine up & running is going to take a lot of extra time on top of the rest of the build. With a wife & 3 kids, time is in pretty short supply anyway.
I reckon I'll have the car on the road a lot quicker with the pinto & no emissions worries either. The zetec will make a good winter project once I've got my head around ecu's, etc.
My main concern initially is over the chassis mountings for the two engines. I don't want to butcher a nice powdercoated chassis to change engine mounts when it's time to swap out the pinto if I can help it. What's your plan whitestu?

Any pointers to info on the required zetec wiring loom. Installing that now sounds like a good idea.

By the way are there any builders in the sussex area ? I'm down in hove.

Mounts were my big worry when I got my MK as they did not supply mounts at that time. Making your own or a pattern to have some fabricated is not as bad as it sounds. I made a pattern using thin modelling ply and superglue with engine supported in place on blocks, sent them off to MK who kindly made them up in something a little stronger!