JamesZ Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 This has probably been asked a few times, but after my gearbox woes, which turned out to be a broken input shaft and cracked casing, I now find that the engine has a cracked crankshaft. As the porting on the head isn't perfect either, I'm turning to thoughts of a zetec... Currently the car has a dry-sump, oil cooler, weber 45s and accralite pistons. If I were to go for the zetec, while I realise the actual sump and pistons would be going, can I keep some of those parts, or would I have to go for a whole new drysump system on the zetec. Would there be any benefit of staying on carbs or would I be better off going for injection? Oh and would I have to spend a lot of time rustproofing the engine bay? What other questions should I be considering? And how much more time would be required to put the zetec in as opposed to just dropping the crossflow back in (I won't be doing that part of the work myself). James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 My advice would be to buy one of Racelines special deal black top Zetecs using their baffled wet sump, lightened flywheel, ecu, loom and inlet manifold. You can stay with DCOE's until you may want to upgrade later on. You will also need their exhaust system and engine mounts but you can re-use parts from the X/Flow incl bellhousing, carbs, starter, alternator and the standard radiator. Out of the box, the 2L Zetec will give you 160 - 165 reliable bhp with an upgrade path to well over 200. Brent (aka Arfur Nayo) 2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive R 417.39 😬 Edited by - Brent Chiswick on 18 Oct 2007 13:31:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 James, If you decide to go Zetec, and I know it's a big IF, I would be interested in the dry sump system should it become available. Chris Alston C7CAT 1800 Supersprint R248.89 ....and then I jumped in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S47zz Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 If your pocket don't strech to the Raceline - call Dave at Retro ford *biggrin*he'll sell you complete fitting kit for less than Half Racelines prices. I've enver regretted fitting a Zetec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesZ Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 Well, intial thoughts are turning more towards the zetec option.... And having spoken to raceline things such as the drysump would no longer be necessary. So Chris, to help me work out cost offsets etc, IF the dry sump system were to become available. What sort of region might you be interested in paying? James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrone Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I assume you have some hot cams and other performance bits for the top end if you have forged pistons in the bottom. I stripped everything I could from my crossflow and realised enough capital to pay for a secondhand Zetec and most of the essentials for fitting it. My 1.8 silvertop with nothing more than 2.0l cams, 40 DCOE's and a Megajolt pushes out 147BHP at 6000rpm. It does get a little noisy after a very hard day on the track, so I'm thinking of fitting the oil cooler sitting in the garage. I would like a Raceline wet sump too. NE Area Rep Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMorris Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 James, I'd be interested in the top half of the engine - i.e. head + pistons and possibly the cam - infact everything apart from the dry sump really - subject to price of course (and assuming yours is currently a 1700 spec engine), Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullman 3 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 James. I would be interested in the xflow block if it is an ax block with main caps and not taken out more than 83.5mm.Regards Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMorris Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 James, just to be clear - don't need sump, don't need block or maincaps, but would realistically want everything else. I have block + caps + crank + a few other bits bit I've lost a lot of the "fiddly bits" like timing chain cover, water pump etc along the way as a result of engine rebuilds/sawps etc. Ed to add - YHM + I'd also probably want/need the head if suitable valved/sprung/guided (forgot to put that in the list above) I'll be away nexy week so will blatmail you my contact details in case you want to progresss this sooner rather than later. Edited by - DaveMorris on 18 Oct 2007 19:02:41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 You can convert using all the bits you have bar the exhaust manifold, but you'll need 3d ignition as a minimum I think. If you have the budget I would go with TBs. If not keep your 45s bearing in mind that many people (including myself) have had issues getting the fuelling right for a zetec on progression (snap throttle) and also on idle. Recent personal experience would suggest that there may be some benefit (if you fancy trying it) in modifying your carbs to accept fuel injection rather than going to TBs esp as otherwise going to TBs was expensive. If you do go to TBs consider you need an ECU and think about who you'll get to map it for you. If you're nearer Ipswich than London you might wish to get Emerald and use Dave Walker. If not you're off to see Steve Greenald near Rainham, London. Also take advice on which fuel regulator to get, which fuel pump and injector combo for the power you're aiming at too. Bear in mind that the zetec won't have that frantic urge of the XF, which can be disappointing until you install some hotter cams, then things get a bit more spicy, but as standard it's undeniably faster than alightly modded XF. You may need a new fuel pump whichever way you go and yes you will need to consider corrosion more often than before. Hope that helps;bet I remember something else once I press send. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 ps get a Raceline or Dunnell sump and you don't need a dry sump. Indeed I have tgried to get one before and can find no one to sell me one because the sumps all work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 James, yhm Chris Alston C7CAT 1800 Supersprint R248.89 ....and then I jumped in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 James/Chris go for the Zetec, it's a great engine, it's easy to install (in place of an X Flow) and the best ever thing I have done to my seven Look Here Have a word with Brent, he also did it some years back Guy SB Lowe o *arrowup*o The new de Dion tube is now fitted here Edited by - Guy Lowe on 19 Oct 2007 06:01:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Loads of waffle on my conversion on my web site - see my sig - under the files page there is even a slightly out of date costing sheet..... I went to carbs for a couple of years and then recently converted to fuel injection, head work and a set of cams. Phil Waters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S47zz Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 If you can weld good enough to make a manifold then you can use Lotus esprit 45mmTB's they have Non standard bore spacing but only cost 50-75 notes depends where you buy 'em from, and work better/more efficiently than carbs ECU will still be expensive though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesZ Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 Thanks for all the advice and links. Will ponder over the weekend and wait to see what Scholar come back with regarding getting the current engine back up to speed. Getting increasingly tempted though. James. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesZ Posted October 24, 2007 Author Share Posted October 24, 2007 Thanks, all for your advice and to Phil and Guy for their advice on Sunday. Well, Scholar have now come back to me, and for the same price as getting the xflow up and running, they'll build me a 185bhp zetec on carbs. Guess its a no-brainer. Chris, I'll email you about the dry sump. Jame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 James Chris Alston C7CAT 1800 Supersprint R248.89 ....and then I jumped in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Sounds interesting, but it would be worth doing your sums first in terms of what you get in the kit from Raceline - you end up paying £500 for the engine, whereas you may end up paying a fair bit more sourcing your own engine. A stock engine should give 160 - 165bhp straight out of the box... Phil Waters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesZ Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 Phil, Think I have done my sums correctly. Scholar will give me an engine with uprated pistons, lightened flywheel, uprated clutch, their sump and an ecu. They're also going to port the head and set it up with my webers on it. My reckoning is then that I'll need to get new primaries and collector for the exhaust. I also think I need new hoses, a water rail, an engine breather kit and engine mounts off raceline. Am i missing anything? The scholar engine will be a reconditioned series 1 as opposed to a series 2 (presume thats a silver top as opposed to a black top). Alan at Scholar reckons these are "better" but didnt go into the details why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 I think I am correct in saying that the SILVERTOP has hydraulic lifters as opposed to solid lifters on the BLACKTOP, most will advise you to stay away from the SILVERTOP for that reason alone Guy SB Lowe o *arrowup*o The new de Dion tube is now fitted here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 The big one you are missing is the ECU - but it would give you the chance to go Emerald or MBE so you are 'injection' ready. Guy, the Silvertop is hydraulic. I'm not sure anyone advises against it, unless you want to go BIG power later on then their isn't a lot of difference - and I think we are talking 220+bhp. The Silvertop is easy to get to 200bhp, and not that hard to get to 220'ish, but it would need larger valves fitting - something that the blacktop has already (although I don't know enough to say that they would be big enough as standard also). I'd say for a LA car either type would be fine, it just depends on cost really. Phil Waters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesZ Posted October 26, 2007 Author Share Posted October 26, 2007 Phil, it comes with the ECU so think I'm covered. Also think it'll be a while before I need more than 220ish (famous last words). Thanks for your help. James. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 So it does - must learn to read properly Good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.... Phil Waters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMorris Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 James, would now be a good time to make contact about the remains of your x-flow ? YHM Dave X-flow(er) power now resting. Trying Vx for a change. Edited by - DaveMorris on 27 Oct 2007 10:32:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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