jeans43

Hey all wont be doing anything for a good year atlest lol because of insurance and stuff but i want some ideas to think over. What engine do you lot think i should put in my KA when it comes to it? I will be wanting somthing cheap but fairly quick. Iv always wanted to rs turbo one, and have seen vids n i defo like but what does everyone else think could be another good engine to think about??

kiddie

Keep it for a couple of years, then buy yourself a nice RS turbo mate-otherwise it's money in the wind tbh

JohnP

save the money that would go into an engine swap and buy a faster car that'll have better suspension, gearbox etc. unless your just doing it yourself cos otherwise i reckon it'd cost way too much.

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

I would go Zetec, not CVH turbo

jeans43

i would like to do the ka lol iv had a thing with ka's for a while n dno y (im not gay tho haha) and i will be doing the job lot suspension ect it will be my ongoing project n i 4t of zetec but this will probs be a budject build n i would like quite a bit of poke in it. will do the swap n all that myself

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

depends on what power you want.

Upto 150bhp and whack in a 1.7 zetec SE any day!! fits well, goes well and also being alloy wont add wieght to front end so it'll still handle like a go kart.

If you want much more power then zetec turbo is the way forward. CVH engine IS old hat now and a good spec zetec turbo is a better engine all round when compared pound for pound with a CVH turbo.

Zetec engines arent that hard to fit either.

This is my old KA with an RS1800 zetec in it:



You can still keep the sleeper look too and its different. If you like the KA shape then sod buying an escort RS turbo which will be heavier, handle worse and likely need lot more money on bodywork etc unless you stump up loads of readies for a good one.

even a NA zetec in a KA makes for a hoot to drive and its pretty rapid!

That was my zetec KA on a private test track still had more to go when i had to slow for traffic on the private test track!!

Oh and to add, i put on gaz coilovers and 280mm brakes under sportka wheels and it handled even better then.


Set it a bit too low initially

jeans43

what sort of 0-60 n top end did u see out of her? i will keep it looking as ruff and shabby as it is now for the sleeper look but ill get rid of them horible wheels that are on it (wer wen i bought it) for some fiesta zs or st wheels

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

no idea 0-60 as i didnt time it. Standard RS1800 is about 8 secs to 60 and the KA was a bit lighter.

Top speed: see speedo pic above that wasnt maxed out either!

A 2.0 normally aspirated zetec with a set of cams, exhaust, filter, ECU map etc should be good fun and dirt cheap to do!!! puma zetec SE engines go for like £700 where as a 2.0 Zetec E or R out of a mondeo will be like £200 for a good one!

jeans43

the wheels are realy nice bin thinking about geting them when moneys good. n how much ur coilovers cost if u dnt mind me asking? i was thinking of going ford racing set up on it but does anyone know if their actuly any good?

jeans43

also what did you ka build cost ? and how modded was the engine n what was done? sory about all the q's but uv got me intressted now haha

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

i think the coilovers were about £500 ish. Cant remember now as i sold the car to Pf as project peanuts in 2006!! You can probably get a second hand set cheaper and you probably dont need coilovers as a set of gaz adjustables (or similar) will probably be more than adequate for a road car.

Ford racing stuff is a good basic uprated spring and damper set. certainly better than crap Gmax stuff.

jeans43

ahhh that was ur car cool. it defo need stiffening as theres no feel to it lol n them wheels dont help in the wet as i seem to lose it all the time in the wet.

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

I didnt fit the engine!! I bought it with engine fitted for £1500!!! Guy built it in his garage by fabricating the mounts etc and wiring in the engine loom. If your doing all the work yourself then it wont cost much. Youll need 2.0 zetec, 1.8 sump and bits like zetec EFI inlet off a fiesta/escort, the right engine loom and ECU, engine mounts,, custom exhaust front end to match zetec to KA exhaust, bigger rad (off a fiesta xr2i for example). All mostly bits you can get cheap off scrap cars/ebay.

Oh the engine was standard rs1800 zetec (known as a 130bhp spec 1.8 zetec) with a filter and magnex exhaust.

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

the wheels wont be making you loose it in the wet!! that will be shit tyres making you loose it!! (or excessive right foot ). Wont help if the standard suspension is worn either, eg bushes, dampers, drop links etc.

jeans43

sounding like a nice easy/cheap build which is exactly what i will be looking for. I wudn't want much more than 130bhp i think 150 wud be more than ample! Would proberly have to get another car on the road insted next year for insurance reasons lol but i wudnt mind that would give me time to get it all perfect thanks for all your help uve openend me up to a hole world of thinking n web seaching now () haha

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

cheapest way would be 2.0 zetec with cams, decent exhaust manifold and a chip and you should see 150ish bhp. Standard 2.0 zetec in a mondeo is supposed to be 136bhp.

jeans43

Well yeah tyres was what i ment lol there sh*tters lol but i also hate the wheels with a passion haha the car isnt in best of shape in all but it was only a cheap buy so not too fused aslong as it see's me thruw this year. next year is a hole new ball game

jeans43

I think standard 2.0 would do me fine. then I could save up and buy more bits like the cams ect.

wirralphil

why not just go for a 1.6se engine, bike tb's etc and see abit more power

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

ST170 engine? Basically a 2.0 zetec with a far better head, stronger bottom end, variable valve timing etc. Should go alright in a little ka

SiZT

He said cheap, to get an ST170 working properly would mean aftermarket.

Warren, don't know if you've seen it/remember it but the RS Turbo Ka that used to go about Stoke 2+ years ago is nearly back on the road and the engine bay is cramped on that, let alone a Zetec

jeans43

just read about a st170. I think thatll be hardly cheap haha. Iv seen a few rs turbo ka's and they are very cool what more could you want a chattering ka haha


(well you could want a real car haha)

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Why? They're only a 2.0 zetec.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-ST1...1%7C240%3A1318


Less than 500 quid gets you a complete engine, how much would you be likely to spend on a similar 2.0 standard zetec / 1.6 cvh to get it up to similar power?

AaronsKa

Im dropping a Zetec in my Ka atm! they are pretty nippy tbh. i got the complete conversion from my bros 2.0 Ka. once you have all the bits its piss to do.
Get yourself over to Myka.org.

SiZT

no question that the engine is a lot better than a standard Zetec. But to be able to use the standard ECU he'll have to put the gearbox in (which creates ballache on its own, then use the standard ST170 clocks as well as changing all his fuel system to work with the non-return. If he doesn't use the standard ECU he's got to use a 2.0 zetec one which wouldn't have the correct fuelling etc.. as well has having a rev limit of xRPM. Then theres the VVT and the manifold runners etc...

The only viable way to put one in a Ka would be aftermarket management

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

Because you need to spend a LOT of power on a 1.6 zetec SE compared to a Zetec E to get about 150bhp.

Cramped yes, but it is doable!

Rcjm88

Why? You dont need to spend alot to get near 150bhp with the SE.

A set of cams, 4-2-1 exhaust and remap will see around 150bhp from the SE. You could get more with a set of Jenveys and alot better power delivery too! But that will cost you a fair bit more.

Id go with the SE!

Edit: Sorry you will need HD Big end bolts too to get to 150bhp if your going to use ShawSpeed cams due to raising the rev limit.

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

so howmuch will a good nick 1.6 zetec SE, cams, 421 and remap cost then??? pound for pound youd still get more power doing same to a mondeo 2.0 Zetec E. Oh and more torque too. Hes going the budget route and zetec E is the best way for that. Plus he can even strip it down and rebuild it quite easily too where as the Zetec SE is more complicated!

Rcjm88

I got my engine for £320 delivered with 40k on it, Cams are £350ish you can get a new protech manifold for £175 and even cheaper if you find one 2nd hand, Big end bolts are £80 and remap anywhere between £300-£500.

Which isnt too bad, and you should see around 150bhp, 120ft lb give or take.

The SE isn't too hard to strip down and rebuild either.

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

erm...... thats shit loads more £££££££ than a Zetec E engine. You can get zetec E's from £100-200 with ease. Mods probably cost pretty similar

Rcjm88

So thats £100-200 more on the engine? And mods cost pretty much the same? Its not shit loads more then, yes its more but not by a huge amount!

All depends on what you want from it tbh.

SiZT

I can buy 2.0 Zetecs for £50, Cams you can get for around £200, 4-2-1 second hand ST170 unit and a remap from anywhere!