Daft Questions from a Newbie.

[Enoch]

Thanks, Andy for the welcome and such a quick response. Common sense tells me to go the single donor route as far as I can but I have heard that the Zetec engine is much better. I have no experience of it but I do remember the Pinto being a bit weighty and designed in the late 17th century.
It made the 2b shift though, it had twin 45's and a fast race cam, very nippy.
Can anyone tell me which engines had which gearbox fitted? I have read here that the standard design needs tobe changed a lot if an MT75 is used but I am unsure as to which Sierras used the type 9.
Best,
Enoch

[Enoch]

Thanks Sean, I prefer the IRS route, which is why I think the roadster is the one for me. I am very disappointed that 250 quid won't do it
I remember the spiralling costs on the 2b!! As long as Mrs thinks it's cheap I will get away with it
Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

[londonsean69]

Originally Posted by Enoch

Thanks, Andy for the welcome and such a quick response. Common sense tells me to go the single donor route as far as I can but I have heard that the Zetec engine is much better. I have no experience of it but I do remember the Pinto being a bit weighty and designed in the late 17th century.
It made the 2b shift though, it had twin 45's and a fast race cam, very nippy.
Can anyone tell me which engines had which gearbox fitted? I have read here that the standard design needs tobe changed a lot if an MT75 is used but I am unsure as to which Sierras used the type 9.
Best,
Enoch

I think, basically, the early Sierras had the Type 9.

It all depends on power output as well. The Zetec is a lot more modern technology, and has higher power as standard, with the option of an easy tune for 170+ (Bike throttle bodies and decent ECU)

I have done my chassis including the mods for the MT75, and they are not difficult, in fact, they are just slight changes from the book spec. No idea if they work, because I haven't fitted my box yet, and I don't have an engine yet either.

Forgot to add, you can get a brand spanking new Zetec 2.0, with ECU, loom, injectors etc for £700 from Robin Hood.

[Enoch]

Like the photos, Sean, looks like you know what you are doing. What is the lathe work required for? Looks like there is a fair bit more than I expected. Good job I've got a lathe and milling machine How long ago did you start your build?

[londonsean69]

Originally Posted by Enoch

Like the photos, Sean, looks like you know what you are doing. What is the lathe work required for? Looks like there is a fair bit more than I expected. Good job I've got a lathe and milling machine How long ago did you start your build?

I only roughly know what I am doing.
I did a lot of work on bikes for years (old man had a hire fleet and breakers) but I was only about 10 or 11

Everything else is self taught, welding, lathe work etc.

What is the lathework, let me see

• Suspension bush tubes (couldn't find the right wall thickness, so bored out some thicker stuff)
• Wishbone adjusters (ended up buying them, I couldn't turn the M18 tap, let alone the M20)
• Mushroom inserts for Sierra uprights (photos not uploaded yet)
• Boring out tubes for pedal pivots
• Nylon bushes for above
• Some (not me) have turned their suspension bushes from HDPE or Delrin

The little lathe in the pictures met an untimely end, I now have a Myford ML7 (much better, all gears and belts, no silly electronics)

With a lathe and a mill you will be able to fabricate a lot of stuff youself, although I don't really think I have had call for a mill until today (brake caliper brackets - not necessary in the book spec)
I have the attachments to use the myford for milling, so will give that a bash soon

If you have a flypress/brake press you are laughing, because otherwise the suspension brackets need to made by brute force (hammer) or bought in

[Enoch]

Thanks again folks, the book is on order, should get it soon. The new Zetec sounds like a serious bargain at that sort of money. Anybody know how much a kidney sells for these days Mrs has 2 and I'm fairly sure she only needs 1

[HandyAndy]

if you use the new zetec engine for your build , you will need a "cat" for the emissions test at IVA time, thats why i,m using the donor engine to start with

andy

[londonsean69]

Originally Posted by HandyAndy

if you use the new zetec engine for your build , you will need a "cat" for the emissions test at IVA time, thats why i,m using the donor engine to start with

andy

Again, a very good point.

TBH, if I had a donor I would just use the lump from that, then change at a later date.

I think an engine needs to be pre '95 to get relaxed rules on emissions at IVA time.

[deezee]

Originally Posted by londonsean69

option of an easy tune for 170+ (Bike throttle bodies and decent ECU)

Its not that easy! First off you'll need a custom manifold for around £150 from boggs. Then the throttle bodies (£120 for R1 throttle bodies on ebay) and an aftermarket ECU, say a Megasquirt for Edis4 for around £350 from extraefi. Even getting tuned on a rolling road you'll be happy with 160bhp. People throw around big bhp figures with bolt on mods, but its just not going to happen.

[londonsean69]

Originally Posted by deezee

Its not that easy! First off you'll need a custom manifold for around £150 from boggs. Then the throttle bodies (£120 for R1 throttle bodies on ebay) and an aftermarket ECU, say a Megasquirt for Edis4 for around £350 from extraefi. Even getting tuned on a rolling road you'll be happy with 160bhp. People throw around big bhp figures with bolt on mods, but its just not going to happen.

I never mentioned prices Almost anything is easy with the right money thrown at it.

Originally Posted by HandyAndy

a Roadster that i see very often has a 2ltr zetec on bike carbs & megajolt & is one rapid car , approx 170bhp.

Sounds pretty cheap to me, although the use of carbs would need to be looked at in terms of emissions. Megajolt is about £150-200 I believe (not too sure as I am going FI route, probably with an Emerald ECU @ around £650 for reasons to be revealed soon enough)

Also, GSXR is the preferred manifold, as they can be re-spaced to fit an ST170 manifold, complete with ST170 fuel rail, injectors etc.
I have heard that ZX12 throttle bodies match almost perfectly, although at 48mm they are a tad big.

Don't forget that when fitting one of these lumps to a kit car, the standard, restrictive exhaust system will hit the bin, as will the airbox.

By all accounts, (although I have not done it personally) a std. 2.0 Zetec (130bhp) will achieve 160-170bhp with throttle bodies when fitted to a kit car.
Obviously this would include a decent exhaust system, free flowing intake and user programmable ECU, a little bit of DIY porting, just to match the intake and exhaust manifolds. Nothing really beyond the realms of practicality for a kit car builder

A standard car has to meet certain emissions/fuel economy targets. A car that is only driven in a 'spirited' fashion, might not put fuel economy at the top of the list.

This is the route I am going, although I am starting with a slightly more powerful lump to start with, for a degree of future proofing (I have further mods planned).