Easiest engine swap?

Alvin · Post by **Alvin** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:07 pm

JFBrink wrote:I agree totally with Alvin that we would all benefit from more people doing the Zetec swap and documenting the process for the rest of us, as I am endeavoring to do for the Miata swap.

Totally! Sid/Mark see if you can get the PO that actually did the swap to post pics share info.

There are a bunch of forced-induction kits for the Zetec, Jackson Racing is probably the most famous.

datsun1500 · Post by **datsun1500** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:21 pm

The cooling rail takes the water from what is now the back of the formerly transverse Zetec engine and brings it to the front, where the radiator is. In the photos of Stickerman's car, this achieved by some radiator hose and some copper pipe. This works fine, but... well, like a rebuilt transmission, I don't see the point in skimping.

That has been replace by the factory Focus part, purchased at the Ford store for $16, it also allows the heater hoses to be connected.

I agree totally with Alvin that we would all benefit from more people doing the Zetec swap and documenting the process for the rest of us, as I am endeavoring to do for the Miata swap.

The Zetec swap has been bashed too much to really care if anyone else does it. I could bolt on a Mazda valve cover from a Tribute to pacify some people.....

We should be debating about how to supercharge these engines, not how to get them into the cars!

With the Zetec, just bolt it on. There are plenty of turbo/supercharger kits for the motor, and there is plenty of room under the hood. I don't think it needs to be any faster as it sits.

To answer the main post, which is the easiest motor swap, is easy. None. All swaps require time, and $$$. There are a bunch of abandoned motor swap cars out there because people ran out of time or $$$.

Surely there must be more than one example of roadster with this drivetrain running around!

And there are a bunch of miata swapped ones on the road? The zetec car has been on the road for 5 years with no problems. In all reality the support for the Zetec in a RWD configuration is overwhelming, it is the most popular lotus 7 kit drivetrain, there are thousands of cars set up like this, the only difference here is the body it is dropped into.

Alvin · Post by **Alvin** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:41 pm

Welcome back Mark!!!

Swap hate is sooooo 4years ago. Get over it.

People are interested in the Zetec. Just give them the info they ask for and move on!

My comment about having more than one Zetec running in a roadster was really about documentation. It's one thing to buy a car that is already swapped and talk about it. Totally different ballgame to actually research, oversee, design and implement a swap from start to finish!! I thought maybe someone else had done a Zetec with full picto-restoration.

datsun1500 · Post by **datsun1500** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:59 pm

Swap hate is sooooo 4years ago. Get over it.

Swaps don't bother me obviously, I own a swapped car. To me it looks like nothing has changed though, a motor swap question was asked, the zetec swap was brought up and bashed.

My comment about having more than one Zetec running in a roadster was really about documentation.

The documentation is there as far as the drivetrain goes. The only difference is the body shell. You can build this on the stand and drop it in without cutting anything. I can lift the drivetrain out of mine, and snap a photo of it out, then a photo of it in, if that helps

You will need to get 2 plates made, the go from the stock motor mounts to the stock Zetec block. I have offered to take mine out and get good photos and exact measurements for a few people after they have purchased the motor and tranny (JFBrink being one) and no one has done that yet. I am not taking my car apart on a maybe, nor am I here to hold your hand through a swap. If you need a step by step manual and are not willing to do some research, a swap is not for you. Where is the photo step by step of the KA24 or SR20 swap?

It's one thing to buy a car that is already swapped and talk about it.

This does not mean I don't know every inch of the car, some of the stuff I went back over, like the water tube. You also assume that I only have 1 Zetec swapped car.

Totally different ballgame to actually research, oversee, design and implement a swap from start to finish!! I thought maybe someone else had done a Zetec with full picto-restoration.

And you researched and designed yours? Please.

The Zetec swap is one that requires no cutting, and can be done for well under $2K with ease. It got bashed for being a Ford, (from a few people that have abandoned SR20 cars, go figure) so be it. Parts are available anywhere, and it is as reliable as a new car. It kept me from buying a Miata or Z4 or Boxster and for that I am happy. You don't have to like it, I did not buy it for you

Alvin · Post by **Alvin** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:53 pm

Yikes!
I did alot for my swap, except weld. But that was years ago. Let's talk Zetec. People want to know about it. Spare us the "bashing" stuff from years ago and all of the benefits of the swap as that has been posted before.
Help the brothers out!

ps there are about 4 threads with exhaustive pics for SR20 and KA24 swaps and Spriso has a thorough How-to...just use the search function you newbie

Post by **spl310** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:16 pm

Alvin wrote: Let's talk Zetec. People want to know about it.

You know, this thread got hijacked a long time ago. The poster that asked about the easiest swap has not chimed back in, and the only ones discussing the swap are JFBrink and myself. He is not interested in the swap as he has stated that it is only possible in theory. Rather than go over all that old turf, lets look at the issue. Jimboz (who probably got bored with this drivel and left...) needs a modern car to appease mom and dad, but digs his Roadster. The perfect solution is at hand...

On sale now in Japan! http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... %26hl%3Den

drewnamis · Post by **drewnamis** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:20 pm

it's too bad it makes the front overhang so big... otherwise it would look sharp. and 9k for the kit? ouch.

Alvin · Post by **Alvin** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:35 pm

spl310 wrote:
Alvin wrote: Let's talk Zetec. People want to know about it.
You know, this thread got hijacked a long time ago. The poster that asked about the easiest swap has not chimed back in, and the only ones discussing the swap are JFBrink and myself. He is not interested in the swap as he has stated that it is only possible in theory. Rather than go over all that old turf, lets look at the issue.

Understood, my apologies to the OP, I just got excited to see Mark back.
There are no "easy" swaps like Mark says...check out the engine swap section and decide!

JFBrink · Post by **JFBrink** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:46 am

I second Alvin's pleasure. It's great to see Mark again.

And, just to be clear, I *love* the Zetec swap. I think it's great, and very nearly set out to do it myself. I'm really sorry if anyone thought I was bashing it or in any way dismissing it.

I was simply arguing my opinion that, given my research of the Zetec and the Miata, I felt that the Miata swap is easier.

And I may be full of crap, considering that I spent 2 hours tonight wrestling my Miata transmission past the tranny tunnel brace....!

Of course, as Mark notes, no swap can really be described as easy.

Jesse.

Post by **ppeters914** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:25 pm

JFBrink wrote:I second Alvin's pleasure. It's great to see Mark again.

I third that. Now we have a quorum.

JFBrink wrote:Of course, as Mark notes, no swap can really be described as easy.

That's key. I'm wondering if the parents set their criteria so that young Master Jim would -NOT- be driving a roadster to college.

melr · Post by **melr** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:13 pm

one h20 (2.0 engine) block, one head from a 1600 one set of electronic points a set of su carbs that been modified to receive fresh air from tub linked to the front of the engine grill and let her rip.