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Pinto To Zetec
Barksavon - 26/4/16 at 07:24 PM

I'm thinking of changing from Pinto power to Zetec in my Tiger Avon and would appreciate any advice on what's involved. Been looking at the crate 1800 engines on eBay. Assume I would have to alter the engine mounts and the exhaust exits on the other side, would be aiming to keep the type 9 gearbox. Is it a difficult and worthwhile project?
Ta
Ian

MsD - 26/4/16 at 07:38 PM

I'm just finishing swapping a 2.1 pinto to a 1800 blacktop (hopefully this engine wont blow up!) There's plenty of build threads on here and the WSCC.

If you keep an eye out on ebay/ various forums then stuff like exhausts can be picked up fairly cheap. A few people will tell you to keep the pinto and make life easy for yourself but if you fancy a project go for it!

Mark.

dhutch - 26/4/16 at 09:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Barksavon
I'm thinking of changing from Pinto power to Zetec in my Tiger Avon and would appreciate any advice on what's involved. Been looking at the crate 1800 engines on eBay. Assume I would have to alter the engine mounts and the exhaust exits on the other side, would be aiming to keep the type 9 gearbox. Is it a difficult and worthwhile project?
Ta
Ian


I have not done it (yet) but many have and there are lots of threads on the topic. Economically you are likely better off selling the car and buying one with the other engine in it, but if the car is special to you and or a lot of the rest of it is non-standard then that changes things.

My CVH has just dropped a valve and I am going to zetec it, slightly closer engine but I do not thing it will make much difference.

The engine is the cheap bit certainly if you put a ex-mondeo lump in, but depending on what you spec (often the engine change includes up-specing other things) then you can spend loads on short sumps, posh flywheels, inlet and exhausts, and if your no handy, engine and alternator mounts etc. Assuming the Pinto is on a dissy you will also need an ecu for the spark, I use a megajolt I got for a bargin, but an Omex200 will also do, or go the whole way and onto fuel injection. New clutch? Spigot brg and release bearing. New radiator? Ali belhousing? Rolling road tuning? New starter? New Alternator? Water rail? Fluids and consumables.


Daniel

Barksavon - 28/4/16 at 09:38 PM

Thanks for the replies I'll have a look on the forum and make my mind up.... Eventually!!!
Ian

SJ - 29/4/16 at 07:47 AM

Doesn't Pinto to Duratech make more sense? The exhaust is on the same side and I believe some have even re-used a Pinto manifold on a Duratech. The engine is lighter and more modern as well. The only downside is a gearbox adapter or change to appropriate MX5 box.

Stu

Case_Sensitive - 29/4/16 at 08:37 AM

It's worth thinking about how far you want to push your Zetec too; tuning them will only get you so far really.
I'm building a MEV Rocket out of the 'best' available stock Zetec, the ST170 lump that supposedly made 170PS on some simulated rollers in the Ford factory once :-/
In actual fact to get to a modest 155 BHP, it needs dual-stage inlet, a Fuel Pump Driver Module with returnless fuel lines and variable cam timing that only the pricest or custom ECUs can map properly (I just sold my Omex 710 set up because it can't). I'm not sure I'd have gone down that route if I'd seen all this in advance.

If I was transplanting my engine, I'd go Duratec too; lighter, and with more tuning potential (?). 280BHP naturally-aspirated is possible if your pockets are super-deep.

If your targets are more modest, buy an already tuned up Zetec? Here's (a pricey enough) one I found, Cosworth parts, tuned and turbo'd to the nuts, and it comes with a free Fiesta attached!
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Fiesta-xr2-Zetec-Turbo-Rs-Trackcar-Ex-Smrc-/201565461032

Barksavon - 1/5/16 at 08:26 AM

I'm not sure I'm savvy enough to convert to Duratec, is it as complicated as it seems (to me anyway) Also what is the Duratec engine of choice,
Ta
Ian

davidimurray - 1/5/16 at 09:51 AM

I wouldn't have thought there is much difference between Duratec and Zetec apart from bellhousing/clutch/flywheel that is extra for the Duratec.

My Duratec, swap here - http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=192871