Do you think this would be too much mileage for a zetec turbo donor engine build?

Its from a M reg Mondeo 2litre Si so iirc one of the early Zetec engines?

 

i remember reading that higher mileage engines are better as a lot of the stresses have been taken out of it due to heat and strain on parts helping to make the whole stronger.
it makes sense to me, it'll be fine, they're not really stressed as standard really.

 

if well maintained then yes will be fine. what are your plans for it? forged pistons and rods? or low pressure turbo conversion for now on standard engine?

btw my 2l mk1 focus is on 106,000 miles now and runs great with only major mod being exhaust but will be turning it into a track car and doing a low pressure turbo conversion for starters running about 240bhp. lots of supercharged conversions running that power on standard engine so will be fine as turbo too. pluss if it does go tits up it'll be cheap to replace the engine or just rebuild to better spec which is the eventual plan.

 

Yeah i plan to fully forge it.

With it being a early Zetec engine, will there be any concerns over the sticky valve issues? or are they fine once you uprate the valve springs ?

 

don't know on the sticky valve situation i'm afraid, all i've read is use the right grade oil and service regularly.

what sort of power are you aiming for?

the concensus seems to be the silver top is more prone to oil pump failure above 400bhp and 7,500+ rpm than the black tops. theres a recent big thread on this actually.

 

go for a blacktop, heads flow better as standard, bit more work with them, but i think it's worth it as that's what i'm doing right now as it happens

 

Im after a build capable of 300 bhp ideally.

Had thought about a blacktop but not sure of the work involved. Theres tonnes of info on the net regarding the silver top but not much regarding the black top.

 

I use 10W40 oil in my dads silver top, rebuilt by my own fair hands around 45,000 miles ago, not a hint of sticky valve, it's NOT caused by oil, wrong grade or otherwise, in general.
It's caused by the ZDDP issue, or rather the almost complete lack of it, the same thing that screws up cvh cams.
tabetha

 

My m8's zetec in his T plate. Focus done 175000 miles & has had it from when it had about 50k on it & has had not 1 problem with the engine, dose'nt burn no oil never put a head gasget on it & is very quite, just the right service at the right times. & still has it's power.

Rich

 

Just going back to the black top, how do you get around the waterpump issue? Can you buy the correct way pump in the UK now as in bolt straight on without having to machine the block? or is it still an American import job?

Also i was thinking of using the ib5 box. Spotted one in a mk6 non turbo diesel Escort van for 50 quid.
For fitting to a mk4 Escort which starter motor set up would i need? front or back?

Cheers

 

The blacktop engine im building into a zt has covered over 160k!