TomPengelly

I have a mk3 fiesta track car, currently a 1.8 silvertop zetec.

What the best way to get 250bhp without forced induction?

Obviously il have to spend a few quid, but what options do i have if i go down the st170 route?

Will the lump bolt straight in the same as the silvertop?

Oranoco

You're either dreaming or will need very deep pockets.

ST170 isn't a straight bolt in affair as we found out doing the conversion on my brothers mrs Escort GTi. I would suggest a better option would be the 2 litre silvertop on throttle bodies but you'll be a wedge short of the 250 mark

turbolee

70bhp more out of the engine with no turbo will cost the earth and alot of work why do you not want to go down the turbo option

Johnny Knoxville

Email Andrew@ALDevelopments.com

He's the one that helped get 220bhp out of that ST170 with the standard inlet.

liammcl

iTrader: (4)

Andrews headwork looks spot on. V fairly priced also

Johnny Knoxville

He's going to be doing my head for my new project.

It's Czech Mate

Why start with an expensive st170 engine when you're foing to have to get loads of headwork done, new pistons/rods etc, you may as well just start with a boggo silvertop

by the time youve got a peaky nasty to drive 250bhp out of one of those you may as well have bought a duratec and got the same power cheaper, because the zetec will bankrupt you for that power, and you wont get it right with the first attempt anyway in my experience

If you insist on the zetec, or the duratec for that matter then have a trawl of the kit car/caterham/westy forums as they all have better info than on here

I'm not sure you realise the cost of that power target?

gjh

If you are worried about turbo lag or reliability issues with forced induction I don't think you need to worry really, a well mapped 250bhp zetec turbo will be very punchy will very little lag and can be very reliable too.

It's Czech Mate

Oh, and the easiest way to get 250bhp n/a is to buy a scrapper s2000 and swipe the engine

It's Czech Mate

this site will help you http://www.zetecinside.com/xr2/zetectune.shtml

gjh

Wouldn't you need the box as well? As don't Honda engines turn the other way?

Johnny Knoxville

Expensive? I was offered a ST170 engine just the other day for Ł150

It's Czech Mate

I was offered a silver top for cheaper lol. You're missing the point, if you are gonna have to change the rods, pistons and do valve train mods as well as Port the shit out of the head then you might as well start with the cheaper engine. If you can get an st170 for peanuts then great.

It's Czech Mate

If you bought a scrapper as I suggested you'd get all the bits you'd need although it's a slightly tongue in cheek comment, just trying to highlight the cost of a 250bhp n/a zetec

Johnny Knoxville

Problem with the silver top is cam choice, running wild cams will need oversize bucket bores and just the machine work is Ł350+

ST170 wild cams don't need that machine work as cam have been developed well over the years and don't need bucket machine work. And the there are so many cams on the market for these engines.

I've discussed all this with Andrew@ALD as he will be building me my engine for my Fiesta.

It's Czech Mate

I think when looking at a Ł6k plus build Ł300 is largely irrelevant given you'll generally pay more for the engine unless youre lucky. I hope your engine works out as planned

If I was the OP I would deffo not look to tune the zetec to 250 n\a unless its required in the regs for a race series......Duratec would be far easier

The Crocodile Hunter

i could be wrong but i believe the s2000 engine is different to the fwd motors and turns the other way?

gjh

Ye I know.

gjh

I have no idea, but some Hondas do don't they?

Smidydevil

Surprised nobody has mention the 2.3 lump out of galaxy's solid engines and still very tuneable with extra torque from larger capacity just will weigh a bit more.. None of these engines will go Into a mk3 fiesta without modifications, the Silvertop zetec is the only.engine mentioned so far that'd be an easy fit

TomPengelly

The car had a 1.8 silvertop as standard when i bought it.

To use it as a cheap track car this year, il just chuck a silvertop back in there.

I have an HO inlet, and will need another 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and induction kit ect. I have 130 bho 2.0 cams and ecu. With all this fitted, would there be much of a difference if i went for a 1.8 or 2.0???

While this is in the car, il build a fresh 2.0 in the garage, and how about a port / polish, bike carb kit with ignition ecu and biggest cams that will go without modifying the head?

Should that see around the 200bhp mark?

Smidydevil

From what iv been told by people.owning both the 1.8 and 2l
The 1.8 is a more rev happy engine but the 2l has more low down grunt n torque to it..

Zetec of carbs should see around 150-160 bhp, altho it's a step backwards to go from EFI back to carb imo look about for motor bike throttle bodies still cheap set up but will save alot of hassle rather than changeing fuel tank lines etc

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Would it not be easier to use a focus rs engine.

The Crocodile Hunter

If you're that desperate for high a revving powerful n/a car just buy a type r as its leagues ahead out the box

It's Czech Mate

About 160 after a map I'd say

xr2wishy

iTrader: (2)

I've read loads of builds struggling to get to 200bhp on a tight budget.
Those that do crack it put thousands into their cars.
Focus rs would be the route best for a budget.

Oranoco

Problem is the 130PS engines never actually make the claimed figure. You can put money on the fact you're probably 10bhp down on the claimed stock power. The 2 litre actually gives 130bhp and has more torque. Friend did a 2 litre silver top on bike carbs and it went very well for the 160bhp it delivered.

TomPengelly

Right, ive got a 1.8 silvertop on the way, il get that in there with a series 2 box and lsd just so i can use the thing.

To go with it i have an rs1800 inlet manifold and 2.0 130ps ecu and cams.

While thats in there, i have a 2.0 head i can port, il rebuild a 2.0 engine ready to go in, get myself a bike carb kit with ecu- but whats the biggest / most power gaining cams i can get without getting machine work done to the head?

I had basicly this setup in a mk2 fiesta last year and that made 186bhp. That'll do in the shed im using for now.

It's Czech Mate

I'm amazed that spec did 186 bhp

Oranoco

Sounds the same spec as my mates old XR2 (bar that being a 2 litre not the 1.8) and that only just eeked past 160bhp, was cracking fun