Wynand
13th November 2010, 03:13 PM
Im getting depressed when I see prices you guys in Britain pay for parts.
A secondhand set of bike TB's here cost the equivalent of about 450 pounds Sierra diff about 340 pounds and a Zetec 2.0 engine about 720 pounds - all secondhand prices from the scrappy.....:mad:
And since it is "mechanically" very expensive to mod an engine in SA, I have a few questions about the cheapest way to get a Zetec to produce decent HP. My engine is a Mk 3 blacktop - 2.0 liter.
Here follows my options.
1. Throttle Bodies: Throttle bodies are expensive here, and it would rather pay me to buy a complete silvertop Toyota 4AGE 20V, take off the TB and throw the engine away rather than getting bike (read expensive) TB's. Off the shelf TB's kit for a Zetec here just below a 1000 pounds!
From reading old posts, this seems the way to go to get ponies fast. But due to cost and complicity (ECU etc), this would be a last resort for me.
2. Carburetors: Since I have a pair of double choke Weber side draughts, perhaps stick to these and as a bonus, only need a simple and cheaper ignition unit. Problem with these fitted is that I may need to cut a hole in the bonnet to accommodate the carbs and this I don't like at all.
3. Stock TB: This idea appeals to me - To fabricate a decent shaped and calculated plenum and runners from ally (Im a boilermaker) and fit the standard Zetec TB and leave the injectors as is on the engine. Have a cool air intake fitted to TB.
Simple and clean and at least have a single cone air cleaner fitted to keep dust out of engine instead of that smart looking open trumpets on TB's. We have serious dust storms in my region from time to time.
With the above it goes without saying that the exhaust manifold will be a well designed tubular branch and the flywheel will be lighten considerably.
The questions now are: what is the best setup for those that been there done that and why?
What hp can one expect with each the three options?
Any other advice on this?
Finally, my reference to the Toyota 4AGE 20V - can have a blacktop for much less bucks than the Zetec, but running with a type 9 box, 3.7:1 diff and the AGE only making max hp at 7900rpm = 120kph in second!! Max torque at about 5400rpm. Would not be a nice car in traffic/town but brilliant on track.
With same rims, tires, ratio's etc the Zetec will pull 100kph at 6100rmp - right on max HP and max torque (lots of it) is at about 4000 rpm and this would be a nice car with lots of oomph in any gear.
In short, its all about torque;)
But strangely, the 4AGE is the engine of choice in South Africa for a seven.:confused:
A secondhand set of bike TB's here cost the equivalent of about 450 pounds Sierra diff about 340 pounds and a Zetec 2.0 engine about 720 pounds - all secondhand prices from the scrappy.....:mad:
And since it is "mechanically" very expensive to mod an engine in SA, I have a few questions about the cheapest way to get a Zetec to produce decent HP. My engine is a Mk 3 blacktop - 2.0 liter.
Here follows my options.
1. Throttle Bodies: Throttle bodies are expensive here, and it would rather pay me to buy a complete silvertop Toyota 4AGE 20V, take off the TB and throw the engine away rather than getting bike (read expensive) TB's. Off the shelf TB's kit for a Zetec here just below a 1000 pounds!
From reading old posts, this seems the way to go to get ponies fast. But due to cost and complicity (ECU etc), this would be a last resort for me.
2. Carburetors: Since I have a pair of double choke Weber side draughts, perhaps stick to these and as a bonus, only need a simple and cheaper ignition unit. Problem with these fitted is that I may need to cut a hole in the bonnet to accommodate the carbs and this I don't like at all.
3. Stock TB: This idea appeals to me - To fabricate a decent shaped and calculated plenum and runners from ally (Im a boilermaker) and fit the standard Zetec TB and leave the injectors as is on the engine. Have a cool air intake fitted to TB.
Simple and clean and at least have a single cone air cleaner fitted to keep dust out of engine instead of that smart looking open trumpets on TB's. We have serious dust storms in my region from time to time.
With the above it goes without saying that the exhaust manifold will be a well designed tubular branch and the flywheel will be lighten considerably.
The questions now are: what is the best setup for those that been there done that and why?
What hp can one expect with each the three options?
Any other advice on this?
Finally, my reference to the Toyota 4AGE 20V - can have a blacktop for much less bucks than the Zetec, but running with a type 9 box, 3.7:1 diff and the AGE only making max hp at 7900rpm = 120kph in second!! Max torque at about 5400rpm. Would not be a nice car in traffic/town but brilliant on track.
With same rims, tires, ratio's etc the Zetec will pull 100kph at 6100rmp - right on max HP and max torque (lots of it) is at about 4000 rpm and this would be a nice car with lots of oomph in any gear.
In short, its all about torque;)
But strangely, the 4AGE is the engine of choice in South Africa for a seven.:confused: