Garage19

1800 Zetec Turbo.... who is running skimmed stock pistons?

I have a spare 1800 zetec and want to build myself a (cheap) spare engine.

I don't fancy using a de-compression plate but have heard that people have had some success with skimming the pistons?

I have heard people say that you can get away with upto a bar of boost?

Another chap told me he managed nearly 230bhp on skimmed stock pistons?

I will brobably get my mate to dish a set of pistons on his CNC lathe so as to keep the squish at the edge of the combustion chamber and more material on the ring lands.

Remember this is a cheap n cheerful spare engine I'm building here. I'm just wondering what i can get away with? I already did a proper job with forged pistons etc in my 2ltr lump!

Thanks,

DC.

Project ST

It would probably be a lot safer to use a decomp plate - www.zetec-turbo.co.uk sell ones that are designed for use with one hg (read the site to see how it works) and have received good reviews in the past.

Only the early pistons have enough meat on them for skimming and in any case, it's still likely to end in a lot of very expensive tears whether you skim or decomp, but the risks are much higher when you skim...

You pays your money, etc

/shedmunki

Garage19

Ok, did some calculations today and i can't get enough extra chamber cc from just dishing the pistons.

I really don't like those de-comp plates much. How do you seal both sides effectivley?

I am thinking of dishing the pistons and also running a slightly thicker copper head gasket from Ferriday engineering. Has any one on here had any experience of these yet?

Cheers,

DC

PhilM

Garage, Id probably be tempted by a copper headgasket after rading the report in PF about Ferriday, seals and decompresses.

I got a spare 1.8 Zetec lump aswell, fucking good plan that Am on the case

Garage19

You know what they say about great minds.........

Spare engines gotta be a good idea.

You can bet you left gonad if i dont build a spare, No1 engine will go pop just before the best show/event/ring trip of the year!

Ps. So you dont have to keep calling me by my loggin ID, my names Doug!
Garage19 comes from me prevously living at No19 and the garage where i used to spend all my time!

TILLIO

Doug, want another 1800 zetec engine??

Maskey said you were after one, for Ł60

Hmm........... might be able to do a deal

richm

to get CRof 8.2:1 for example on a 1.8 engine, you would have to take 2.5mm off the whole piston to get the extra compression space .... if you want to just dish the middle it will be considerably more.... good luck doesn't even come into it! unless you want to run considerably more compression... The Standard cast piston is always going to be the weakest link in the 'budget' route, and need as much help as they can get - making them thinner isn't gonna offer much help

Smit

iTrader: (5)

Doug - Was wondering about your username...thought it was your prision ID number or something

Garage19

Till,

A deal heh?

Might be after another one. Will have to be like the budgie though! Drop me a PM.

Smit,

Not my prison number. That was COOK19563612DW519798LPZ3TEC and I've got it tatooed along my chopper in inch high letters!

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

fukk it, i sold 2 complete 1.8 bottom ends last week.

for Ł60

Garage19

Guess my cheap spare prob wont be too cheap after all! (I am tighter than a ducks arse)
I reackon...

60 lump
50 new shells
50 assorted seals and gaskets
90 Ferriday head gasket
15 head bolts

265 quid

Garage19

Ok, did a bit more thinking.

Hows about using another piston with a lower deck height (like XE pistons in a 2ltr)

Stock bore for an 1800 is 80.6mm so hows about fitting some 81mm pistons from a VAG 20valve turbo?

The have a 21 mm gudgeon pin just like the XE pistons so modding the rods shouldn't be too difficult.

Has anyone got a set they can measure up?

Its a shame the forged rs turbo pistons are a touch too small.

Has any one ever tried putting the longer stroke zetec crank into a rs turbo CVH? Would it fit? Would up the capacity to 1768cc.

Just thinking out loud.

Cheers,

DC

PhilM

Doug, I looked into swapping bits around (namely to fit a short stroke crank in a zetec ), however I believe a CVH crank wont fit a zetec due to a difference in main bearing journal diameter. However a CVH could be line bored out theoretically to fit a zetec crank in.

If I recall correctly Clint from Turbosport put a Zetec crank in a CVH to make a stealth ZVH 1.8 .

Whats the bore size on an RS Turbo? Id imagine RST Mahles could be made to go in a Zetec 1800 block with some imagination (and maybe liners )

Garage19

The RST mahles are 79.52mm compared to 80.6 for a zetec. Maybe you could push in a set of liners?

PhilM

I have a TIS CD at me old dear's ill pickup when im over next, ahs all the engine specs, bearing journal sizes etc. I read in a recent mag feature with a red fiesta 1.8 ZT, he used Audi 20v 5cyl turbo pistons, may be worth a look?

M Brian

the comp height of the cvh pistons is much higher than the zetec ones if i remember correctly... as such youd need shorter rods.... which sure aint a good thing!!! 1.5ish rod/stroke?! not too great!

copper head gasket or the solution tonypastie and richm used seems ideal on a budget engine... if not your talking diff pistons and about Ł300-Ł400 straight off IMO.

i also have a spare 1800 zetec! but i think im just going to stick it in a car and make it ridiculously light!! be cheaper in long run!! lol