Looking to buy a 2.0 Zetec ( at the momment ) for no other reason than I want something to rebuild, as have never rebuilt an engine before!

Future plans for the enigine unknown, tho wouldn't mind a MK2 fiesta to stick it in one day.

So we have the silver top, black top and St170 lumps. I probably go down the route of buying a complete car, as get all the bits and know it runs before I fuck it up!.

Now whats the better engine to have, long term, to pour money into?

And are they all roughly the same in cost of parts to rebuild? gaskets / bearings etc etc.

 

2.0 Silvertop was only in earlier Mondeos then it needs a 1.8 sump and oil pump and oil pick up, maybe water pump too I can't quite remember. Mondeos are getting harder to find these days.

2.0 Blacktop was in Focus and Mondeo, so there are plenty of Focus models still out there.

Plenty of ST170 still about too for the ST170 engine.

I think it all depends what your end goal is as to which one to go for. Turbo, throttle bodies, carbs, super charged, oem ecu and standard fueling and ignition control.

 

If ever fitted into something, would be standard ecu. To start with, wouldnt be going to town spending ŁŁŁŁs on it.

 

ST170 lump with a blacktop head. You get a nice, tough, forged bottom end so its a nice base for tuning from minor to loopy.

 

Something to consider then. Tho doubt i'd go down any big power route as that costs money. And if im spending money on cars it'll be the cosworth ( more likely,the house! )

 

The st170’s bottom end is not forged. It does have rods with bigger little end bearings and bigger big end cap bolts making them stronger than a Blacktop. The Rs has bigger still gudgeon pins.

Pistons are Mahle, as are an Rs or a vanilla Blacktop but the crown looks a little thicker due to valve cutouts.

Rebuilding a Zetec isn’t cheap or usually needed if it’s had plenty of good oil changes in its life.

I bugger about with these for a hobby and run them all on the ford ecu. The ecu has limitations with tuning but it’s cheap.

For example an st170 ecu can be had for a few quid literally cheaper than chips just make sure you get at least one key or more accurately the rdif chip from the key.

A plain 2.0 is good for around 150bhp max Oem or 165 aftermarket.

A plain 2.0 st will do 170 Oem but most are less. They will do 200 with aftermarket induction and management.

A turbo Zetec can be cheap if you keep the power modest and can be upgraded as and when and can be run on a focus Rs ecu.


St


Rs managed Blacktop.

 

I can do the same with the Mondeo v6 including the St220. It cant be much heavier than the turbo zetec.

I paid around Ł40 posted for an st220 ecu

 

""High compression aluminium pistons and forged steel conrods" according the the blurb in the brochure I have. You'd like to think Ford knew what they were putting in their engine. If I had a smart phone I'd photograph it for you.

 

Sinter forged. Not the same thing as a genuine forged H shape rod.

 

ford marketing rubbish. i've seen lots of st170 rods and they aren't that strong. i've seen them hanging out of the side of standard power engines

the pistons are normal cast, not pressure cast like cossie or focus rs pistons.

cranks are standard with the addition of a spigot bearing for the 6 speed box.

st170 has 20mm gudgeon pins
blacktop are 19mm
silvertop are 20.63mm
focus rs are 22mm

if you're looking for something to rebuild, silvertop would be easiest as the hydraulics take care of themselves, blacktop you would need to shim up. blacktops are easier to get hold of these days though. st170's are a little more complicated to build due to the vvt and solid buckets, but aren't too different other than that.

 

A mate is selling his brand new 2.0l zetec, Jenvey TB's, management etc

Ł2500

 

So you say Ford are liars? Fair enough. I know who I believe.

 

believe who you like, but i work with engines every day and have no need to lie about them

i built my own zetec turbo for my car and used proper steel H section rods and pressure cast focus rs pistons. if i thought the st170 bits were strong enough i'd have used them and saved myself a fortune

 

Nice thats about 10 times my budget tho, looking at paying 250 tops and even then it will be attached to a gearbox thats attached to a car thats has somesort of mot

 

Phil I can sort you out a engine and gearbox from a 170 for a very decent price as its you

 

When i first thought about this. I thought i know a man with an st170 lump or two!

If i cant find a dog of a 2.0 ghia, when im ready to biy one. I see what you've got .

 

Why take the st170 head off when it's by far the best flowing zetec head out of all the engines

Cheers paul

 

A few things to consider here. As std the ST170 is the best engine N/A an the Focus RS the best turbo'd.

N/A or turbo? What do you want to do? The engine and ECU are two different things.

Rick