motor transfer

[zx2guy]

does anyone know if a newer focus motor or older zx2 2.0 dohc can be compatably transfered into my 03 zx2?

[AltecZX2]

you mean the duratec?


thats a SHIT load of work and money....not worth it.


a zx2 motor from 99.5-03 are all the same

98-99 has some electrical differences.

[zx2guy]

you seem to know alot about zx2's, how did you learn so much? i mean i know some stuff about the engine but appearantly i dont know anywhere as much as you.

[AltecZX2]

I've been working on ZX2's since 2001.

[zx2guy]

so what is the difference between a zetec and the duratec? all i know is my motor says vct < which has nothing to do withh the performance, its about its own little egr system since it doesnt have a valve, it just advances and retards the exhaust cam. which i heard they had problems in the 98 models... but not so much now. hell no one can even tell me the difference between the zetec and the vct. < ive heard things from FORD tech's... which sound like a load of crap to me. so i guess ill ask you seeing as you know more about it. so what is the difference between the vct...or duratec, or zetec? ... and this would be so much easier if they had it right on the motor. but everywhere ive gone all ive said is vct and they sent me the part i need.

[pre98zetec]

vct on a non svt motor is for economy.. non vct zetec just has egr system and no vct system

[AltecZX2]

VCT(exhaust cam) allows the car to run much more agressive cams stock., which is why a 2000 zx2 will have a better tq curve then a 2000 focus. That is just a side effect of it though. The VCT on the SVT Focus(intake cam) is performance only. The problem on 98's was that the oil that used to be recomended was a little to thick for what the VCT Likes...so they moved from 5-w30(?) to 5-w20.

The 2.0 Duratec is mostly an Aluminum block (zetec is Iron), and a better head design.

Personaly I have had fun beating the new 2.3 Focus ST at the track stock vs Stock....im not impressed...if the motor was in a car that was closer to 2500lbs, and better aero dynamics, the car would be more of a consistant low 15sec instead of a 'on a good day/driver/track" low 15sec car.

ST: 151hp 154tq 2816lbs $17,585
S/R: 143hp 140tq 2474lbs $16,875

Personal track record: S/R:6 ST:1(simply a much better launch then I had)
On an autoX race the S/R would demolish the ST.

Ford didnt plan it out well.


How ever when heavily modified the Duratec will be making use of a better flowing head then the Zetec.

[zx2guy]

so duratec good, zetec bad. good to know im working with the better motor. wait... now so the zetec has an egr valve system? do i got that right. and the vct has it integrated into the cam (but is it still twin cam?). i havent dealt with a zetec, so i dunno. every single one ive seen (which range from 98 to 03) have all been vct, or i guess duratec. i never thought about changing the cams in the stock head... when i changed the head for a gude, i had everything sent to a machine shop for proper fitment and spec out. which actually sucked cuz i wanted to do more(and it cost more), but work and school always got in the way. what about the svt motor? not that ild like to drop that in but im just curous. was it any good of a motor. saleen seems to be using the motor in thier focus's (wouldnt that be a kick ass car: a saleen zx2) and i can tell you saleen is in no way over rated. i took a test drive at the norris vernier dealership ( the only saleen dealership in i think 500 miles) and both the focus and the mustang were damn fast.
well this helps alot. thanks oh and the im pretty sure your right about the oil going from 30 to 20

[pre98zetec]

zetec is not a bad motor

[AltecZX2]

Originally Posted by zx2guy

so duratec good, zetec bad. good to know im working with the better motor. wait... now so the zetec has an egr valve system? do i got that right. and the vct has it integrated into the cam (but is it still twin cam?). i havent dealt with a zetec, so i dunno. every single one ive seen (which range from 98 to 03) have all been vct, or i guess duratec. i never thought about changing the cams in the stock head... when i changed the head for a gude, i had everything sent to a machine shop for proper fitment and spec out. which actually sucked cuz i wanted to do more(and it cost more), but work and school always got in the way. what about the svt motor? not that ild like to drop that in but im just curous. was it any good of a motor. saleen seems to be using the motor in thier focus's (wouldnt that be a kick ass car: a saleen zx2) and i can tell you saleen is in no way over rated. i took a test drive at the norris vernier dealership ( the only saleen dealership in i think 500 miles) and both the focus and the mustang were damn fast.
well this helps alot. thanks oh and the im pretty sure your right about the oil going from 30 to 20

Zetec is a good motor...its been used for racing for over 20yrs.

If the Zetec has VCT in teh exhaust then there is no EGR, if it has VCT on the intake there there IS EGR.

Gude makes shitty parts...thats the problem w/ that.

The SVT motor i just a better intake mani, railes compresion and VCT on the intake instead of exhaust..building a non SVT zetec is better cost wise then droping in a SVT zetec.

Roush had a 230HP Supercharged ZX2 demo and SVT had a 200hp zx2 prototype.

[zx2guy]

ok well i think that straightens things out good enough. now i understand the egr aspect. and that actually explains alot about why we kept on throwing emission codes and the one for the vct. < i forget how we worked that out to stop though... ill have to ask the mech that did most of the code smoothing. i think that might have actually happened when i had the computer reworked(i used one out of a wrecked 03... not mine)... by the way NEVER do that it was a complete waste of money. who do you suggest i go to for my parts? ive gone to zxtuner and picked up stuff. and what would you do to beef up YOUR zx2. im just getting a little burned out on trying to figure this out, it would be nice to hear a fresh aspect. especially since i started returning my zx2 to stock. i already got it down to the head again, luckily i didnt sell anything and i got a crap load of pics to keep track of everything. i managed to find a bright red 02 5 spd. im not sure if im goin to get it though i like the 03 front better. and if im going to be spending over 6 grand< i will make damn sure to get close to what i want. i figure ill mod out the 5 spd. less crap to deal with than this atx.

[AltecZX2]

Motor:
i plan to get a set of high rev cams form zxtuner, have JohnP (ex guy at ford main HQ) do my head an intake mani work, Focus central TB, Fedenza flywheel, spec stage 2 lightweight clutch, tuned intake cam gear, zxtuner 4-2-1 header w/ 2.5in catback and SCT. (should be good for about 165-low 170's whp)

Suspention:
same as my stock suspention(new Eibach springs, Tokico struts, and NEW ES bushings/mounts) but add a 21mm rear swaybar from an older escort wagon, and a strutbar from an MX3. 17in lightweight rims. (.99-1.0g skidpad)

Tranny:
buy a brand new tranny, the escort sedans 5th gear for better milage on HW, and when they come out a LSD. (wont shatter at tracks, and have nice gearing)

Breaks:
cross drilled/slotted rotors, SS break lines and good set of pads. (stopping is good)

I'll run solid 14's, have a great handeling car, and a damn strong tranny that can get great milage on long trips.

I just need the money to do it.

Maybe a WW kit and tint...not sure.

[zx2guy]

how much do you figure the motor and tranny will cost you? ( if you have it all broken down to how much each thing will cost) and what about your crank, pistons and connecting rods? what do you plan to use for the added pressure (cuz that would suck to drop a piston)? and have you found any high pressure bolt kits... ive been using stock and thats the one thing i was afraid of was to blow the head bolts. are you goin to go all motor, or are you going to use propane or nos, or some other forced induction?

[AltecZX2]

No need to change the crank, pistons nor rods unless I want to go over 10.5:1(I don't) and then the weak part is the rod bolts. Hell, the crank there is really nothing you could do except maybe knife it and thats not really needed.

The motor+exhaust will cost about another 4-5k at least.

I'm not getting those shit regrind cams zxtuner sells I'm getting new cams made to zxtuner specs ($800) the head work and intake mani will be about 1k, exhasut and header will be about $6-700, FC tb is about $300, SCT PRP is $800, gears is about another $160.

New tranny (just for the new syncros, and forks and gears) is about $300, clutch is about $280, flywheel is around $340, a LSD is about $900.

Suspention will be about $4-500.

and as for boost if tuned right you can do 7PSI on a stock motor. You cant use propane on a Gas motor...only diesel.

[zx2guy]

i heard you can use propane when your motor runs lean especially at idle(i guess when you use a big supercharger, or to even out nos when your injectors are too small), then again i could have been told wrong. he has told me some wild crap before, but i couldnt call it on him cuz the arguement almost sounded plausable. but for sake of asking why cant you use propane? oh well.

but on your car now. will you need to upgrade your gas octane then? and how are you going to get around the electronic part of all that? that was my main problem (and most expensive). whats goin to keep you from throwing codes? and are you going to do ... or have you done any computer work. like a chip or stand alone... or hell reworked cpu.?