Zetec engine position in engine bay

[Josh]

Hello, I've spent the last 2 days taking my engine out the mondeo and sat the chassis over it and the gearbox today for the first time, very proud moment!



Can anyone whose using a Zetec (mine is a 2.0 1993) and have got as far as fitting it in shed some light on how best to position it in the engine bay? I've got it bolted to my MT75 and one of the measurements I'd be interested in is the engine/gearbox flange to TR8 distance?

This photo shows what I'm after a little more clearly...



Also how high/low have people mounted the engine? e.g. distance from the bottom rails to the crank center line?

Would you recomend I get the steering rack and column all sorted out first before cutting metal for the engine mounts so I don't end up with the two fouling each other?

Do I need to cut and lengthen the steering column or the UJ at the bottom? And where can I buy the UJ?

I've got a Granada steering column lying around which I'm hoping to use, will it work? Will I need to make any mods to the support bracketry?

Finally, the book suggests using 5mm plate for the engine mounts, I feel this is a little excesive. Would 3mm plate do the job or shoould I try and find some 5mm?

Sorry for all the questions!!
Cheers
Josh

[Neil P]

I found my gearbox position dictated to a great degree by the gearlever and donut positions.

I would suggest you lift your chassis to a normal ride height then slot the gearbox in as it should be when fitted. You'll then find that there isn't a huge amount of room for manoeuvre. Lift your engine 'til it all sits level and you're about there.

If you try putting it too far back you'll find the gearlever may be too close to you for comfort, depending on your normal driving position.

I put mine as far back as I could get it but I modified the top rail to go up and over.

I'll go and run a tape over it and post the measurement up.

Neil

[Neil P]

Presuming TR8 is the rail in your second picture (I don't have the book handy) my gearbox mating face sits approx 15mm forward of it. I'm not using a zetec but I think it will be the gearbox rather than engine that will limit the position.

I don't know whether you'll have room to put it that far back but your gearbox does need to drop from where it is now so that will make more space.

Getting everything down into the trans tunnel is a right laugh, too.

As for steering column, I have no knowledge of the Granada one at all but I would do the column first then engine mounts to suit. Trying to Make your steering column go round anything else will be an issue for you.

Neil

[Neil P]

Here's what I did with mine to avoid the water outlet on the back of the head.

Shows a rough position for you. Larger version in my photo's.



Neil

[alga]

The Type9 bellhousing hangs about 155 mm below the crank axis. The book suggests resting the engine+box on the floor, then raising the chassis 25 mm on scraps of tube. So the design height of the engine is crank 130 mm above the bottom.

I cut out half the width of TR8 in order to fit the thermostat housing. Another option was to move the transmission tunnel top tube, but then there's still a problem with the reverse switch plug. Moving the engine back to about 8 cm from TR8 to the bell housing flange solves both problems. I'll weld another tube to the back of the cut section of TR8.