diesel

as above iv got the chance to but a black top engine cheap and just want to know shall i get it? im going to have a go at building the zvh myself iv never build any thing like this before, i googled the build a few times and im willing to have a good so i just want to get started now
any info would be great
thanks diesel

diesel

sorry what i realy wanted to know is what would you pick black top or silver top and why? i know from what iv looked up that you can use both typs of engine but what the best for the job

Cameron

If u want to do it cheaper then id use a silvertop block and mate the original rods to vauxhall c20xe pistons, youd have to go forged or focus rs items on blacktop

Cameron

Youd need to bore the 2litre out to 86mm for vauxhall pistons

bigkev

i heard silver top was softer steel mate, i just bought 1 then got told that, haha,

diesel

thanks for the replys these are just the kind of answers im after,
i want to get around the 200 bhp mark when im done, can i use the standard pistons? can i have them skimmed? or do i need other ones like you have said, will standard rod/pistons handle 200 220bhp if i could use them?
i have to keep costs as low as posable as i cant do it with my shit payed job and family bills ect.... i would love to have 300+bhp but thats not relistic with what i can put into it so a nice reliable 200 ish im happy with,
the web site i found to do the build is zvh-build.co.uk and hes using a silver top from what iv read in there, if i can use standard pistons would a black top be just as good to use for a bottom end?
ebay sell most of the conversion parts to do the job but are thay the same for both engines?

sorry for my stupid questions i just want to be sure before i start,
thanks again diesel

bigkev

ive read black top rods r diffrent lenght from silvertop, crank is the same tho, r u doin 2.1 if so lik the guy before said c20xe piston , blocks r both identical mate

diesel

thanks for your reply, if thats the only way i will get the the c20xe pistons and hav it bored out, im sure iv heard you can have the tops of the standard pistons skimmed to lower the comp or clearence issues?, i dont know if this is true but this would be a much cheaper option for me if that is true

Karlos G

iTrader: (4)

IMO If all you want is around 200bhp then dont waste your time or money with a ZVH as a stock 1.6 CVH with a FMIC and a Stage 2 T3 will do that all day long.
If you want more than say 240bhp then build a ZT.

diesel

im more than happy to go more than 200 but i would like a more reliable engine than a cvh, in the last 5 months iv blown 2 engines i had a 1.6 and a 2.0 american cvh and thay both went bang with the same problem on no1 piston the conrod snapped in half identical thay came through the block, and thay were around the 200 ish mark so i dont trust a cvh no more lol

i said about 200 as i dont know how much i can go with a standard zetec engine, if i could have 240 that would be awsome but reliability probably go out the window then lol

any advise tho karlos would be great as im defo going to build one but it will be a budgit version if you know what i meen lol

Matt carter

the same problem on no1 piston the conrod snapped in half

thats a big problem. fuel + spark needs looking at.

diesel

and expensive, i took it to a garage to hav the ignition timing done as i didn't have a timing gun/light but would but bad fueling snap rods?

Matt carter

would bad fueling snap rods. oooo yes.

what boost was you runing mate

diesel

im not sure i have no boost gauge it,s got a collins 31 actuator on it and iv not done anything else to do with boost

Karlos G

iTrader: (4)

Yeah your problem is nothing to do with them being CVH's mate, the weak point of a CVH is the head (cam/lifters falling apart, rocker studs pulling out, rocker arms snapping, cracks around the spark plug thread and valve seat area's) not the bottom end...
The CVH crank is good for 400bhp, pistons are good for 300bhp and the rods will do around 240/250bhp if you dont raise the limiter or sit there bouncing off it at traffic lights like a bell! lol
What was your limiter set to?

Canada1

The 1.6 CVH block and crankshaft is far more durable than the 2.0 Zetec.
The Zetec block has less material around the main caps and has "windows" in the block webbing - far weaker.

Blowing up turbo engines is typically poor tune.

Cameron

I got fed up with oil pressure issues so swapped to a zvh the zetec oil pump is alot better. Id have thought a zetec bottom end would be alot stronger than a cvh

Karlos G

iTrader: (4)

Oil presure issues will only be down to a heavily worn or poorly built engine, they do run a lower pressure than a Zetec but thats how they were designed to run.

diesel

i never go over 5500 6000, i didnt know thay had a limiter lol