Starting to build motor

[Spakes]

I have a 2001 2.0 VCT MTX. I'm about to buy another motor and put it on an engine stand. I'm going to compleatly rebuild it but only every part will be high performance. Then I'm wanting to put a turbo on it.

My biggest question I have is, would I be better off just geting a VCT out of another Cougar or should I get a different one out of a ZX2, Contour or what.

If anyone has any suggestions or brand name parts they would reffer to someone please let me know.

I won't have a problem with money or anything. I get this new job in October. I'll have about a grand left over every month after bills.

The motor work will probably beggin in December or January. First thing I have to get is rims and tires. Then I'll start buying all the tools that I don't have and will need for this project.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[CincyZetec]

talk to greg (dropthatscort) he just finished building a zx2 w/ the same vct 4-cyl as the coug w/ a t3/4 turbo and on low boost (8psi) he's beating mustang gts

[DROPdatSCORT]

VCT delete and fully adjustable cam gears,

www.zxtuner.com carries both, i have the delete and the Essy cam gears.

VCT is just emissions, it acts like an EGR valve by keeping exhaust in the chamber where as the EGR puts it through the intake


parts:

JE 9:1 or Probe 8.5:1 pistons found on www.focus-central.com or www.mcnews.com
connecting rods same links
billet maincaps www.focus-power.com
ARP mainstuds and head studs ( www.summitracing.com)
Clevite bearing ( can be obtained from napa, SVT focus bearing work well too.)
use stock cams, PM me fore more info and ill find the pics and get some up later on

(everything i listed is in my engine

[diddy]

get a zetec out of the cougar since the motor mounts will be the same. just one less thing to worry about

[cougarprophet]

you could look into the cgi block, it has amazing potential for custom applications...it can be bored to well over 87mm and can handle 30psi:cool:

cgi block (http://www.focus-power.com/view.php?showme=WRC_CGI_Blocks)


also u could look at the ford racing head, basically a cnc'd pnp head ready to go

ford racing head (http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=6012)

and last if u wanted some all engine numbers u could go for the crower stroker kit which can be made completly to ur requirements( and can increase displacement to a advertised 2.3L)
crower stroker kit (http://www.crower.com/cat/domestic/ford/focus_stroker.shtml)


personally im looking at all three and then going to get the powerworks s/c.....:biggrin:

[DROPdatSCORT]

ps I4 and sc kinda suck IMO turbo is the best bet, ALL zetec blocks are the same, the zx2 and cougar head are the same, whats the motors really matter, he can just reuse the existiing ones he has when he goes to swap

[cbman]

If you go with the Ford Racing Head you should look for posts made by Ness. There are some Focus parts you will need.

If you stick with the stock head you will need to get rid of the VCT. The variable cam timing actually retards the exhaust cam and creates valve overlap. So, the exhaust valve will still be open when the intake valve opens and this allows some of the exhaust gas back into the cylinder.
This is bad for turbocharged setups. You want the exhaust gas to spin the turbo, not go back into the cylinder.

I'm close to finishing my built Zetec motor. I bought my eagle rods and custom wiseco pistons from www.raceeng.com. Just a warning though, the pistons were sticking out of the deck 0.015". So, you may need to have them cut or use a thicker head gasket.

[DROPdatSCORT]

advancing the cam creates overlap, just an FYI

[cbman]

The intake stroke occurs after the exhaust stroke, so retarding the exhaust cam creates overlap. The VCT definately retards the exhaust cam.

However, advancing the intake cam would create overlap, but the VCT is on the exhaust cam.

[jwheels54]

why don't you look into building a focus zetec, more parts better quality parts and no vct if your looking into putting that much into it im sure you can spring for a tune start off with the wrc block its a cast iron block used in the wrc focus car forged internals ford racing head forced induction cams cam gears nice turbo kit that should get you plenty of power

[diddy]

why don't you look into building a focus zetec, more parts better quality parts and no vct if your looking into putting that much into it im sure you can spring for a tune start off with the wrc block its a cast iron block used in the wrc focus car forged internals ford racing head forced induction cams cam gears nice turbo kit that should get you plenty of power


first. the focus and cougar zetec are the same. second...PUNCTUATION IS YOUR FRIEND.

[Spakes]

That CGI block, is it only the block that can handle 30 psi? I'm wanting to build a motor that can handle huge amounts of boost. I'm wanting to get the most out of the motor without using nitrous. I'm wanting to get rid of the VCT if I can.

I found a tranny on creativecougars.com that is suppose to handle 400+ hp. Does anyone know if that is a good tranny to get. Also does anyone know if their is a better tranny out there to get.

I also need to know where I could get upgraded axles that will be able to handle the power, or will the stock ones do just fine?

If anyone knows what the best turbo application for the motor will be, please pm me a list of everything I will need for it and where I can find it at. Also, if you would, send me the specs on it if the site doesn't have them.

[cougarprophet]

the block is the only one i know of

i wouldnt buy the tranny from cc but from from another guy( someone else can post his name i forget right now:tongue:)

as for axles i think u can use ur stock ones...i think instigator used his stock ones and he had 340+bhp

and as for the turbo kit...well do some reading on here or search turbo in the i4 section...

and read the f.a.q on turbos in here


oh and to remove the vct is easy u can buy parts from zxtuner.com

[james99]

have terry haines build your tranny. there's a few people on here that have one built by him. i think he has a website, im not sure, try googling his name and maybe HMSmotorsports, that might be the site name, i cant remember.

[Spakes]

first. the focus and cougar zetec are the same.

I thought that the fucus didn't have VCT.

[james99]

I thought that the fucus didn't have VCT.

that's about the only difference, which with alittle work you can do away with that.

[diddy]

I thought that the fucus didn't have VCT.


iirc, the zx3 focus had vct. but the zx2's did not.

[james99]

iirc, the zx3 focus had vct. but the zx2's did not.


zx2 has it, focus doesnt

[cougarprophet]

so basically if ur looking to do some engine work ( internals and such) and want a spare engine to canabolis, go for a focus engine cuase then u wont have to buy the vct removal stuff from zxtuner, cuase u could use all the focus parts

[DROPdatSCORT]

yeha i was gonna say my zx2 most defintatle had VCT before i deleted it, the zx2 and cougar have the same engine, the only foucs that has VCT is the SVT and thats on the intake cam, whereas the VCT on our engines is the exhaust cam acting like an EGR and keeping exhaust in the cylinders.

[DROPdatSCORT]

all the zetec BLOCKS and internals are the same the only difference are the heads,

ps the contour alos shares the 2.0zetec with vct IIRC

[Spakes]

So I would be better off buying a fucus motor and build it.

[james99]

So I would be better off buying a fucus motor and build it.


there wont be much of a difference. if you go with the cougar/zx2 build you'll have to spend a few bucks for the vct delete and have a tune so the computer wont recognize it as missing. if you go with the focus engine youll still have to have a tune that will make the computer overlook vct. if youre going turbo, youre gonna need a tune anyway, so really its up to you.

[Spakes]

there wont be much of a difference. if you go with the cougar/zx2 build you'll have to spend a few bucks for the vct delete and have a tune so the computer wont recognize it as missing. if you go with the focus engine youll still have to have a tune that will make the computer overlook vct. if youre going turbo, youre gonna need a tune anyway, so really its up to you.

Well wasn't the 99-00 model Cougars non-VCT? If so I could try to find one of them and take the motor and ECU right?

[james99]

Well wasn't the 99-00 model Cougars non-VCT? If so I could try to find one of them and take the motor and ECU right?


nope i have a early '99 (build date 5/98) and it has vct, i dont think ive ever seen one without it.

the vct delete kit isnt very expensive maybe $50, i dont remember exactly and since your turboing it youre gonna have to have a tune so just add the vct removal on the list of things the tunes for.

[jwheels54]

first. the focus and cougar zetec are the same. second...PUNCTUATION IS YOUR FRIEND.

the block yeah everything else that is important no

[jwheels54]

you want the best block out get the wrc block from focussport or focus-power and build up from there its the same block they use in the world rally car hince wrc it's cast iron will hold more psi than a cast alluminum

[DROPdatSCORT]

you want the best block out get the wrc block from focussport or focus-power and build up from there its the same block they use in the world rally car hince wrc it's cast iron will hold more psi than a cast alluminum


all zetec blocks are cast iron homie

the WRC CGI block is Carbon Graphite Impregnated hence the name CGI

thezx2/cougar also have the most agressive cams out of all the zetecs as well.

[cbman]

I ended up spending $3600 to build a used motor. Since you can get a new built engine for that price, that might be the better route.

Cost breakdown:
$1600 Parts:
Eagle rods, forged pistons, and rings
Billet main caps
ARP Head and main studs
oil pump

$1600 Labor:
Shortblock machining and assembly
line bore for main caps
porting and oversized valve job on stock head

$400 Used Engine

I don't know what's wrong with me.

[Spakes]

I ended up spending $3600 to build a used motor. Since you can get a new built engine for that price, that might be the better route.

Cost breakdown:
$1600 Parts:
Eagle rods, forged pistons, and rings
Billet main caps
ARP Head and main studs
oil pump

$1600 Labor:
Shortblock machining and assembly
line bore for main caps
porting and oversized valve job on stock head

$400 Used Engine

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I'm going to build the motor myself so there will be no labor charges. 2nd, I want to buy the best of the best.

[DROPdatSCORT]

you want the best

JE pistons 9:1 CR block will need to be bored .007 over
Crower billet steel rods, titainum if you can affort it
Focus power maincaps
clevite rod and main bearings with arp main studs

[cbman]

Spakes, you say your going to build it yourself. Only a small part of my $1600 labor cost was assembly. Most of the cost was the machining work: Line bore and hone main caps, bore cylinders + 0.007", Machine deck and head surfaces, 5-angle valve job and "bowl" work for oversized valves, and there was some other stuff too.

So, unless you have access to a machine shop you're not going to save the labor costs.

[jwheels54]

I'm going to build the motor myself so there will be no labor charges. 2nd, I want to buy the best of the best.

befor you say that i would recommend having someone at least balance and assemble your rotating assembly labor charge on that isn't to bad

[Spakes]

Spakes, you say your going to build it yourself. Only a small part of my $1600 labor cost was assembly. Most of the cost was the machining work: Line bore and hone main caps, bore cylinders + 0.007", Machine deck and head surfaces, 5-angle valve job and "bowl" work for oversized valves, and there was some other stuff too.

So, unless you have access to a machine shop you're not going to save the labor costs.

I go to a tech school that has all the equipment that I will need and will ever need. I go to the automotive class and there is also a machine shop in the school that we use for all the machine work that will have to be done. Therefore I will have no labor charges.

[Spakes]

befor you say that i would recommend having someone at least balance and assemble your rotating assembly labor charge on that isn't to bad

The biggest thing about it is, I don't let anyone work on my car. I'm the only one who touches it/drives it. Besides when I have access to all tools and specialty tools, I can do it myself. I've been working on street rods and imports since I was 10. I know what I'm doing.

[cbman]

That's sweet that you'll be able to do the maching work yourself!
I should be starting my engine up for the first time this weekend.
I've been working on it way too long.

Good Luck!

[jwheels54]

hey man thats cool but you know how it is lotta people don't realize what all is involved with putting a bottom end together

[Spakes]

hey man thats cool but you know how it is lotta people don't realize what all is involved with putting a bottom end together

Considering the fact that I have done it pleanty of times, all it will be is a new motor that I havn't rebuilt. It will be the first DOHC I have ever done. All the others have been Cam-in-Block.