*non retro!* Ford focus mk1 petrol engine swap...

[Lankytim]

My mate is selling his T reg 1.8 focus hatch off cheaply because the cam belt went, trashing the engine. I'm half interested in it as a means of getting a modern daily to take the strain without spending thousands of pounds.

Has anybody got any experience of removing and installing engines on these? Is it straightforward or a pain in the a$$?

The mk1 focus is no longer built... does that make it technically retro?? JK!

[sammm]

Why not stuff it full of retro?


The kit promises bolt-in simplicity


Could fall down on your "without spending thousands of pounds" requirement ;D

[kee]

someone did it out on the road from a couple of doors down, was a mobile mechanic of sorts that did it, said it was a right pain in the , took him and someone else a couple of days to do.

[scaryoldcortina]

buy a belt and a head gasket.... swap the trashed head for a mondeo one from a scrapyard. Job done. Much quicker and cheaper than changing the engine on these, it really is a whole front to bits pita.

[Lankytim]

So are all zetec heads the same? Is a head swap on these straightforward? My Audi 100 head swap is dead easy, but ive still managed to screw it up!

[scaryoldcortina]

as long as you are keeping the same capacity (IE don't put a 1.8 head on a 1.6 block) zetec heads are interchangable. There is a change from hydraulic to solid lifters around 1999, but other than that, same head. Rescued one or two focii (focuses? what is the plural?) for customers by using mondeo parts.

[Lankytim]

Cheers for the info, ill have a hunt about and see how much it would all cost in total.

Any ideas on how much it would cost to have the head fitted at a backstreet garage if all the bits needed were supplied?

[scaryoldcortina]

autodata says 5.20 hours for remove/install cylinder head on a 1999 fcus 1.8, so expect a labour charge between £150 and £200. Parts on top, obv...

[Lankytim]

Thats not too bad... Ill mention it to my pal as he doesnt want to get rid of the car but the expected £700 bill for a new engine put him off. A head for £50, £100 on sundries and £200 for fitting isnt disasterous. If hes not interested in the idea I may just poach the focus off him. Its a T reg in red 140k but in great condition and hes after £300 ish for it, not a huge amount really. Shows how long in the tooth these "new escorts" are getting!

[tomw]

scaryoldcortina said:

focuses? what is the plural?

'foci'

my english-teaching-focus-driving mother to blame for that one

[scaryoldcortina]

Nov 11, 2008 18:08:37 GMT tomw said:

scaryoldcortina said:

focuses? what is the plural?

'foci'

my english-teaching-focus-driving mother to blame for that one

now that would be right in latin (or in optics) but my englis teaching mother (who drives a polo) says that as a proper noun, the plural should be focuses.

[tomw]

i'll have words then!

[keithyboy]

Nov 11, 2008 17:53:50 GMT Lankytim said:

Thats not too bad... Ill mention it to my pal as he doesnt want to get rid of the car but the expected £700 bill for a new engine put him off. A head for £50, £100 on sundries and £200 for fitting isnt disasterous. If hes not interested in the idea I may just poach the focus off him. Its a T reg in red 140k but in great condition and hes after £300 ish for it, not a huge amount really. Shows how long in the tooth these "new escorts" are getting!

If he's selling for £300 notes there's a potential profit for someone. Even early Focuses fetch good money. They are cracking cars too if moderns are your thing. Much better bet than a Mondeo of the same age and a nicer car than a Golf of that vintage.