My never ending deciding plan for My zx2!

[ZX2 Sleeper]

After going to carlisle all ford nationals and seeing the 3.0L in a Ford merkur XR4ti, i came to the conclusion of dropping this engine in my ZX2 and then turboing...

My plan-
-2001+ 3.0L Taurus Engine (free)
-Hacked wiring harness Taurus
-T5 Transmission( from a Mustang)
-Bell housing from manual Aerostar 86-87.
-Adaptor plate for the 3.0L to accept the t5
-Clutch Set- Maybe centerforce... More research needed.
-Rear end? Maybe free from my friends Merkur Xr4ti...
-Drive shaft? Not sure yet.
-Turbo from a GMC Syclone (it's a tiny turbo but it will be something to start off with)
-Firewall?
-Floor boards, Some modifiying...
-ECU Taurus...

And yes i know i have to turn the engine 90 degrees to allow it to be RWD.

Why do you ask that i want to attempt this? Im sick of a Stupid ZETEC and i want to attempt something that I can learn a lot from. I don't want to get rid of my ZX2 being its my first car, im done with spending money on it. I wanna go turbo, but i'll still be in the back of the pack with out major modifying.

The engine i would get for free because my dad's friend has a buttload of them in my backyard and they're just chillin out. Some of them are non repairable with low mileage engines. I will be working for this guy on the side to gain some cash. I will be switching engines, changing times belts, routine maintenance and also other BS. I just got to wait for him to build me a shop! :).


Oh and first of all, before i get this started... I need a new car... Im thinking a late 80's 2.2 turboed MX-6! :)... I won't put too many performance mods so i don't get side tracked from the ZX2!

[TTFOWIA]

good luck.

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Thanks i need it.

My inspiration...

http://www.key-ideas.com/DavidGodfreyPage.htm

[TTFOWIA]

yeh i no.

[zx2loon]

I can respect the idea of what you are wanting to do. I can understand wanting to something different as well.

Here's where I see a problem. Your wanting to get another car (mx-6[turbo'd') and then build the ZX2. Why not leave the ZX2 as is and buy a project car such as the mx-6 or whatever your heart desires. The ZX2 is more economical right now than most other cars on the road. Gas prices are going throught the roof etc. A project car can take a while anyways so buy the right car the first time instead of trying to create something that will lead to more headaces and possibly scrapping the project before completion.


That's my minds dime.....make change if you wish. :idea:

[ZX2 Sleeper]

I thought of that.. Believe me. Its all in my head. MY ZX2's tranny is obviously coming out soon due to grindage in 3rd. (differential?).

Getting a MX6 is going to be that expsensive and also i need a more exciting daily driver!

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Oh and my girl is going to the same school as me and so is my 2 friends!!!

[TTFOWIA]

believe me, you're better doing you're project on the ZX2, then buy an economical car (obviously NOT the mx6)

just get a protege, echo, etc.

edit: screw the exciting part on the DD

[TheCrazyGuy]

You want to take a functional car and make it turbo, and take a 20 year old turbo car and drive it every day, risking its functionality (turbos do have a half life).

Pick a turbo car and mod it. Pick a reliable n/a car and daily drive it.

[evilescort]

just do a klze swap with naz, that should be fast and reliable if u do it rite... get the jdm version and leave it stock..

[JonsZX2SR]

Why not find a good Fox body Mustang and build the car from there ?? If you want to do something crazy with the Zx2, find a wrecked MazdaSpeed and swap the DIZI turbo 2.3 and transmission into the ZX2. SRT-4 and Cobalt SS drivers would learn to hate you.

[Beodude123]

I think a 3.0 Duratec would be a tight squeeze. I'm not even sure if it would fit the other way around (so it would be RWD). It would be sick, and would make gobs of power... Is it worth it though? If your mind is made up, then us telling you one thing or another won't do any good.

[AZN_ZX2]

personally i'd buy a newer dd and keep the z as a project car since it is getting kind of old. buy something 2005+ if you can afford it! but good luck with it

[Fat_Dave]

if you use a t5 trans make sure you buy a tremec TKO if not your gonna blow that thing up in a heartbeat... the regular t5's are meant to hold 250-300 hp and nothing more... the 3.0 has i believe 200hp and if your going to be going turbo i forsee nothing but problems

[DaviDawg]

damn, i feel like theres alot of "dont do that" in this thread. i say do it and dont look back! ive thought about how much fun my zx2 would be with the taurus v6 engine in it with rwd, when i was at the junk yard once, and it put happy thoughts in my head. DO IT!

[Beodude123]

If you want to use a Duratec 30, I would suggest the V-6 out of the Mazda 6. It's 220 in stock form, with lots of power on tap that can be easily had with intake, tuning, and headers. It's the same engine to my knowledge, so it should be the same as far as that goes.


Do you know how to do wiring and stuff like that? I hope you have a decent amount of experience. That and spare parts. LoL

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Thanks for the little support! ha. If i did the klze swap, well wouldn't i just be a follower? Nah i want to be a leader and Do something different

As for size of the engine, the engine should fit, people place V8's in there. There duratec is a small sized engine as for as volume.

getting a newer car is outta the question, i have no summer break and im going to school fulltime, i have a week bt/wn one school to another.

The reason why i want to do a duratec is because its ford, its free, and yes i do have donor parts. Im just missing the stuff that is not on the duratec! I am building knowledge as we speak.

Thank you to fat dave for the info on the t5's. I need to do more research.

[Fat_Dave]

yea np man anything to help out a team member

[PHeller]

Go ahead and do it and report back to us when its done.

When Weeyums started his KL swap, he didn't really announced to everyone that he was going to do it.

Everyone gets these bright ideas, blabs about how they'll be so unique, and never do anything.

Instead of telling us how you're going to do it, just do it!

[DominatingZX2]

Good luck with it and I hope you pull it off, but I will openly question if you have any idea what you're getting yourself into. You're not talking about doing an engine swap, you are basically building a new chassis. I hope you have one of two things: extensive fabrication skills (including the proper tools and facilities, or at least access to them), or deep pockets to pay someone else to handle that part of the project. Remember: that Merkur that inspired you was RWD to begin with, which greatly simplifies things. Also: put that fully dressed 3.0L duratec next to a complete 302 and see if it really is as compact as you think. If you've ever seen a picture of a 4.6 V8 next to a 302you'll know what I'm talking about.

Again, I'm just giving advice; I really would like to see you do it. I'm also planning to build a RWD ZX2 in the future; mine will compete in several Drag Radial classes, but will also be streetable enough for cruise nights and such. But, like I said, that's in the future: my current 2-car garage is woefully inadequate for a project of that magnitude, and I don't have the cash in the bank to properly do it.

[evilescort]

Thanks for the little support! ha. If i did the klze swap, well wouldn't i just be a follower? Nah i want to be a leader and Do something different

As for size of the engine, the engine should fit, people place V8's in there. There duratec is a small sized engine as for as volume.

getting a newer car is outta the question, i have no summer break and im going to school fulltime, i have a week bt/wn one school to another.

The reason why i want to do a duratec is because its ford, its free, and yes i do have donor parts. Im just missing the stuff that is not on the duratec! I am building knowledge as we speak.

Thank you to fat dave for the info on the t5's. I need to do more research.

i herd a rumor that the heads and intake mani from an sho taurus will work on the duratec for some more hp..

[TheCrazyGuy]

Before the dude starts worrying about mods he needs to worry about putting the car together first. Cars aren't assembled using interchangeable Lego blocks... Fords aren't, anyway. Besides all that stuff that you mentioned you need an entirely new set of motor mounts, rear end mounting locations, you need to wire everything up correctly (probably the biggest, most frustrating task in the universe) and there's no driveshaft in the world that is going to be exactly the right length for you. You need to fabricate a bunch of stuff and I'm not sure that you have the money or the experience being in school to do it.

People aren't saying "don't do it", they're saying "you can't do it".

[Beodude123]

As for size of the engine, the engine should fit, people place V8's in there. There duratec is a small sized engine as for as volume.

You realize that the ZX2 that had the V-8 in there was pretty much just a ZX2 shell with a completely different chassis? The only thing that had anything to do with a ZX2 was the outside. Everything else was custom.

I wouldn't use that as a reason that a V-6 will fit in there.

[yellow2000S/R]

You realize that the ZX2 that had the V-8 in there was pretty much just a ZX2 shell with a completely different chassis? The only thing that had anything to do with a ZX2 was the outside. Everything else was custom.

I wouldn't use that as a reason that a V-6 will fit in there.

Why wouldn't a v6 fit in? Its not like that 351 zx2 had the firewall moved back far. It was moved maybe 1-2" max.

Side to side will have plenty of room (from strut towers to headers/heads). You may run into issues with the steering linkage but that's nothing some custom headers couldn't get around and/or adding an extra u-joint and brace.

What will determine the engine placement is where the shifter comes out of the top of the trans. Some transmissions have 2 shifter placements on the top and some even a 3rd (mid) which would overcome that problem.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/365000-365999/365874_151_full.jpg


Then your talking a custom drive shaft to the rear which will run around $450-$700. Then fab up engine and trans mounts after doing some subframe connectors. Then plan out cross braces and a loop or 2 for the driveshaft and "loops"/holes in the cross braces for the exhaust to run through down each side near the drive shaft and split going up over the rear.


Could also fab up the headers to wrap forward and run a single larger turbo in front of the accessory area behind the radiator and run between a 3" and 3.5" exhaust down and along the passenger side of the engine coming back near the trans and down along the shaft and up over right of pumpkin and out from the underside at the stock location.


The options are endless. If you can do your own fab work, have the down time (or spare car) and money, anything is possible. IDK what the clearance would be in the rear between the axle tubes and the inverted top-hat framing we have is, but you could always "c-notch" it if you needed more clearance or were planning on running the car lowered.


That would be the "easiest" way. Another way is to build a full frame to go inside the rockers, kick up and in on both front and rear and then kick straight and level in both front and rear. Then run cross members off them for various suspension points and a X-member under the passenger compartment with cutouts for exhaust and drive shaft loop. Then get creative up front running a SLA (Short-Long Arm) suspension. Similar to what the Mustang II uses. As suspension compresses you gain camber maintaining a larger contact patch which translates to better traction. You can go too far with it and gain too much camber and rub the inside of the wheels or too little and rub outside.

This is where adjustable control arms come into play. You can also change the angle of the arms in relation to front and back mounts to change the anti-dive (braking) and anti-squat (accelerating) along with camber gain and caster.


When I was still out at WyoTech, some nights I would just sit on the computer researching what all it would take to put the turbo 4.0l XR6 engine into a ZX2. I have an excel spreadsheet on my other computer with a list of most of the stuff needed. Rough guess after shipping and me doing the work myself with quality parts, it would come out to approx $15,000. That would include the full frame, 4" exhaust, intercooler, BOV, piping, all the suspension stuff, T56 trans, clutch, flywheel, engine stuff (custom turbo header, intake mani, billet water pump gears and at least stage 2 springs/valves/retainers, injectors, a mild port job by myself). Includes shipping of engine/harness/ecu over from Australia (after shipping comes out to around $5,500) and SCT Xtreme tuning.

That setup would be good for 550 whp and 650 tq. Then rods, pistons, misc bolts, machine work, etc would make it good for around 750 whp/tq and then a larger turbo would be needed because charge temps would be getting high (based off other XR6 owners) and after putting on a larger turbo be good for 900+ whp/tq.

By then you're talking at least $25k. I'm still VERY undecided about a project like that because yea, it would be unique and cool to stand there and say, "yea, I built that" but for the money, IDK. It would have independent suspension all around tho and I'd get the software to design that stuff (I also have a lot of books on suspension and chassis fab) so it would have great handling also.


But again, that's a LOT of money...

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Thanks for the insight yellow. By no means will i be working on this project and getting it done ASAP. As far as money, i will be doing all the fab work and learning along the way. I know the engine will fit fine. I feel that the Duratec is a good platform and it would be sticking to ford.

As far as money, i know i'll have a free engine for sure. As far as money, i will be working on my dad's friend's car's. He buys crashed up cars... My dad does the auto body, (he pays my dad), Later down the road they break, and that's where i come in.(i get payed). So i figured my first job, the money will be going to getting another car and see what i want to do.

Oh and as far as the manifold for the turbo and if it works out right, i could flip the exhaust manifold so it could have the outlet towards the front of the car. It's even highly possible that i could even get another ZX2 for nothing if the guy im working with is that leanant. Obviously i would take a rolling chassis and be happy!

[ZX2 Sleeper]

And yellow... You can come and help me when i start this project! When i was driving to carlisle, i noticed your not that far from me! You need to get something either then the tracker though to make it here. lol

[ZX2WV]

i think you should do what johnzx2sr said. put the DIZI motor from a mazdaspeed3 in it. that would be sick and very quick.

[TTFOWIA]

+ cuztom AWD from mazdaspeed 6

*drool*

[PHeller]

How'a bout ya just buy a rare RWD car like an older Celica from the 70's, or other Japanese rarities, and invest your time into modernizing one of them.

Cool factor is still there, but you don't have to go to the trouble of converting a FWD into RWD.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/Rs3g-FuxeDI/AAAAAAAARq8/VRhxmJbP3l0/s320/csp_celica_S2000_9.jpg
http://bp1.blogger.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/Rs3g-VuxeEI/AAAAAAAARrE/BIjWqAbY06s/s320/csp_celica_S2000_10.jpg
http://bp3.blogger.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/Rs3gS1uxeBI/AAAAAAAARqs/x8pAQeqKAhI/s320/csp_celica_S2000_16.jpg

http://is.rely.net/1-57-4982-l-aEpyjpTd1gBgleamLbw1ug.jpg

[TTFOWIA]

^^ 69 skyline ftw

http://www.jbskyline.net/C10/GTR/Showroom/Bilder/KPGC10%20front%20left.gif

[ZX2 Sleeper]

I hate jdm's... enough said.


Well after thinking it out im thinking of getting a contour for REAL cheap! Then plan on doing the 3L swap in there. IMO... it'll be alot easier to drop the 3.0L in there.

My only concern is i hope the contour is a 2.5 duratec... If not im going back to my idea with the Z!

I'd truely be a sleeper again if i did this to my zx2 though. Imagine me pulling up to a mustang gt and making them sad

[MrWeeyums]

I went my route because i wouldnt have to cut up anything or make anything custom. If u wanted to make the zx2 a sleeper its really not that hard putting in a Mazda KL engine. The Duratec would be probably 10x the work and make the same power. Custom mounts, axles, etc... I dont care if people do the same, thats why i made the write up on it. Might as well do a swap that will actually get done instead of just cutting up the car.
~Ryan

[Buster]

How'a bout ya just buy a rare RWD car like an older Celica from the 70's, or other Japanese rarities, and invest your time into modernizing one of them.


Because they all look like this now:

http://k53.pbase.com/o6/83/267083/1/80365870.uVdQYoK8.06Bowser2.jpg

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Well i picked up a free extra ZETEC to build. Im think of making a nasty n/a build and trying to convert the engine to be moved 90* counter clock wise and then bolted up to a t5 tranny! ha.

When i took out my friends engine outta has merkur, all it was mounted was by 2 engine mounts one on the left wheel well area and another on the right. Then there was one holding the tranny. EASiest way to fab up. I could get a RWD axle pretty easy from the junkyard, i just need demensions and something that will work closely with the ZX2 suspension.

My parts list-

Zetec-Free
Motor mount/engine mounts- Possibly *free* from my friends Xr4ti
Rear end- *Free* maybe from my friends XR4ti
Trans- Junk yard special
Drive axle- *Free* from merkur if it fits.

what i need-
More money which means working more...
A old chevy S10 DD :)

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Oh and also The Zetec can be mounted 90 degrees Counter clock wise because i tried when i swapping engines out of parts Z.

[Escort Pimp]

Im think of making a nasty n/a build
I have yet to see any nasty N/A Zetecs (in the US anyways). Usually the word to describe N/A builds are expensive and disappointing.

[1981gMachine]

What type of power do you plan on pushing?

[tre2000zx2]

if you wanna do a rwd zetec.. go ahead.. its doable.. easiest way.. use a focus lower girdle.. company in fl makes an adapter to bolt up a t5 and s few others i cant remebe which right of.. then get a custom oil pan.. or go dru sump..(good luck ) wire up custom gauges.. custom drive shaft.. rework the stering linkage., custom engine trans mtg.. miata rearend.. custom fab THAT in .. fuel cell it .. go ahead and setup a return style fuel system.. change out the master cylinder.. possibly change clutch setup to cable depending on what trans you DECIDE to use.. dont forget to brace the chassis.. rwd zetecs have been done before .. good luck.. and make sure you save enough money back fro pay twice what you THINK its gonna cost on the high side.. ... plus then add about a grand to buy a second car when this project takes longer than you have.. and then like most project cars .. you might not EVER finish.. nto tryin to get ya down.. but .. if it wer affordable.dont youthink there would be more of us having done this.. and eve notice how SOOOOO many project cars get sold SOOO cheap SOOO often .. cuz " I lost intrest.. leaving the tuner scene... or just play ran outta money" and its always... jsut a "LIL TLC and a few hundred bucks from being a ASHOW STOPPER or HEAD TURNER... if thats all it took..why didnt THEY FINISH IT.. you dont quit the race 3 feet fromt eh finish line.. hell no .. YOU drag your ass over it.. you dont let some one ELSE do it..unless your WAYYYY far from finishing..

[ZX2 Sleeper]

lol. more then 130. I do have a turbo laying around though.

For buidling the zetec i plan on dropping bigger pistons, do a head pnp'ed with some other work done to it and maybe some cam's in it.

basically, i want to build the engine so it'll be able to handle some boost in the future.

Being RWD and the Zetec will open a lot more power i believe because of the RWD differiential!

[tre2000zx2]

lol. more then 130. I do have a turbo laying around though.

For buidling the zetec i plan on dropping bigger pistons, do a head pnp'ed with some other work done to it and maybe some cam's in it.

basically, i want to build the engine so it'll be able to handle some boost in the future.

Being RWD and the Zetec will open a lot more power i believe because of the RWD differiential!


you need to pick an induction route FIRST... a bad N/A build will require MASSIVE compression.. a DEPENDABLE (if there is such a thing) turbo route will require LOW compression.. lower than STOCK... you cant have the best of both.. no offence.. but ESPECIALLY NOT with what I assume is your LIMITED tuning knowledge.. even BIG NAME TUNERS drop the compression on turbos if the wanna keep em alive..

[ZX2 Sleeper]

I would def. convert to cable clutch...

This wouldn't be an over night project at all. As far as the steering linkage, i'd just convert to Manual steering rack for the fact that there will be no understeer. The speedo will be cable due to the t5. The oil pan i doubt would need to be changed... Anythings do able.

Time: i have. im 19 and i will not give up on it at all. I have an "in" at a trans shop (they want me to work for them if they ever get busy).

The S10 i might even get free depending on the guy i work with. Lol

[ZX2 Sleeper]

I know the whole compression dealio. I'll have a spare engine no matter what, so one i could build for N/a or the other for turbo. I just may just build it straight for turbo.

[tre2000zx2]

Oilpan will have to be changed to rotate it.. ours are setup as transverse.. when you accelerate the oil flows to the rear.. obviosuly..BUT .. the pickup stays submerged.. if you rotate you need to make sure the pan pickup ALWAYS stays submerged.. they have to change them all the time in the zetec super 7s caterhams to prevent oil starvation..

[Beodude123]

I have yet to see any nasty N/A Zetecs (in the US anyways). Usually the word to describe N/A builds are expensive and disappointing.


Yeah, even the Esslinger ZX2 made like 230 whp... That was a pretty nasty NA build too. NA Zetec engines aren't all that great. They love boost though. If you are going to do the work to turn the engine around, why not make it good, and boost it? Hell, if you are going to turn it, making a supercharger fit would be a piece of cake.

[dareall]

I can respect the idea of what you are wanting to do. I can understand wanting to something different as well.

Here's where I see a problem. Your wanting to get another car (mx-6[turbo'd') and then build the ZX2. Why not leave the ZX2 as is and buy a project car such as the mx-6 or whatever your heart desires. The ZX2 is more economical right now than most other cars on the road. Gas prices are going throught the roof etc. A project car can take a while anyways so buy the right car the first time instead of trying to create something that will lead to more headaces and possibly scrapping the project before completion.


That's my minds dime.....make change if you wish. :idea:

I gotta go with loon on this one. Your ZX2 is rather nice right now. If things don't work out, you'll always be kicking yourself. Since you are set on doing this thing, just buy another ZX2. You already know how to fix them up, you will still have yours as a reference and you will still have a car that you can trust to drive around while your project is being done. (Right now I have 5 cars in their transitional stages, so I've found this out first hand. It's a good thing I have my ZX2's to drive around while I am doing this). One more thing about doing this to another car: you wont have to register or insure it while it is apart and not being driven. You already know what to expect when it comes to doing that for your ZX2.

I do give you credit for this:supernana:, it is ballsy and a big project. Some guys with fucii have converted their cars to v8's, so that might be a big help for you.

good luck and keep us posted:beernana:

[1981gMachine]

Not to get off topic, but...

I have a big block for the camaro. I figure one day down the road I'll build it up (496) and put it in the camaro. Which leaves a healthy 355 without a home. Well, if the zx2 lives that long it will have a chevy heart.

On topic...

Research, research research, plan, plan, plan. Electronics confuse me, hopefully not you. Mostly anyone can fab with some basic skills and measuring. It's making it run right, i think will be the challenge.

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Well my reason on just sticking with doing my RWD ZX2... Is i don't have to touch much wiring. me and my 3 friends have enough knowledge to do this project. I want to learn and do something unique.

If i just boosted my Z as is... i'd be pulling the weak trans/diff out every week...

This project, is just right now a plan. IF i get to it is a different story. Lol.

[Boss122]

Yeah, even the Esslinger ZX2 made like 230 whp... That was a pretty nasty NA build too. NA Zetec engines aren't all that great. They love boost though. If you are going to do the work to turn the engine around, why not make it good, and boost it? Hell, if you are going to turn it, making a supercharger fit would be a piece of cake.

Actually, it made 220-230 HP on STOCK ZX2 cams. With race cams it made 270-300 HP.

Not many people do high powered NA Zetec builds in ZX2's of Focii(Focuses?) any more. They get to be expensive past 170 HP at the wheels on pump gas and many people find its cheaper to get the same power our of a low pressure turbo.

[Boss122]

i herd a rumor that the heads and intake mani from an sho taurus will work on the duratec for some more hp..

Nope. However you can modify the 3.0 Duratec with a combination of SVT and 3.0 parts for more power.

[2000ZxT]

Nope. However you can modify the 3.0 Duratec with a combination of SVT and 3.0 parts for more power.

Even a 3.0 Duratec block with SVT Heads, TB, IM, Exhaust, Pulleys only makes about 180-190 whp. If you did this you would have been even more disappointed.

[2000ZxT]

I have yet to see any nasty N/A Zetecs (in the US anyways). Usually the word to describe N/A builds are expensive and disappointing.

He speaks the truth in terms of zx2s.

However there are a ton of Zetecs that are running over 200whp. Focus Midget series races them at 220whp. Lotus kit cars often use built Zetecs with ITBs running well over 200whp as well.

But a n/a zx2 is generally synonymous with a waste of time and money.

[ZX2 Sleeper]

Pshhh, i slept on it and im gunna do a turbo setup with a lsd.