A definitive answer for pre 95 zetecs and IVA
 

Right. I'm starting to look for a engine. I don't really want to put in a pinto or CVH and then have to change after IVA. I've done searches and get so many conflicting views about this I've posted a new thread.

I am under the impression that if I install a pre Aug 95 zetec then it will be tested on no cat emmisions and will not need a cat. Is that right? How many people have done this if any at all? I appreciate it's a very grey area but need to know before I waste money that would be better spent elsewhere.

Ideally I'd like to pick up an early escort 1.8L SI zetec as some of them were 130 horse.

finding a good reasonable price of correct age is harder than i expected as most stuff for sale is of questionable quality,age,milage and be able to know for sure its pre aug 95

plus the cost of new "crate" motors are very low 2.0l new black tops for £625 and 1.8 for £450 that includes coils manifolds inlet injectors blagh blagh blagh if you do your home work
when i look at the cost of a rebuild and value of finished cars unless you can bag a real cheap low milage good motor/car its almost easyer ot fit a cat.
you could either use a std ecu from a scrappy or use somthing like megasquirt.

people seem to be afraid of eletronic engine control for some reason but you dont have to know how every bit of it works
plus if you look at it you can ajust fueling and ign to suit your build
im at the point where im thinking of just bunging in any old motor in then swaping it or going new with a cat.

cvh is the closest to for minimal work on engine swap and if you move back the rail behind the head would go that would help

look on the burton power website this has a chart to check engine codes to get its year of manufacture
as long as you can proove its made before aug 1995 then its an basic exaust gas check that should be easy to pass as long as thing ar set up right and the engine is not burning loads of oil
after this its a basic cat test that should not be too hard to be able to do say with a std ecu wired up as it was on a orignal car
note: be aware some/most ecus are tied into security systems so you will need things like key chips and pickups or have the ecu reprogramed to remove the imobliser (somthing i need to look into to see if it can be done diy)

I built mine with a Feb 94 Escort 1.8 and it didn't need a cat at SVA... not sure if it still applies but think it is.

I sent the engine number off to Ford Technical Centre and got a letter back next day giving the date of manufacture.

I now have a 2003 blacktop in and it doesn't need/have a cat for emmisions.

More to add via PM...

Steve

Sounds like getting a dodgy, but provably old Zetec for IVA, then swapping it for a crate engine or an ST170 is a good plan.

It's not a grey area at all! It's all in the IVA manual. If you can proove the engine is pre 1995 manufacture then it does NOT require a cat for the IVA and will NOT need one for the mot either.
HTH BV

Following the flow chart in the IVA manual points to a pre 95 zetec being ok. Would it be a problem if Ford gives me a dating letter which also states that the original vehicle had a cat?

Just trying to cover all my bases.

Gaz,
whether the donor had a cat, is not relevant as the search in the vehicle data base has to find an exact vehicle match. Haynes roadster isn't in the vehicle database as no emissions data has ever been filed for it and won't be unless it becomes a low volume product from a single manufacturer.
So as long as you can prove the engine was manufactured before 1995 that's all that counts.

HTH BV.

Cheers vern. I notice that "Vehicle Effective date" for amateur builds is taken as 1st January preceding the manufacture date of the engine so theoreticaly any engine up to Dec 31 1995 will be ok.;)

just got myself a zetec by the looks of it

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Lucky sod. My day off today and the plan was to tour all the scrappies to try to find a motor but there's white crap all over the roads.:mad:

Not all bad luck though. Mate of mine who's into rallying and has a lot of contacts has just dropped me off two brand new pairs of axle stands. Hilka 6 ton and 24 inches high. £48. Result.;)

Edit; Just looked at the link. That's a bargain.