Top Speed 2.0L ZETEC

[blast]

Ok, the other night I have finally found out the top speed on a factory stock 2.0L ZETEC coug, the car toped out @110 - 111 MPH. Now it seemed that it could reach more MPH, but it seemed that the whole induction, valve train was giving out(choking). More on the valve train, thought.
If one changes the valve springs to increase the revs with out going into the valve float, that should increase the MPH as well.
Now if that's said will the fuel injection go beyond that or the throttle body and injectors will need to be replaced as well?
Instead of replacing the valve springs and injectors, would I better off getting a new computer?
suggestions any one? :smoke-g:

[TheNinja]

ok goes like this. the 4banger can achieve 133mph stock without any revlimiting thats airstrip speed test info. Just doesn't have the HP to go higher. The problem your thinking of is the ECU's built in speed limiter. WITH IT we can make it up to 115mph then it cuts power to the engine.

Fixing the problem = custom/generic chip with new speed limit raised. (also ask them to raise your rpm rev limiter to 7250).

[carsnrockmusic]

Originally posted by: TheNinja
ok goes like this. the 4banger can achieve 133mph stock without any revlimiting thats airstrip speed test info. Just doesn't have the HP to go higher. The problem your thinking of is the ECU's built in speed limiter. WITH IT we can make it up to 115mph then it cuts power to the engine.

Fixing the problem = custom/generic chip with new speed limit raised. (also ask them to raise your rpm rev limiter to 7250).

Does it do much to raise the limiter to 7250?....I can see how it would if you had a lotta aftermarket upgrades....
With the way I run my car, I don't even redline it now where it cuts off just a lil shy of 7000.....Right before it starts to cut off, you can feel it losing power....I usually shift a lil above 6000.....That's just what I do....I'm no expert.....so that's just my point of view

(If any of this sounds stupid, I will edit this when sober.....long night) :)

[Seawulf]

I found out my speed limiter the hard way.

I was half heartedly racing a early 90s Geo Storm. I was in the fast lane and he was in the slow lane and we just kept speeding up. I was just flooring it in 5th gear and he was keeping up with me, don't know what gear he was in.

Then at around 110 mph the car just started stalling on me:mad:. I let off the gas and let the geo pass me(they're limited at 115).:cry:

Even with my turbo there's been a few times the limiter has got the best of me. I need a chip bad.:(

[blast]

Great responses guys, but the factory rev limiter should not shut the engine down once, I reached that high RPM. the RPM was only like 3-31/2, normally the car will idle that high with out any problems right?

The problem is again when going 110, the valve train begins to float!!!!!!! or it seams that way.

the chip will not solve that problem, it is not like it running out of steam, but simply begins to spit, spur, no air bogging.

What can be done about that?

[AL]

that sounds weird because it is not doing it in any of the other gears except 5th
it might be you clutch slipping and gripping at hi speeds . or may be even sticking valves (carbon build up)
use a good hi octane (detergent gas) Amaco

good luck

my 4 banger tops out 138 when i had a chip(computer fried) so now i back to a stock computer:cry:max 115mph

[carsnrockmusic]

ditto with the Amaco.....that's all I use in my car.....that and STP gas treatment every other trip to the gas station.....

oh yeah...i've reached that 115 limit before....actually thought it was a lil more than that.....i don't remember....i know it was at least 115 cause after it hit 100, i was able to listen to a couple songs on the radio before it got well above 100

[blast]

I could understand that on a high miladge car but my car only has like 3.000 miles or so.

[AuburnCougar]

The speed limiter is also there keep you from going beyond the speed rating of the stock tires.

[carsnrockmusic]

Originally posted by: blast
I could understand that on a high miladge car but my car only has like 3.000 miles or so.

Do you drive conservatively (grandma-ish) or the opposite (Vin Diesal style)??

I constantly beat up on my car....I run it hard....daily....I'm almost positive that if I didn't take care of the fluids like i do, my engine would be beat as hell

[blast]

I drive it hard, heck I drove at 110 probbaly for a good hour or so

[TheNinja]

dont forget if you break in your car badly you will have your engine behave like ass. if you drove it hard since you got it youll probably have around 90hp(where normal cougs have 105+/- at the wheel that is) and all sorts of internal problems ... driving on an engine not designed for sustained high rpms, not good no matter how it was broken in though.

Hmmm, lots of people join the board complaining about what i was talking about earlier. According factory tests, valve float begins at 7500rpms on the zetec motor followed by crank failure and piston breakage at 8k... you might have a faulty engine?

Dont mistake the choking of the intake for valve float though. Our engine breaths out of a tube that is 2" wide (if im not mistaken). So there is alot of upper rpm power loss, i always thought there was something wrong with my engine also ;) BUT if you feel its a bit more than a lack of power, have the valve cover taken off and take a peak into the valve train. readily accessable on our cars. I've never experienced valve float so i cant really help isolate the problem, sorry. Hope something in my rambling made sense and fits the situation

[TheNinja]

also, i just said to raise the rev limiter to 7250 because thats about as high as you'd ever want to rev the thing :P and no it doesn't really help unless you change a few things (i.e. air intake and cam timing)

[AL]

if you go to the dealer and say you drive that fast and have a problem at that speed on a new cougar
they will kick you out on you butt..and tell you not to drive that fast

[blast]

ok guys thanks for the responces.

today I have the valve springs replased, the top speed did go up, I am @ solid 125mph

Now having problems with air fuel, next step would be either new nozzles.

Will keep you posted

[carsnrockmusic]

It went to 125 by just changing your valve springs??.....that's kinda weird....
oh well....I'm no expert....

Dude....be careful with that engine man.....they aren't cheap to replace.....I'm tellin you now cause that biotch WILL blow if you aren't careful....taht would be doo doo

[TheNinja]

besides the computer shuts you off at 115....................... *blink* *scratch head*

[2Liter]

ok, what if I told you I live in new mexico, almost a mile above sea level, and I was able to get my car up to 120mph last summer? and that was stock except for a kkm intake. I have no idea why...:shrug:

[blast]

Ok, lets see if I can answer this one.
The reason I have stated it was 125 mph, that was on a dyno, in real world conditions, out on the freeway it reached 118. I guess the wind drag might have something to do with it.

Have not touched the fuel injectors yet, but that will be done some time this week.

[carsnrockmusic]

what kinda valve springs you put on it??....or did you just replace the factory ones?

I also believe I may have gotten above the 115 mark as I stated before....it was on a long long long bridge....That's if my memory serves me correctly.....

Also.....what kinda of fuel injectors you plan on puttin on it??.....you intend on gettin turbo?

[tdford]

Originally posted by: Sapien
ok, what if I told you I live in new mexico, almost a mile above sea level, and I was able to get my car up to 120mph last summer? and that was stock except for a kkm intake. I have no idea why...:shrug:

Being a mile above sea level will not make you go faster. I live in Colorado, and mine governs at 115. You should have better performance AT sea level because the air is thicker, the engine does not have to work as hard compared to one a mile above sea level where the air is thin.:slap:

[blast]

Got the Cranecams (http://www.cranecams.com/whatsnew/importsprings.htm)

[TheNinja]

ahh, brings up a question i've been meaning to ask. Tech Question here! If we replace our springs/keepers/retainers will the valves themselves be able to take rpms up to say 8k without worry?

[blast]

To my understanding, and to my other hot rods in the past: yes the valves will take it but the rest of the upper power train will not.

[TheNinja]

like what else will fail?

[carsnrockmusic]

I'm not sure....but i would think you'd eventually experience problems with the pistons/connecting rod.....

[2Liter]

Being a mile above sea level will not make you go faster. I live in Colorado, and mine governs at 115. You should have better performance AT sea level because the air is thicker, the engine does not have to work as hard compared to one a mile above sea level where the air is thin.

No, sorry, what I was saying is that at this altitude I cannot believe that I got my car that fast, I know how altitude changes air pressure. Im thinking perhaps I was going downhill, which would explain having a top speed that high...

[blast]

Originally posted by: FastZetecCougar
I'm not sure....but i would think you'd eventually experience problems with the pistons/connecting rod.....

Pistons or connecting rods are the bottom portion of the engine block.
I was referring to upper part. Mostly what fails in a high rev engines are:
1. valve springs, keepers. lock's.
2. timing belt and the gears, they belt could get stretched, which will jump time and there goes the valves.
the gears usually strip which will cause the belt to jump again and you got it there goes the valves and pistons basically the whole block could fail.
There are no rods in the 2.0 L zitech so that is no concern.
But if the gears are changed and the belt is in good condition and the computer the car to reach the rpm it should get to the 6.5 7000 rpm with out doing any serious modifications.
My .002 cents worth.

[mekahle]

Hi there !
My german 2L ZETEC officially reaches a top speed of 129MPH (official Ford specs for german Cougar). With my little Mods I reached 135 MPH. Here in germany there is no limiter like the ones have in the US. Well, reason is probably our Autobahn. Here in germany cars sell also with the top speed since we can go as fast as we want :)
Have fun, drive safe and come to germany if you want
Greetings Marc

[TheTampaZX2]

Here's an idea that I've brought up before.

In the ZX2 world, we have the Regular ZX2 and then there is the ZX2 S/R which was more performance orientated. It had a nice selection of aftermarket parts already on it. One thing is had was a more aggressive program on the Computer. It had no speed governor and had a more aggressive Fuel Mapping and required 93 Octane. Well swapping the computer from an S/R into a Regular ZX2 is a popular thing to do now over in ZX2 land. I've had an S/R comp. in my car for about 50k miles and its a beautiful thing over stock.

If you guys are limited by the U.S. Computer maybe someone could try to find a wrecked Cougar over in Germany and buy the Computer and swap it out with the U.S. one. Boom no speed limiter.

Just an idea.

[blast]

good point in deed.
So mekahle, is it possible for you to find anything out just on a computer.
it really would be grateful

[mekahle]

Well, I can look, but the Cougar is pretty rare here in germany. So it is not so easy to find a wrecked 2L Zetec. I heard from the superchips that it is possible to get rid of the limiter. That's what they do here in germany for the high class luxury and sports cars that are limited to 250km/h (Like Audi RS4, Mercedes SL500 etc)
If I hear something I can let you know, but I doubt that I find something . Greetings from germany
Marc

[carsnrockmusic]

Originally posted by: AL
that sounds weird because it is not doing it in any of the other gears except 5th
it might be you clutch slipping and gripping at hi speeds . or may be even sticking valves (carbon build up)
use a good hi octane (detergent gas) Amaco

good luck

my 4 banger tops out 138 when i had a chip(computer fried) so now i back to a stock computer:cry:max 115mph


**edit: notice the part where he says he's gotta chip?.....