head

[ev1lbry4n]

ok my mystique has 190km on it and i have a slight valve tick on the #1 piston when cold. When the car warms it's gone. I asked a guy at a rebuild shop and he said it's common for the car to get a tick and it will drive forever with it. The way my luck has been going lately, I don't wanna grenade something.

My question is.. Is there any performace head rebuild kit out there for the 1995-1997 Zetec motors? Or another question is will a kit from a focus work on the older zetec's?

[pre98zetec]

There isn't any performance head kits available as far as I know but You could just replace the lifters.

FWIW my 96 has ticked ever sinceit hit 90K, its now got almost 150k on it and still runs like the day i bought it.

[ButtonPuncher]

There are multiple heads that will work on our Zetecs...as long as you replace the entire head.

FRPP Head (Brand spanking new CNC'd head, friggin' awesome)
Cosworth/Focus Sport Head (They re-work a Focus head, also awesome)
Gude Head (I've heard it's crap)


None of these are cheap. All start at $800. They will give you a 35-70HP boost depending on your cam and cam gears.

HTH,
BP

[ev1lbry4n]

hmmmmm this sounds discouraging...

sounds like i got some work to do

[lx2gt]

FRPP Head (Brand spanking new CNC'd head, friggin' awesome)
Cosworth/Focus Sport Head (They re-work a Focus head, also awesome)
Gude Head (I've heard it's crap)



BP

where can you get the cosworth head, what about bottem end stuff, what kind of internals do these things have?

[ButtonPuncher]

Focus Sport carries the "Cosworth head"
http://www.focussport.com/cylhead.htm

FRPP head:
http://www.mcnewsautomotive.com/Prod...id=M-6049-ZX3P
http://www.steedafocus.com/store/Engine-Ford-Racing-Zetec-Cylinder-Head/c26_88/p136/Ford-Racing-Cylinder-Head---Zetec---'00-'04/product_info.html
http://www.newedgeperformance.com/in...ROD&ProdID=118

I used to have a link to someone who still had it for the old $895 price. If you search around you may still be able to find it.

CFM came out with one that uses 33mm intake valves and 29mm exhaust:
http://focus.c-f-m.com/index.asp?Pag...OD&ProdID=1221


BTW, when I say "Cosworth head" I mean that Cosworth did the design work. Focus Sport does the actual work to the head.

IMHO, the FRPP head is the best one. It is a brand new CNC'd head with new/bigger valves. Turbo Tom on the Focus forums has made over 700HP with that head.

HTH,
BP

[striker2]

i believe Massive speed Systems still has the FRPP head for the old price

[ButtonPuncher]

That's the one! Thay also have every ARP fastener for the Zetec that you could want.

Head link...
https://ssl.perfora.net/www.massives...%3D278707%3D29


BP

[DESIGN]

before you spend too much money do a couple of simple things. First understand that the ZETEC in all forms is a noisy engine. Our valve trains make a lot of noise so don't panic if nothing else seems to be going wrong with your motor. Second thing is to do an engine flush or something along those lines. There are so many legitimate products out there for doing this and different approaches. There are the systems that push preasurized cleaner through your intake track and head. There are also a few good in-tank remedies such as Redlines complete fuel system cleaner. I have know idea what oil you are using but it is always worth considering a heavier weight on older enignes even if you are running Mobil One.

Now as far as rebuilding your head. There may not be a kit with all you want or for a price you are willing to pay but that shouldn't stop you. If you know a compitent re-builder have him source new (slightly larger valves), polish the head, regrind the valve seats and replace the lifters. It may not net you 75 horses but it will be a solid improvement. While the heads off the block you might want to gasket match the intake or exhast manifold but I suggest you talk to your builder about that. Sometimes it can actually hurt performance on some cars. Since you have a pre-98 (no VCT) Focus cams and such should work with your car. If you don't want to be without your car for long find a salvage yard with a crashed focus or pre-98 contour or mystique. Don't forget that if you change the head to go on and put a new timing belt on it as well.

[ev1lbry4n]

75 horses i'dd be happy with 5 more lol. I have a friend that does performance engine rebuilding(has a few single digit cars under his belt) and he's gonna clean up the head for me. Just a mild polish and a mild cam from a focus, I want nothing to wild. It's still my daily driver