zetec vct problems

[unkmstq]

well guys turns out one of my rods or piston broke in my car so im gonna go buy a motor from the junkyard but im tryin to decide on a ford contour zetec motor or a focus motor any opinions????

[james99]

pretty much the same, except the contour will have vct. you might have problems getting the focus engine running good with vct still stored in your computer.

[cbman]

It won't be easy using a focus engine.
The exhaust pipe is different, the clutch splines are different, the computer program is different, and everything might not even fit.

It wouldn't make sense trying to use a focus engine.

[zxtunerdotcom]

you can do the focus motor but you will have a fair amount of issues to deal with, both installation-wise and smog-wise. if i were you, i'd search for:

1st choice: 1998-2000 Contour/Cougar/Mystique Zetec with an auto trans.
why? the motor will be less beat on since the crankshaft loads from shift transitions are more dampened, and little old lady drivers probably treated their car to less abuse than a alpha type MTX owner. also, it's going to be a simple slam dunk fit w/o any real install headaches.

2nd choice: same as above except w/ a manual trans.
why? all of the 1st choice except the little old lady part.

3rd choice: 1998-2003 ZX2 w/ auto trans.
why? the altenator/power steering/ ac compressor mounting / oil pan / flywheel/flex plate timing cover / front engine mount / throttle body is different enough not to fit. you'll need all those parts from your mystique.

4th choice: 1998-2003 ZX2 w/ man trans
why? see #2

5th choice: 2000-2004 Focus zetec w/ auto trans (tuner's #1 choice)
why? much of the same parts need to be replaced like the zx2. this is a good choice for an engine buildup, but if you were going to go gung-ho on the driveline i'd recommend finding a MTX-75 tranny to go with it (cougar or contique trans is preferred for the 4.06:1 ratio vs the taller focus ratios). the focus motor does not have vct (duh) so you'll need to burn a custom SCT chip to turn off the vct capabilities inside the mystiques's pcm. i'd recommend using the mystique's manifolds to make the egr pipe and exhaust system bolt up unless you plan on upgrading the intake manifolds and exhaust as well (smog check be damned)

hope that helps,
rob

[Yofavcracka]

dude take your advice form this guy ^ thats what he does for a living.

[zxtunerdotcom]

oh - i almost forgot though... the BEST tuner motor to find is the CNG dual fuel motor in a 98 up Contour. Hard to find but worth it for the sodium filled valves - they handle high heat and raises the compression ratio 0.9:1 (the valves faces are domed).

rob

[cougarprophet]

Originally Posted by zxtunerdotcom

oh - i almost forgot though... the BEST tuner motor to find is the CNG dual fuel motor in a 98 up Contour. Hard to find but worth it for the sodium filled valves - they handle high heat and raises the compression ratio 0.9:1 (the valves faces are domed).

rob

if i were to go to a junk yard and ask if they had that motor, wat would i specificaly ask for, will they reconise "cng dual fuel motor" basically, or would i have to ask for a specific model

[unkmstq]

Originally Posted by zxtunerdotcom

you can do the focus motor but you will have a fair amount of issues to deal with, both installation-wise and smog-wise. if i were you, i'd search for:

1st choice: 1998-2000 Contour/Cougar/Mystique Zetec with an auto trans.
why? the motor will be less beat on since the crankshaft loads from shift transitions are more dampened, and little old lady drivers probably treated their car to less abuse than a alpha type MTX owner. also, it's going to be a simple slam dunk fit w/o any real install headaches.

2nd choice: same as above except w/ a manual trans.
why? all of the 1st choice except the little old lady part.

3rd choice: 1998-2003 ZX2 w/ auto trans.
why? the altenator/power steering/ ac compressor mounting / oil pan / flywheel/flex plate timing cover / front engine mount / throttle body is different enough not to fit. you'll need all those parts from your mystique.

4th choice: 1998-2003 ZX2 w/ man trans
why? see #2

5th choice: 2000-2004 Focus zetec w/ auto trans (tuner's #1 choice)
why? much of the same parts need to be replaced like the zx2. this is a good choice for an engine buildup, but if you were going to go gung-ho on the driveline i'd recommend finding a MTX-75 tranny to go with it (cougar or contique trans is preferred for the 4.06:1 ratio vs the taller focus ratios). the focus motor does not have vct (duh) so you'll need to burn a custom SCT chip to turn off the vct capabilities inside the mystiques's pcm. i'd recommend using the mystique's manifolds to make the egr pipe and exhaust system bolt up unless you plan on upgrading the intake manifolds and exhaust as well (smog check be damned)

hope that helps,
rob

i can get the focus motor from a junkyard for bout the same price as the merc motor also i have an atx car im almost considering just pulling the hole thing motor and tranny and converting to an mtx since i gotta pull the motor anyway.....so the manifolds will bolt up to the focus motor??? will i be able to get it to pass the smog check?? like ive said before arizona is really strict.....let me ask u is the focus motor in ur opinion worth the work???? There r plenty of aftermarket parts out there to build up the motor right?? exhaust manifold not a big deal anyway...im gonna be workin out a custom turbo system so i have to redo the exhaust system anyway.....thanks for the help hope to get answers from u soon

[zxtunerdotcom]

Originally Posted by unkmstq

i can get the focus motor from a junkyard for bout the same price as the merc motor also i have an atx car im almost considering just pulling the hole thing motor and tranny and converting to an mtx since i gotta pull the motor anyway.....so the manifolds will bolt up to the focus motor??? will i be able to get it to pass the smog check?? like ive said before arizona is really strict.....let me ask u is the focus motor in ur opinion worth the work???? There r plenty of aftermarket parts out there to build up the motor right?? exhaust manifold not a big deal anyway...im gonna be workin out a custom turbo system so i have to redo the exhaust system anyway.....thanks for the help hope to get answers from u soon

here's the rub when installing different / late model motors in earlier model cars... the emissions standards the car has to pass the year of the motor, meaning if you find a 2002 focus motor it needs to pass the 2002 emissions standards. in other words, you'll need the wiring harness, pcm, egr valve, etc from the focus to make it legal.

most of the buildup parts for the focus motor will work for the vct motor as well, except some of the head related stuff will be more limited (cams for example - i have them but the cheaper guys do not).

custom turbo system - will never pass smog. if AZ rules are like CA, any modification of the exhaust before cat, intake, pcm, and emission controls is illegal unless the specific part has a CARB EO number, which there is none for a mystique.

bottom line - if you're going to mod the car, you'll need it to be as stealthy as possible - no turbos, flashy intakes, colored hoses, etc. it's gotta look stock.

rob

[unkmstq]

ok so i have a different probably dumb question........i havent looked at the cylinder walls of my motor yet but when i do i wanna have the info i need if the walls r still good.......will the je pistons and eagle h beam rods work in my 98 zetec block?? they sell them for the 2000 up focus.....the blocks r the same tho rite???