My xrt was smoking heavy when up to running temp and the idle had became erratic. I done a comp check and each cyl was around 130psi but cly 2 was higher (around 150).
Ive stripped it, plan is to fit new rings and get the turbo re-con'd as there is a lot of up/down play and a little in/out. I also checked the valve guides for play and there is a little play there so may get them done for good measure.
Anyway ive always been keen to have a look inside my engine as ive got the receipts from specialised engines who built it. Its meant to be a 1.9 tall block with low comp pistons, arp rod bolts stage 3 big valve head etc.
The pistons have a little JM stamp on them?

Heres some pics of the pistons/block let me know your opinions....















Grant

 

Well the block has 18 cast into it, so it's an 1800 Sierra block, possibly over bored to 1900cc. They are ford rods so guessing the standard 1800 rods, not sure on pistons but aren't 1800 Sierra pistons. Also those aren't ARP bolts. At least, not any ARP bolts I've seen.

 

look like 1800cvh rods.

 

Is this one bent at the top?!

 

Yeah i thought that aswell, it does look like it.

 

Pistons look cast to me too.

 

cheers for the info guys, as for the one that looks bent, i'll have a closer look tonight. Someone on another forum seemed to think the pistons looked to be forged. Any way of knowing for sure?

Grant

 

Without them in hand its hard to say, i would also guess cast because of the casting mark just next to the pin on the piston. If it was forged it wouldnt have that marking.

still only guessing tho could be wrong?

 

Yeah thats what made me think cast, in addition to that I dont think there a many forged pistons that dont have a fully floating little end.

 

They look pressure cast to me? Anyway, the pistons aren't really the issue, I'd be worried about the 1800 rods and standard bolts if you want to up the power. Pistons should be fine

 

Yeah im gonna have to give that some thought, before it was stripped it had been running 16psi after a custom map by MSD.
Whats the options rod wise? Are the 1.8 rods a different length than 1.6 or is it made up by the throw of the crank?

Grant

 

those pistons are from america from the 1900 cvh i have the same in my car they have been machined down for turbo applicatio

 

The pistons are definitely cast.
The North American pistons would not stand up to much abuse.
They were never designed for turbo applications - unlike the Mahle 1.6 turbo pistons
which are cast as well, but very well engineered.

 

Rod isn't bent, had a look last night. Turns out my bores are scored to fuck tho so prob gonna go zvh now. Will be an overall stonger bottom end than this.

Grant

 

"Specialised" engines strike again

 

 

I am glad I didn't buy a bottom end of them nowas i was going to when my bottom end was fucked

 

when i first got my series one i blew the bottom end up had one of their ''stage 2 low comp'' bottom ends, new sump and ap 4 paddle clutch guess what they charged me...

 

half a curly wurly and a bag of belly button fluff?

 

Mars bar and a blow job i reckon....

 

£2650 !!!! satndard rods and pistons just machined down...

 

JESUS thats a fair bit

 

i paid it tho

 

Dick turpin wore a mask

 

Bloody hell

 

Fuck!!!!
We need a 'Smilie' being fucked up the arse for posts like this! lol

 

That roughly what my engine cost new i think, got the receipt somewhere. I bought it second hand off a guy called steve rs on here for £1000. It had apparently only been run in when i bought it.

Grant

 

It's terrible really, those engines are worth sweet FA! Just an NA bottom end with skimmed pistons

 

gutted i paid 1500 for my engine and has only done running in miles and is a proper built cvh..... so always best to shop about....

i was going to just pay a company to do a standard rebuild but for half the price i brought a proper cvh....

to be honest mate if you want a good engine i wouldnt bother with a zvh i would either do a big spec cvh or go full zetec turbo as the zetec is the same price as a zvh and is a much better conversion

 

Think my engine is costing £600-700 to build to a very high standard. lol a higher standard than specialised engines anyway!

Rob,

 

 

carboard pistons would probly be better than specialised engines shit they fit ! but they get away with it and people still use them ! a mate of mine had a escort gti think he paid 2800 for a stage 3 engine they said it would make at least................. 280bhp

 

I bought that engine a few years ago now, live and learn tho! Yeah ive been having a think and if i do go ahead with another engine think it'll be a full zt. Will be a while tho cause i'll prob go for steel rods and forged pistons!

Grant

 

it might be worth giving jamsport a ring as they do a good 1900...

but i would do a zetec turbo if i was to build another ...

 

I have one of these "stage 3" specialised bottom ends in my s2. My bro paid around £3000 for it and a few other bits. It was also supposed to have arp rod bolts, but doesnt! i am led to believe that these are a 1800 block, rods and crank with machined pistons, the problem is if you read the small print it sayd "based" on an american tall block!! Mine has been rebuilt twice now, first time after about 2k due to piston ring snaping and doubling over another and the second time it melted a piston. I am now saving for a different engine as i know this isnt going last 5 minutes again. Like you say we all live and learn.

 

someone buy that 2.1zvh thats for sale or it might end up at mine as a spare lol

i keep looking at it and thinking mk2 fiesta lol

 

I can't believe the pricing!

I will attempt to clear up some misconceptions.
The UK 1800 block is not the same as the USA/Canada 1900 block.
The UK 1800 has 80mm bore and 88mm stroke.

The USA/Canada 1900 has 82mm bore and 88mm stroke.
The bore thickness on the standard USA/Canada 1900 is 4.5mm to 6.2mm
Cylinder wall thickness measured with an ultrasonic thickness tester.

Boring a UK 1800 +2.0mm to use standard USA 1900 pistons is a disaster waiting to happen. These blocks are only good for a +1.0 mm overbore - at most.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

 

Not really suprising now we know they are just 1.8 CVH's skimmed for lower comp
Cant beleive they do it and dont expect people to find out?!

 

Like i say the advertise it as "based" on the american tall block, thats how they get away with it.

 

i think they need smacking in the face with a con rod the bell ends lol