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[Martin_1962]

Zetec - now that is an interesting subject covering a lot of engineering designs

1.25 1.4 and 1.7 are Yamaha designed lumps (as was Toyota 1600 as fitted to MR2 ect)

1.6 1.8 2.0 are fix or repair daily designs the early 1.6 is horrific.

They suffer from valve seat recession unless fitted woth new heads or flush lube used.

The old 1.6 sounds like a Diesel and is over long stroke, and generated less power than quite a few similar sized push rod lumps! It was only fitted the the Escraps (the abbysmal version (c) Top Gear)

The 1.8 is OK in 130 guise and is the one chosen for kit cars.

Basically none of the Ford designed engines is anywhere as good as an X20XEV let alone the 150bhp Vauxhall predecessor.

Now why are kit cars not suggesting Omega 2.0 engines and boxes?

[Martin_1962]

Now if you want a Ford engine you have a few good choices

XFlow good bog standard push rodder, not easy to change cams and followers but not a bad design, personally I don't like the valve clearance adjustment.

Pinto - good for kit car provided top end lubrication is OK

Cosworth engine based on Pinto - their pick of crop - silly power available.

Ford V6s

Cologne - poor exhaust port design.
Essex - better but prone to warping heads and HGF.

[Martin_1962]

Now with mass produced V6s there are quite a few lemons.

The PRV V6 is generally weak and prone to various failures, HGFs and injection systems going wrong.

Decent mass produced is between the Ford (and Jaguar) Duratec and the GM Ecotec, but the Ford is more popular with small manufacturers such as Nobel.

Alfa V6 (eg 75) is quite good as well.

Come to think of it how many reliable, easy to work on, smooth, good performance and good reliability engines are there?

[Markie]

I read in Car Mechanics that Land Rover have developed a new head gasket for the K series (as used in Freelander) and it's supposed to be a lot stronger than the previous version, it hasn't been in use long enough though to prove that it is any better.

Yes they were fitted to any post 2001 k series engine  

[TheBoy]

I read in Car Mechanics that Land Rover have developed a new head gasket for the K series (as used in Freelander) and it's supposed to be a lot stronger than the previous version, it hasn't been in use long enough though to prove that it is any better.

Yes they were fitted to any post 2001 k series engine  

Including Rover?

[Markie]

would expect so   :-/....Freelander 1.8`s yes and i believe the later MG ZR`s ( Rover 200- 25 derivative)

Will ask around for 100% answer.

[familyman]

Yep the reason the Vx 2.0l engine was so if i remember was becasue it was a "square engine" both stroke and bore were the same. Good for revs and power.
Did it first come out in the Mk2 astra? can't remember
The little yam designed Zetec's never had a red line on rev counter for many years as the engine design would rev well beyond limits of injection sytem set up for road use  you know economy torque etc...... Bit prone to water pumps getting noisy squeeky when hot and big allen bolts in spark plug valley leaking causing misfires and the good old DIS failing.
Red antifreeze is supposed to better anti corrosion properties, so i would carry on using this TheBoy

[TheBoy]

Yeah, had the 2.0l 8v in my Mk2 Astra GTE. Reasonble engine, torquey. Shame the chassis couldn't handle a lawnmower engine....

[Martin_1962]

Yep the reason the Vx 2.0l engine was so if i remember was becasue it was a "square engine" both stroke and bore were the same. Good for revs and power.
Did it first come out in the Mk2 astra? can't remember
The little yam designed Zetec's never had a red line on rev counter for many years as the engine design would rev well beyond limits of injection sytem set up for road use  you know economy torque etc...... Bit prone to water pumps getting noisy squeeky when hot and big allen bolts in spark plug valley leaking causing misfires and the good old DIS failing.
Red antifreeze is supposed to better anti corrosion properties, so i would carry on using this TheBoy

Ashtray for a while then blobby Cavalier then Callibra. But never unfortunately Carlton

[Martin_1962]

Yeah, had the 2.0l 8v in my Mk2 Astra GTE. Reasonble engine, torquey. Shame the chassis couldn't handle a lawnmower engine....

I delivered a GTE 8v once and to be honest it was dangerous - it squirmed all over the road, not safe at all.

Same engine in Carlton was slightly underpowered.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I drove many a red top Mk2 Astra, I liked them, great rally style handling thanks to the oodles of torque.....157Bhp in the non cat cars which dropped to 150 with a cat fitted, easy to tune to big numbers (seen one at 280Bhp normaly aspirated!).


One day I will have a V8 kit car...one day!

[Martin_1962]

I drove many a red top Mk2 Astra, I liked them, great rally style handling thanks to the oodles of torque.....157Bhp in the non cat cars which dropped to 150 with a cat fitted, easy to tune to big numbers (seen one at 280Bhp normaly aspirated!).


One day I will have a V8 kit car...one day!

I have just had more experience with RWD and definately prefer it. The use I put a car to it is useful as well.

BTW I had a Audi TiT on a roundabout tonight!!!!

[Markie]

when are you doing this Jamie, presume you will document it all via a digi cam for us to view?

OOOOH I do feel excited about the thought of a K series failure   ive missed them

[JamesV6CDX]

We are doing it sometime around 17/18/19 Jan, can't remember which!

[TheBoy]

We are doing it sometime around 17/18/19 Jan, can't remember which!

As it happens, due to the usual monumental opps up by the project managers, i can make any of those days now James...