MikeR

It looks like l am going to have some time on my hands soon and l would like to build an engine, ideally something natrually aspirated and farily cheap, does not have to be mega power, have been thinking about Zetecs and Pintos as l am unsure about the XE engines (Chip maybe you can add a pro active comment here)

In addition to the above can people recommend some good books to buy regarding engine build and if there are any specifc books for certain engines,

As for the car it will go in l am unsure at the moment but possibly something old and Ford

Cheers

Mike

Alps Pacino

s2000 in a mk2 escort

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Would need to know what sort of budget and what sort of power you are after to make a recomendation really.

Golden rule is that bigger engines are cheaper to get power from of course, all be it they then cost in terms of weight.

XE's are getting long in the tooth now, hard to find, and there is a lot of demand for them, so prices are only going to go up from here on in I reckon.

Standard S2000 engine is an awesome way to get more power than you would if you put 5K into an XE!

I think the S2000 would be top of my list for something like a Mk2 escort etc, well unless you start looking at V8's like the LS1 etc

Chip

iTrader: (3)

LOL

Snap!

Alps Pacino

the boffins wil say its spoiling a lassic with a shite jap engine though, and he should use a 2.0 pinto on webber carbs and a peco big bore exhaust lol

MikeR

I presume this is the Honda engine? what kind of price can these be picked up for?

Budget wise no budget set but as l will be learning as l go hopefully l dont want to build a crazy spec for it to go tits up when l turn the key for the first time, would rather build some thing respectable then the next engine go a bit more wild

Cheers

Chip

iTrader: (3)

I wouldnt bother building one, just buy one and slot it in, there are good low mileage examples out there.

If you want to build something just for the sake of building it, a pinto or similar is a nice simple way to go, the tolerances on the honda engine are pretty tight for a first time effort.

Not sure on the current cost, they were a couple of K last time I looked.

Capable of 9000+ rpm as standard

pacwest

I'm a big fan of a cheap transit block, over skimmed and cheap cossie head with dual carbs.

orionmojo

iTrader: (1)

I know what your saying, but whenever i see a classic ford at a show with anything other than a pinto/x-flow or bda if your lucky, i always think what a waste of a nice car for such a run of the mill engine

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

LS1 (or LS2, but guess LS1's are cheaper and more plentiful)

Alps Pacino

gearboxes are cheap 200-300 notes engines are a couple of k i think, sounds expensive but your getting 240bhp and mega reliability.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

s2000 are very good engines in standard spec; rev happy engines

engine are circa Ł2k, but they will vary in price; dont be put off by high mileage ones either

Alps Pacino

run of the mill engine lol, ye ant the pinto is the pinnacle of performance isnt it lol

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

Seen a ST170 lump in a mk2 with TB's on which was pleasant, fuck knows how it went though.

MikeR

You see l am thinking alot less than a couple of k for an engine, it is goes bang l dont want there to be tears

Mike

Chip

iTrader: (3)

over 9K rpm
over 120bhp per litre
lightweight consruction
amazingly efficient multivalve head
vtec system

Yep, pretty run of the mill compared to a 1970s ford transit engine


Taking the ford blinkers off for a moment, even the legendary BD is no match really and there is a monster cost ascociated with a decent BD!

Chip

iTrader: (3)

If you are building something just for the sake of building it, then just buy a e00 quid mondeo and pull it apart and use the zetec

Cant really see the point in putting a rubbish engine in a cool car though if you are talking old skool ford, as its going to get expensive for the car itself, and to tune the zetec will cost more than buying the S2000 lump!

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

Mike, looking at the bigger picture you'll end up spending more than 2k trying to get the same/less performance out of a lesser engine than the s2000.

s2000 engine in standard trim will be ample, i'm assuming its going in a lightweight type track car?

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

2.0 Zetec is cheap and decent. Power not massive, but good for the money.

When you say N/A, are you dead set on that, or just not wanting to go down the turbo route? As a 2.0 Zetec with an Eaton M45 supercharger could be done for very little cash and I guess should see IRO 200BHP

Chip

iTrader: (3)

bit more to it than just bolting one on if he wants it to work well.

MikeR

maybe l should say that l am thinking of building an engine putting it in to a car running it then changing the engine at a later date to a more powerful engine, l dont want to learn on a good/potentially powerful engine for it to go bang, but the main object of the exercise is for me to build the engine

Mike

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

S2000 is 240bhp isnt it? Or is that the import only.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

in that case i would go for a zetec which are commonly available and cheap.

a s2000 wont go bang tho

but if you just want to practice building an engine then i would do what chip said and by a rusty old MOT failure mondeo with a zetec and rebuild the motor

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

I appreciate that, but a 2.0 Zetec (even complete with car) is peanuts. An M45 is peanuts. I don't know his exact budget for building the engine, but even if he spends Ł500 buying those, a grand should cover everything excluding management shouldn't it?

MikeR

excuse my ignorance but the Zetec was built for a rwd application also, how easy is it to fit carbs to one?

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

Neil from FastFord has a Blacktop with a charger stuck on the side running around 250bhp and thats been fine, Engine is stock too. Might be worth PM'in him for some info, I know the kits from America and its mapped by TOTD but nothing else.

Icurus

2.0L or 2.3L I4 engine as found in the FWD RS2000 and Galaxy/Scorpio respectively.

Or combine bits from both with ITB's and get 200+BHP

Not a fashionable engine, parts are not as abundant as for a Zetec, but a good strong engine non the less

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Zetec on megasquirt then.

My reasons for that choice :
bolts upto an old skool ford gearbox
readily available for peanuts
its a twin cam so at least you are learning stuff thats relevant to decent engines
you can learn a bit about mapping too if you get someone to map it with you rather than just for you

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

Use a Type 9 or a T5 'box.

Carbs on a Zetec is popular in the kit car world, should should be plenty of advice out there on that. If that's the sort of this that interests you, I'd have a look at going down the motorbike throttle bodies route on Megasquirt

Chip

iTrader: (3)

im not aware of any rwd zetecs from the factory, flywheels etc are readily available to fit to a type 9 ford box though

fitting carbs is easy, but then you have to pay to get them setup, and it will still be shite, stick with aftermarket management IMHO, far more useful thing to learn about!

MikeR

I am liking Chips idea, but as l progress and purchase the probable car it would go in then that may refine the managment choice etc and l will know myself then how serious l am about seeing the project through,

Mike

pacwest

Megasquirt is not a totally easy solution. I have one in my 3door.

Simple bolt in is a zetec or pinto 16v with carbs. Mind the car's fuel pump though. No wiring looms, no pissing about. Jet it, drive it. Seeing as how the OP keeps saying "learn" I don't think MS is right at this point.

I never learned carb setup/teardown and wish I had.

orionmojo

iTrader: (1)

Did i mention performance?


Take off YOUR blinkers and read my post.

"I know what your saying, but whenever i see a classic ford at a show with anything other than a pinto/x-flow or bda if your lucky, i always think what a waste of a nice car for such a run of the mill engine"

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

http://www.mez.co.uk/ms10.html

Something like this would be nice. Obviously talking about the engine and management, ignoring that it's installed in a FWD Fiesta.

jammerrs

as above id get a 2l zetec

could also give a shot at head porting and manifold making if your feeling good

and as you say its just about the experience of building one im guessing trial and error wont be too much of an issue,

twin 45s go well on the zetec with a different ecu

personally id look at mk1 to mk4 escorts and mk1 to mk3 fiesta if it hasnt got to be rwd and find the one you like best (and is freeest of rust )

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Swap MS for MtechV4, and he will get it supplied with a basemap that fires it up, and for not a lot of money a better map than that from off their rollers.

Carbs are old dead technology and how are you planning on doing the ignition on the carb setup? you'll end up on management anyway.
Plus he'll end up paying out on the rollers to get the carbs setup, where as with mappable management one of us off here will go and get it up and running for him if he needs a hand im sure, its easily done after all!

jammerrs

+1 n/a cosworth also looks good in the mk2s i think

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Cant believe im trying to put him off carbs when I have a twin 45 manifold for a zetec for sale in the rs turbo section of this very website as we speak

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

Ridiculously expensive for what it is though.

orionmojo

iTrader: (1)

But of course, a "twin cam pinto" is a completley different kettle of fish

Can of worms anyone?