Anonymous

want to do a zvh conversion but worried about how much boost i can run???

How much boost can u run on a 2.0 zvh engine useing standard pistons??

Are there any differnt pistons u can fit without great cost (rs turbo)?????

how much power gain will i get from this conversion (bhp)?

Anonymous

Hi,

I have a 2.1ltr ZVH.
The engine was built by Burton Power (£4k)

Standard pistons you can run about 5psi but you must use the earlier piston as they have a lot more meat on the piston crown.
Basically all depends on how much money you want to spend.

You can use Acralite pistons (£140 each from Burton Power) which are the dogs danglies and will allow up to 28psi boost, assuming you use the correct head gasket etc etc etc.

Over 28psi you will need to replace the con rods with shorter ones to lower the compression (about £750 a set) as the piston crown will not machine lower than this safely.

Don't use Calibra Turbo pistons. Everyone says use them as they are just right for the job but they are not strong enouth for a high boost ZVH.

I'm assuming this is going in a Escort RS Turbo!!!
To get the full benefits you will also want to replace the fuel management as the MFI set up on the Escort Turbo will never fuel this engine corretly. You will need electronic management.

Hope this is some help.
Any moer questions please ask.

I'm currently running 2.1zvh, DTA management, 22psi and dyno'd at 322bhp.

Matt

Anonymous

cheers mate, i only want to run about 17psi. would my injection system handle this?????
could i get the standard pistons skimmed to lower the compression??????

or a better heat gasket to lower the compression?????

Anonymous

By standard pistons I take it you mean the standard 2.0ltr zetec pistons???

NO, is the easy answer to that. They are cheap, mass produces cast ally items designed for normally asperated engines.
Hitting them with 17psi will destroy them in no time.
One of my mates atempted the same and the compression down the side of the crown caused the crown to blow off destroying the bores of the block.

The 2.0 zetec is the same bore as the RS Turbo (I think) so in theory RS Turbo pistons could be used. But I have a feeling the Gudgeon pins in the rods are a different size and will need machining out so will cost as much as Acralites in the end.

Best speak to someone thjat does this all the time mate.
Try Burton Power (Speak to Neil), Fiesta Frenzy or one of the bigger names that have a reputation for these engines.

Your injection system can handle this but i reakon you will need a 5th injector and a really good set up on the rollers.
Mine would never run 100% until I changed the management and I gained 96BHP by being able to run the extra boost at the same time.

Good luck.

Best spend the money and time now our you will really pay when it all goes wrong.
I've learnt from my mates mistakes.

Matt

Johnny Knoxville

You can run 14psi on standard skimmed pistons

Anonymous

is that for defo mate???
any idear how much u have to have skimmed off???

Johnny Knoxville

1.8 skim 30 thou to give a c/r of 7.82:1 or leave standard to give 8.3:1

2.0 skim 40 thou to give a c/r of 8.20:1

its a defo. got the info off a mate that spoke to ian howell about it all

Anonymous

thanks allot mate.
is the 1.8 zvh conversion any good then????
2.0 zvh got to be more worth while though as its the same work involved.

Johnny Knoxville

When doing a 2.0 you need a 1.8 Escort sump, oil pump and pick up pipe also part of the head will need welding up to stop oil leaks. Use a focus steel head gasket on 2.0 and standard 1.6 Turbo gasket on 1.8.

Anonymous

which part of the head will need welding up????
a chap down my way done a 1.8 zvh on twin 45's & he said he made blanking plugs for the head or the block cos he had 2 block sum oilways???
sound right????

any info would be very helpfull.

like do i use the escort mk 4 engine mount???
will i use the rs turbo clutch or 2.0 one??
just use standard cvh headbolts???
headgasket?? will that 1 just fit straight on??
i can just get the oi return welded into the sump carnt i???

im on the look out for a 2.0 bottom end & as soon as i get hold of 1 i want to get i finished asap.

Johnny Knoxville

http://www.jimhearne.co.uk/zvh.htm for more info on the conversion

You can see were the head needs welding when you put it on the block ( inlet side )
Blanking plugs in the front of the block as shown in the site above
Use the engine mount from your old engine
Use the RST flywheel and clutch and open up the bolt holes by 0.5mm
Use CVH head bolts with slimmer washers or longer bolts from burton
Use 1 head gasket, it will fit straight on
Weld oil return onto sump at highest point away from sump bolts

You have PM

barnard

iTrader: (2)

Just found this in an old tread in 2003 as im looking to skim the pistons is this right

cossyking

you dont need to weld head can just block of the 4 holes at the rear of block, i ran 12psi on standard pistons with low comp plate and it was fine

forevaford

iTrader: (2)

5 psi onstd pistons is bolloks, all my matesrun at least 1 bar boost on their zvhs, some 20 psi and 300 bhp, std rods and pistons!

xr2wishy

iTrader: (2)

i was running 11psi on my zvh 1.8 and no worries at all.
heard a few guys running 20psi on skimmed pistons, arp up the con rods and you should be fine, if not, it's not cost a lot and you know you need to spend money on better parts.
fat headgasket helps too, payen ones are quite meaty compared to MLS ones.