Got a 2.1 zetec turbo (silver top) and it is smoking all the time. It has calibra turbo pistons and standard everything else. The headgasket was apparently done a few weeks ago and skimmed but i wont know until i take the head off. I've just had a stage 3 T3 built for it so it's definately not the turbo.
I need some advice on the head as it's got a multi layer rs focus gasket on but is this the right one as it has been bored to 86mm. And is there any common problems on them or items that should be used when re- building them. My plan is to eventually put a steels bottom end in it when funds allow.

Would appreciate some advice

 

could be plenty of stuff like , valve stem seals , turbo drain pipe kinked or not at the right angle to allowing it to return to the sump (causing build up and getting past the turbo seals) blow by on piston rings , and one of the most important things on a blown zetec engine , have you fitted a uprated breather system? as the zetec isnt the best .


cheers paul

 

what would you recommend as an uprated breather system?

 

it's got a breather pipe with a catch tank that was mayonaiseing so i think it may be the head. taking it off tonight so will see when its off

 

Had the head off tonight, it hasn't been skimmed or done properly. don't know whether to get it skimmed and re-fitted. The worrying thing is the pistons are calibra ones that have been skimmed. Do i get it honned and rebuild it or do i get new uprated rods and pistons. If so which ones and what can the zetec crank handle as i want a reliable 300+ bhp engine.

 

standard zetc cranks have been run at over 500hp so i would not worry about the crank. can you upload some pics? the "let" pistons in a zetec are very low comp any way i cant see why they would need skimming??

 

i take it you didnt notice the 522bhp in my user name lolstandard crank fitted matey. i thought you didnt have to skim the vauxhall pistons as they give you a 7:45:1 comp ratio , the only thing you have to do is bore the block to 86mm . try ian howell at area six as he does everything for the zetec turbo engine. the custom rod and piston packages are around Ł1200 if i remember right and are the same thats in my engine so your bottom end can handle 500bhp with other mods. also one point to note these are custom cp / arais pistons which are vastly different to standard off the shelf pistons so yes you can buy cheaper , the choice is yours

cheers paul

 

Just got off the phone with ian howell at area six, very helpful. It looks like there not calibra turbo pistons. It may need rebuilding as the pistons are flat on top need to get the vernier calipers out and see what the bore is. Going to try and track the previous owner down.

 

could be arcrashits?? if you give them a clean do they look fordged??

 

they are completely flat on top and i've put my vernier calipers in the bores and they measure 85.1mm so dont know what they are. May have to take one out to see if i can identify them. If they are no good then i may be looking at some JE pistons from america when funds allow ian said i should be able to get a set of them and rods for around 650 unless anyone is selling any on here.

 

theres you prob .... zetec :P ahahah

 

The head is the prob and identifying the pistons m8

 

With a bore size of 85.1mm I'm pretty sure that thats standard zetec size so they are definately not c20let or c20xe pistons as commonly used in the zetec and zvh conversions as they are 86mm bore size as standard. They are more than likely standard zetec pistons that have been machined to lower the cr.

 

I think so aswell, best start a restoration page then!