I can't afford insurance on anything more than a 1.6 right now.
I know the 1.6 Sigma engine is fragile, I know of one recently that was newer and had less miles that threw a rod.
Every time I put my foot down theres a nag in the back of my head that maybe it could let go.
Not only that the Sigma really isn't a torquey sort of lump, 55mph in 5th on the motorway, sick your foot to pull out and nothing, you have to drop into 4th or sometimes 3rd! When you get above 4k she flies, but under that theres bugger all torque.
I'd love a 1.8 or even a 2.0 but like I said, insurance hates me enough.
I get the feeling that the Zetec engine overall is a much more durable lump and abit more in the way of low down grunt, I don't want the car to be any faster, just want a little more low down.

So how easy would it be to chuck a 1.6 Zetec in to replace a Sigma?
I was having a think about this earlier and I presume the 1.8 Zetec is a Similar engine to the 1.6? So if I was to find a Focus somewhere with a nackered 1.8 and swap the engine loom over, ECU and get all the ancillaries from the 1.8 and stick them on a 1.6 Zetec it would drop in fairly easy? Then just get the ECU remapped to match? I imagine this way would also make it easier to drop in a 1.8 to 2.0 if I wanted to in the future?

Or would there be a way of using the standard 1.6 engine management system and loom on the 1.6 Zetec? I'd have guessed that if there was there would be more people upgrading to Zetecs from Sigmas?

I'm not scared of the mechanical side of swapping over, it's just I'm not really good with engine management systems.

I gather the IB5 will bolt up straight to the 1.6 Zetec too?

Any advice about this is appreciated, even advice how to get more low down torque from the 1.6 too.

Ta, bailes.

 

Why is the Sigma 'fragile'?

Look after the engine and it will look after you!

Nothing wrong with any of the SE's I've had.

 

Well my engines does 70k of start/stop driving. It's on 80k now.
Its had oil changes every 6k/6months all of it's life, recently had a cambelt change.
Yet it burns oil through the velve stems?
And I hear about the bottom ends going on them all the time?
I don't thrash it when it's cold, but when it's hot I do take it through the revs abit when the conditions are right. But I still feel like one day it's going to bite me in the arse.

 

Would be much better getting the head rebuilt with new seals than trying to fit an old 1.6 Zetec in and trying to get that work. Also the hassle of if you ever try to sell the car explaining that you fitted an older engine in, I wouldn't buy it I know that.

Bottom ends go because people abuse them, dont service them or let them run dry of oil. My engine revs right round to 8400rpm with no problems what so ever! (not a standard engine any more though - lol)

 

Can the valve stems be changed with the engine in place? How much would I be looking?

Would a remap help with the lack of low down torque? I'm a diesel man at heart

 

Head can be taken off with the engine in place yes. £36 for the stem seals, new head gasket £50? Labour, depends where you take it. £100-200ish i'd have thought.

I wouldn't bother getting a remap. Why not just sell up and buy a diesel?

 

I'd love too but I was given the car by my parents as my Pug was dying.
They just payed £200 for metal cam pullys and new cambelt and tensioners.
So I will fell bad if I decide to get rid
But the valvestems cant be changed with the head in place?

 

They can but a special tool has to be used where compressed air is forced into the cylinder to stop the valves moving when valve springs are taken out to get to the stem seals. I wouldn't be able to tell you though who has the tools.

 

Oh ok then, cheers mate. Will have to have a think about this.
Just hate the fact it burns oil

 

Have to say mines done 70K and dosen't use any! I can't understand why you are thinking about fitting an inferior, heavier and older engine which has less power than the one you have now, thing is with the Focus is it's a fairly heavy car so by definition it's not going to be that fast, thats why the engine is better suited in the lighter Fiesta which Ford deemed a sporty model.

You can look at tuning the current engine, check out www.shawspeed.com , around 140HP is possible, with T/B, cams, induction, remap etc.

Don't even think about the 1.8, 2.0 completely different engines bar the name, (Covered loads on here, it's from the same family incidentally that the 1600 you talk of), the inlet and exhaust manifold are on opposing sides, it's simply to much effort and ideally would need a donor car due to the parts needing to be changed, suspension etc, general concensus is to buy one in the first place!

I tend to find them a very high geared car (To high imo) I think this is what causes them to be unresponsive low down, they have the same power/torque as Vauxhalls Ecotec equivilant.


Martin

 

Stopped reading here!

 

So much shit sprouted from one person!

The Sigma engines are perfectly reliable SO LONG AS THEY ARE LOOKED AFTER. If yours is burning oil after only 80k then quite clearly it hasn't been looked after.

The Silvertop Zetec engine that you are referring to is a complete pile of poo and would be a monumental pain in the arse to fit for no gains, only losses. If you're not happy with the performance of your car then you need to look at a new one - you're never going to get much extra performance out of the 1.6 - especially when it's fitted in something as heavy as a Focus.

Talk about cutting your nose to spite your face!

 

In all fairness the 1.6 is lovely up in the revs, but theres no torque low down. And thats the bit I hate.

Oh and as for the "SO much shit comment".
You told me that I couldn't fit the OEM backings off my wing mirrors onto a pattern part so I sprayed up a new backing, yet the OEM backing fitted onto it fine?
You also garunteed me that my steering shudder was due to a driveshaft. It was steering related.

You don't no everything, neither do I. I'm looking for an easy way to get a little more low down torque. If there isn't a fairly easy way then I'l live with it. But it's nice to have a few options. I may have to swap the engine in a year or so if it burns much more oil, I wouldn't say it's excessive now, 750ml every 1500 miles or so but still don't like the fact it burns oil. If I do drop a new lump in maybe I would think about a different lump.

 

What would you define as much extra performance?

 

I was thinking that personally...
A 1.6 on a standard Map with SS4's makes 130bhp
A remapped 1.6 on SS4's makes 140+

Surley thats extra performance enough ?

 

That's what gears are for? No engines is going to have power everywhere. But, tbh, sounds like your engine at fault, as mine (albeit in a fiesta) pulls from 55 in 5th quite happily...

 

No he is right, in fifth they are absolutly flat at that sort of speed, your car is alot more "Peppy" as it's lighter, as he correctly says they respond much better at higher revs, I personally find them to be over geared for what they are, fifth at 5x MPH is something like 2,400RPM or less, good for economy etc but not good for response, I think thats partly the problem.

Martin

 

Fair enough. Mine pulls to 6k+ rpm in 5th, and it's standard bar a k&n panel filter and drilled airbox. Thinking of getting a 1.7 'box though, Lower rev's on the motorway should help fuel consumption

 

Mine slowly gets to about 90mph then it seems to pick up after that. On a flat road it will touch 125mph. But generally on the motorway it's useless.