Donor for simplicity...

[UncleFista]

Originally Posted by paul the 6th

I've wondered about the zetecs myself - what's the deal with getting a zetec to fit, say, a type 9 gear box from the earlier sierra's? I'm assuming all the modern zetecs generally use the mt75 box? so would it just be a case of adapter plates and bellhousings etc?

If an engine will bolt to one Ford gearbox (unless it's a Yamaha engine a la 1.25 Zetec, and the newer Duratecs) it'll bolt to any

The Zetec just bolts straight up to either an MT75 or a Type9.

Just to note, 'boxs from V6 Ford have a longer input shaft and need a spacer plate to use 'em with a 4 cylinder, although they are stronger than 4 pot ones.

[paul the 6th]

Originally Posted by UncleFista

The Zetec just bolts straight up to either an MT75 or a Type9.

you've got to be winding me up! seriously? just bolts straight on without any adapters or adjustments to be made?

this could well change things for me if it's as 'easy' as that everyone's been harking on about how cheap & plentiful & common the zetecs are. Are they any more difficult to get through sva (like the older old engines which only needed a visible smoke test, as opposed to the new ones measured on emissions?) If they're just as easy to fit and pass on sva, I might well be changing my mind yet again!

[scotty g]

The Zetecs you would be looking for are reffered to as the Zetec E. these were found in the Mk5/6 escorts in 1.6 and 1.8 forms also in the sportier fiestas too. the Mondeos had the 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec E engines.
If you want a handy guide to all the different ford engines phone Burton Power and get them to send you a free catalogue, it has a very detailed write-up at the front explaining the differences.
I am using a 1.8 litre zetec from a 93 Mondeo, I have kept the flywheel, put on a new standard clutch and using a ford spigot bearing and thrust bearing it is now bolted directly to a type9 gearbox from a CVH powered sierra.
You can bolt a Zetec E to either a type9 or a MT75 gearbox as the bolt pattern is exactly the same but most people tend to go for the type9 as its narrower and some say lighter but not as strong.
Oh yes and i'm in Kent, Folkestone to be precise, you may want to consider joining the Kent Kit car club, over 100 members driving and building just about every concievable type of car and a friendly bunch too.
Cheers.

[shadowcaster]

Sorry to butt in, have you got to cut the sump a la Pinto on a Zetec in order to gain ground clearence.

[scotty g]

It does help but its not quite as simple as with a pinto because the zetec uses a cast ally sump that difficult to weld, i know a fairly local chap thats a wiz at it and pretty cheap too, i cut it down myself and just got him to do the hot bits.
Another option is to use a Sierra CVH sump as the bolt patterns line up.
cheers.

[paul the 6th]

so as it stands, I'm going to build using a cvh engine, gearbox and all the other major bits, then find a zetec after sva and swap over nice one - will give burton power a call when I'm back in the uk = thanks for the tip!

[UncleFista]

Originally Posted by paul the 6th

so as it stands, I'm going to build using a cvh engine, gearbox and all the other major bits, then find a zetec after sva and swap over nice one - will give burton power a call when I'm back in the uk = thanks for the tip!

Paul, that's exactly what I'd do (and more or less did). Anything you can do at the moment to make your build simpler will get you on the road quicker, and you'd be suprised at how little power a car like these need to be fast and fun

Probably the best RWD Zetec resource on the 'net is http://www.zetec-cat.co.uk/ it concentrates on the later "Blacktop" engine, but most of the info is relevant. It even gives you the part numbers of any bits you need.

My car passed the SVA with an old 1.3 crossflow on a Motorcraft carb and was sooooo much fun, it also qualified the car to be tested to "visible smoke" emissions levels for the life of the vehicle.
After rebuilding and then wearing out a 1.6 we eventually bit the bullet and bought a £50 Zetec [1] and managed to shoehorn that in (the locost has an even smaller engine bay than the roadster). This means that it could be running miles out (and is, a bit rich) but it doesn't matter for the MOT

Also, if you build your perfect car first time, what are you gonna do during Winter ?

[1] Got lucky here, got a new water pump (the Escort version), starter, CVH sump, EDIS, spare head and loads of other bits and bobs thrown in.