Hi everyone, I've decided to fit a more powerful engine into my 1982 mk3 escort ghia and was going to go down the zetec silvertop road but am thinking of something a little more modern. I've read that the st170 duratec badged zetec will fit without much work needed but have read that the duratec st150 engine will fit and is obviously a lighter engine being alloy and more tunable but which will give me that little bit more bhp? Thanks in advance 😎

 

Anybody??

 

Just like you said.

The ST170 still is a simple Zetec-E engine that was based on the CVH which means it's a long stroke engine.

There's four reasons why the ST170 has ~40 bhp more than a standard blacktop:
1. Cosworth head design with bigger ports and valves
2. 4-branch exhaust manifold
3. Variable inlet
4. Variable inlet camshaft timing

The manifold is too big for your Escort. The variable inlet is a pain in the arse to set up, and still most of the aftermarket ECUs won't support such items. You don't really need the VCT. When using the engine in your MK3 Escort you'll give a f*** about rough idle and less low rev power with a pair of sports/fast road/race cams. So the only really benefit is the cylinder head. It's much better than the heads of the silvertop/blacktop engines but this doesn't kill the fact that it's still an engine with a VERY conservative design.

The ST170 is easier to fit but the Duratec has a LOT more potential than the Zetec-based ST170. Weight yes, but that's just a minor point. The whole engine design of the Duratec (including head, ports, valves etc.) is better and offers more potential, it's a short stroke engine that works much better on high revs etc.

Yes, it's a lot more work involved to make the Duratec fit but the potential of the engine - considering the fact you're looking for power - is worth the costs and time you'd have to invest.

 

Thanks bud. I've seen plenty of threads showing the fitting of zetecs into mk3 escorts but haven't stumbled across any duratec threads just yet. Any idea what kind of work is involved to make it fit?

 

The engine is quite big. It was too big for the MK6 (2002 model) Fiesta to fit, that's why Ford shortened the clutch bellhousing of the gearbox.

First make sure it will fit. And keep in mind: it will ONLY fit with a Duratec-HE gearbox, this engine is of Mazda origin, the bellhousing bolt pattern is different. Best choice would be the ST150 IB5+ gearbox. Not sure if the driveshafts will be a direct fit.

It sure is more work involed than just dropping it in like the Zetec. You'd have to weld engine/gearbox mount brackets to the engine bay. Inlet and exhaust manifold might be too big for the MK3 escort so they might need to be modified. And many, many other minor things. The IB5+ gearbox has a hydraulic clutch and cable shift.

I'm quite sure this has been done before. But not as often as the Zetec. You might find some informations somewhere.