sack the zetec idea- found an easier to fit engine

[kee]

anybody know of any conversions?

my engine has been runnig curse word, so have been thinking about a conversion to a modern zetec, to make my life easier over winter.
many reasons for keeping it a 1.25, firstly insurance is already over £1k but the fez's with them in are pretty nippy as is, but speed isnt an issue, time is, I only have 3 days holiday left so at best it would need to be done in 5 days.

any info would be great
cheers
Kee

[reanimation]

engine swap in 5 days!!!! Cant see insurance being too impressed! whats up with the 1-3? been serviced and stuff? you could always put a 1.6 another xflow in if yours is that bad!

HTH

[gn3dr]

As far as I know the bell housing pattern is the same as the 4 speed Fiesta Box so you'd only need to make up the engine mounting on the right hand side of the car. If you want to use the 5 speed box I think you have to modify your chassis leg.

Would be a nice little conversion I'd say - then upgrade it to 1.4 -> 1.6 later on with a Puma engine.

[BenzBoy]

I agree, it'd make a nice transplant. But I wouldn't bank on getting it done in 5 days. Apart from the fabbing of the mounts, you've got the exhaust to think about, a bunch of wiring, little gremlins to sort...

I'm sure there will be people on here that have done an engine swap in their lunch break, but I'd want a couple of weeks to tinker and get things running right, or wait for parts coming should I need them.

Not saying don't do it, cos it'd be ace!

[sparko]

reanimation said:

engine swap in 5 days!!!!
HTH

Bah i drove up to yorkshire from essex, swapped my engine up there and drove down to trax the same day! was a 1200 for a 1200 though..

[xbo11ox]

I bet its not the standard ford Bellhousing pattern, plus you would have loads + loads of wiring headaches to solve. Cant see it happening in 5 days!!! Why not just fix your existing engine, is it b0rked? A 1.3 Mk1 fiesta ought to be decently nippy, my dads had 950 and 1100 ones and even they keep up with the traffic OK.

Failing that, if you are in a hurry you could always build a spaceframe rwd chassis for it with an ex-Ford RS200 turbo BDA engine in the rear plus custom full-time 4wd system, if its for winter use it might be wise to bosh in a complete climate control system and heated seats/mirrors/washer jets from a Scorpio while you're on.

[penski]

Bollo's right - different bellhousing pattern.

*n

[tommymanta]

this may or may not be useful
this bloke goes overboard and builds an immense mk1. maybe you could get some pointers from it though.

www.zetecinside.com/xr2/stepbystep.htm#step1

[BenzBoy]

Them 1.25's are Yamaha engines aren't they? Would be a cool swap, but I'd want to do it properly and take some time over it.

[kee]

yeah i think they are yamaha, i thinkim ust having an earlywiter + retro ford crisis,

exhaust woudnt be a problem, i work fr a performance exhust company and we ake hem for this engine, not a problem, wiring would be i know. as i say i only floating aound the idea for now probably would never happen, but i still want more avice ;D
cheers for the advice so far

[CR500Dom]

You would need to do Engine and gearbox swap as the bellhousing pattern is totally different.

Also Hydraulic clutch too so may need to mod the pedal box

Chances are the driveshafts wont line up either or if they do the splines on the hubs will be different.....

Then you will need the complete loom, ECU, Keys and possibly clocks as well unless you are going Standalone ecu ? which also may cause problems with the alternator if its a CAN Bus system....

As you can see, being able to make an exhaust is going to be the least of your worries ;D

Will make a nice conversion if you can do it though, lovely lightweight engine ;D

[kee]

cheers

looks like chucking an xr2 lump may be better for now ;D

or stop being soft and put up with my 1300, then wait and do it properly with a 1.7 zetec, which plans have been laid out for, in my head ;D

[rustyoldcapri89]

Well to be honest, you are wise to ask about any type of conversions. If I was you, if the engine is that much of a problem, then change it, if you have the know-how, skills and the work-shop facilities for a larger or more "efficient" one. If all you've got is a handful of knowledge and a box of assorted sized spanners then the fit another cross-flow route would be the best. As fitting an engine which is basically the same as the current one is a whole lot easier and cheaper than fitting a newer engine not designed for the car in question.
Also, have you even thought about insurance? And tha fact you are thinking about changing engines just before winter, seems like you are just asking for trouble.
Another point is, if you manage to get another 1.3 cross-flow in better condiition than yours then you can change an engine within two days easily, and you still have time to get recked with your mates in celebration. Preforming an engine conversion would take an experienced person a few weeks to get it working properly.
My best guess is, to either put up with it, or do a simple idea, and plan for something bigger later (maybe after your insurance gets cheaper)
Well hope this may help, as its just my random thoughts

[samyboy]

down the 1/4 mile ive yet to see a 1.25 setec go quicker than my old banger

i reccon a 1.25 mated to a 4speed box in a mk1 would go like stink though

still id stick with the 1300, nowt beats a x'flow

[reanimation]

Yeah just get Ron Harris to have a poke about with it!

[samyboy]

sadly Ron has retired from engine building and now racing too but his son Jeff would have a tweak about for you

[suffolkpaul]

when we had a fiesta 1.25 we were surprised by the insruance group! it was a group 11 or something silly.

would a 1.3 from a KA be suitable? its the old block from the anglia isnt it with a modern(ish) head on it. i assume it woudl bolt straight in given the blocks heritage? would be cheap less troublesome than the 1.25 i expect.
just a thought

[BiAS]

Find yourself the dizzy, coil and module from a Mk4 1.3 Escort = cheap electronic ignition conversion = no more points and condensor = no more odd running (FTMFW)

[mk14dr]

yeah kee, whats actually wrong with it? I'm sure i could have a look at it for ya, and if you can bring it here one sunday ive got a very nice mobile mechanic mate that could have a poke around with it too

[Pillock]

Insurance would go up by miles... you're already paying out £1k+, and you're putting in a engine from a group 10 car, then you've got the fact it's a modification which hikes it up further even if they'll touch you.

I reckon for the cost of a 1.25 lump and box, you can buy the bits to make your 1.3 a) work properly and b) go faster than it did before. The Zetec-S is a nice motor, revvy and light, but it's probably not nice enough to go to all that effort when you might as well get your 1.3 working well. Then if you're still up for an engine swap when you've got the time to do it properly, bosh a Puma 1.7 in it. Or I've got a 1.8 Zetec you can have for £notmuch