Hey there guys - new here - will post an intro later.

I have a question straight off and also have something to check about so here goes:

The ford Zetec units - when did they become so-called 'silver top' units, as I am hunting for a 'black-top' and wanted to check on rough dates when these would have been about. I have had a search for this but there was nothing in the first couple of pages - so sorry if this has been asked before

The thing that I am trying to get confirmation of is...that the sierra Type 9 or MT gearboxes have the right bellhousing to match up to the older zetec units - someone I know of has rebuilt an MK1 escort using this set-up and I just wanted to make sure.

Thanks a lot for any info guys

 

aaaaand up.

 

Both the MT75 and Type9 fit onto a zetec, plenty of kit car places do the clutches etc, but the MT75 needs tunnel mods to fit in a Mk1 Escort

 

Not for a MK1 mate - for a viva of all things and the tranny tunnels are absolutely mahoosive.

Ta for the help.

 

Tigran, i belive the changeover from silver top to black top was the middle of 1998

 

Ok thats cool - just one last question if anyone has an answer at hand - what was the major evolution between the two?

 

IIRC Blacktop has solid lifters and is 150bhp whereas the Silver top is 130bhp and Hydraulic lifters

 

i also believe the black top has 5mm longer rods and a shorter piston, which is why the focus steel rods from the USA on ebay cant be used with the silver top zetec engines.