I'm building a Zetec KA for a weekend toy and after impulse buying a T3 turbo, I'm thinking of running a low boost ZT in it.
Now, is it worth spending the money on some Vauxpoo pistons for a little extra reliability?
I know it's an oldschool way of doing it, but they still pop up for cheap.

Also, is it XE or LET pistons people use?

Thanks,
Ben.

 

easiest is let as there forged,some xe are and some are not.. let are lower compression than xe.
remember to factor in the little end work if your using standard con rods..

 

I'd go for LET as they were meant for a Turbo, XE pistons you'd have to fanny around with a decomp plate so probably easier going for the already uprated pistons and putting them straight in.

 

Cheers guys.

It's a super cheap project, I know people say "Do it right do it once" but for what this is, if it breaks, I'll change it, if it doesn't fantastic.

The other option I know of is an ST170 bottom end, but I imagine they fetch half decent bucks.

 

i know raj from autoflock had some st170 pistons and rods for sale the other day,if your doing a blacktop

 

i've also got a set of st170 rods and pistons for sale

 

That's the only issue, I've got a silvertop sat in the garage!

How much are you after for those Luke?

 

can do them for £100 posted, i'm sure you can use them in a silvertop if you use the rods and pistons together.

 

Use xe pistons I had to have my block decked when I ran lets to raise the compression as far as I'm aware all xe and c20let pistons are forged its z20let and z20leh that are cast

 

If you're only running low boost I wouldn't bother with changing the pistons and just use a decomp plate. That way if the engine lets go you just fit the decomp plate to another standard Zetec and away you go again

 

I'd only be looking for around 200bhp, this option had crossed my mind although I'm not 100% on the idea of decomp plates, I had just thought about using the 1.5mm(I think) head gasket to drop the comp a touch.

 

When I was looking at building a Zetec turbo for my brothers fiesta I contacted ferriday engineering about their decomp plates and they said I could safely run up to 1bar with it. Which on a 2ltr Zetec would easily get you 200bhp and a healthy dose of torque

 

to be honest on 200bhp, i'd leave the engine alone. honestly do nothing to it, apart from uprate the valve springs a little, shimmed 106gti ones will do for that.
to get 200bhp out of a 2.0 isn't going to push standard pistons over the edge, neil from fastford (?) runs predominantly standard engines, so i read, and bolts on a turbo or supercharger with little engine work so it's all thrash and throw away stuff.
just get someone useful to map it.

 

Neil was the one that got me into cheap throw away ZT's
Do the 106 springs fit both Black and Silver tops?

What management would you suggest?

I've also just bought a T3 and RST manifold, needs a rebuild but will that be suffice for 200bhp?