Thinking about doing a motor swap

[2000SE]

Striker, your car was extremely respectable, don't get me wrong. It is a real shame what happened to it, but for the average person, building what you built is not a reality. A civic on the other hand, is fairly manageable.

As for 2000ZXT, i don't believe i saw any contours in that video, and seeing as this is a Contour Enthusiast forum, i do not see how the post is relevant. Yes i did use zetec in place of zetec contour, but what you showed me is a car that has a comparable aftermarket to the civic. This is something the contour does not have.

Next time you want to toss the word "facts" around, make sure you are providing relevant ones.

 

[2000ZxT]

It is just called facts, a zetec will never be hauling 11.5's like some of these street civics are.

.....

 

[2000SE]

I apologized for using zetec in place of zetec contour.

 

[2000ZxT]

The last time I checked the zetec is the zetec and the aftermarket industry for that engine is the same for both cars.

The Contour is easier to mod as well because it has the MTX75 which is the biggest difference, you can go to either transmission (G5M or MTX75) by swapping the windage tray. There is no direct drop LSD for the zx2's g5m, the only option is the MSP LSD then you need custom axles, where as you can drop in a torsen right into the mtx75. To be honest I am reallllly suprised more people don't mod Contour Zetecs. Tons of people mod zx2s to the hills and they ride like go karts.

 

[striker2]

The last time I checked the zetec is the zetec and the aftermarket industry for that engine is the same for both cars.

The Contour is easier to mod as well because it has the MTX75 which is the biggest difference, you can go to either transmission (G5M or MTX75) by swapping the windage tray. There is no direct drop LSD for the zx2's g5m, the only option is the MSP LSD then you need custom axles, where as you can drop in a torsen right into the mtx75. To be honest I am reallllly suprised more people don't mod Contour Zetecs. Tons of people mod zx2s to the hills and they ride like go karts.

I suspect its because most everyone on here are of the opinion that if it isnt an SVT, or at least an Duratec, Contour then its slow and has no potential. nobody seems to believe me that the Zetec can be just as fast as a 3L or even a turbo 2.5L and not have the traction problems.

 

[2000SE]

The last time I checked the zetec is the zetec and the aftermarket industry for that engine is the same for both cars.

The Contour is easier to mod as well because it has the MTX75 which is the biggest difference, you can go to either transmission (G5M or MTX75) by swapping the windage tray. There is no direct drop LSD for the zx2's g5m, the only option is the MSP LSD then you need custom axles, where as you can drop in a torsen right into the mtx75. To be honest I am reallllly suprised more people don't mod Contour Zetecs. Tons of people mod zx2s to the hills and they ride like go karts.

Well if you've got something up your sleeve, then i'm excited to see that. Otherwise all we have to go on is striker's machine of the past.

 

[ohsigmachi]

Well if you've got something up your sleeve, then i'm excited to see that. Otherwise all we have to go on is striker's machine of the past.

I think what everyone is trying to impress upon you is the fact that if it can be done to a focus or ZX2 zetec it can be done to a contour zetec with equal results and minimal deviation from the focus/escort aftermarket.

 

[FIND]

The last time I checked the zetec is the zetec and the aftermarket industry for that engine is the same for both cars.

The Contour is easier to mod as well because it has the MTX75 which is the biggest difference, you can go to either transmission (G5M or MTX75) by swapping the windage tray. There is no direct drop LSD for the zx2's g5m, the only option is the MSP LSD then you need custom axles, where as you can drop in a torsen right into the mtx75. To be honest I am reallllly suprised more people don't mod Contour Zetecs. Tons of people mod zx2s to the hills and they ride like go karts.

There was a deal back in 2004 where they were trying to get Quaife to produce a differential for the 3rd gens, but I think that fell through with lack of interest. Not enough people could afford them I think, which is sad because I think the g5m is a stouter tranny than the mtx75. Honestly I am a little suprised to that zetec contours dont get the modding attention that zx2s do, but then again, noone buys a 4 cyl contour that is interested in performance when they know that there are higher performance models available. It's just like you dont see as many SPI 2.0 3rd gens, or 1.9 second gens getting modded as you do the zetecs and the 1.8s.

But yeah seriously, like you were trying to get across to them. Any suspension, braking mod that works on an SVT is pretty much good across the board, and guys have been boosting those zetecs for years in the foci and zx2s. I bet you could honestly say the potential for modification and power is the same or better on a zetec contour than in a duratec or SVT. Only problem is that most people who buy zetec contours are not in the financial position to do much if any modding.

It would be really nice to have all that room in an engine bay....

 

[2000ZxT]

Mfactory actually now makes helical LSDs for the g5m for 650$. I think they are technically back ordered cause the initial start of producing them was with a group buy. They actually spoke of a previous "failed LSD group buy" but I didn't know what they were talking about. I doubt theyll have enough interest in a few years after the initial spike is gone and these will become a super highly sought after item. Buy one now for $650 and sell it for $1,200 later. I've seen it done with a CGI (aka focus WRC) Zetec block, which had a short production run. I was pretty suprised to see how fast the guy at Mfactory got these things together, I totaly forgot it wa even happening then I chcked back and I think 2 or 3 people have them installed so far...I guess it was bound to happened eventually. I think the biggest deterent from people modding contour zetecs is how terribly slow they are stock.



The aftermarket is pretty much equal. Except for the honda market is oversaturated with crappy cheap parts. The only advantage I see to building a Honda is it's cheaper, but only if you use the cheap parts. Use quality parts and your talking the same exact cash (IE: The mfactory lsd for the hondas are $650 as well).

And yes, zetecs are so much easier to work on then the duratec.

 

[cetroutt]

i've been wondering about swapping in a Focus SVT head onto my Zetec. if what i've read is correct then the blocks are the same. swap out the top end out of a wrecked FSVT switch the ECU's and you should be in business. or Jackson Racing does a supercharger for the focus 2.0 zetec, i don't see why it wouldn't work for the contour.

 

[2000ZxT]

The SVT head will fit on but like you said you need to swap the PCM's for the VCT-I to function. That means splicing the wiring harness to fit the svt's pcm. The other thing you need to watch out for is the intake manifold. The SVT's IM is a dual runner intake manifold with short and long runners. They have a IMRC kind of like the contours that switches the IM to the short runners at about 6k.

The SVT has more aggresive cams as well. If you don't want to swap the PCM you could swap the head and IM and use a window switch to trigger a relay to trigger a modded imrc box. Then later on swap to the PCM and get rid of the window switch. You would not be utilizing the VCT at this point though.

The SVT's intake ports have a different angle and are enlarged so you will either to need the SVT IM or a first gen FRIM which is pretty rare.

 

[ButtonPuncher]

There aren't any high HP Zetec Contours because 98% of them have no money. Heck, I bought my '96 MTX for $800. It is an ideal car though. It is cheap, there is a big aftermarket because of the Focus, and the Contour is light. Also, the bottom end on the Pre-98 Zetec is incredibly overbuilt. The main caps are HUGE. There are also hints that Ford had planned on a turbo version. The Pre-98 oil pan has an obvious spot for a turbo oil return. Also, the coolant bypass goes EXACTLY where it would need to be routed for a water cooled turbo.

I believe that a Pre-98 with forged rods and pistons could put down some serious power using a turbo and little other mods. (Fuel pump, injectors, cam gears, etc.)

Comparing a Civic to a Zetec Contour is stupid. The Civic aftermarket is 30x larger. Everybody and their grandma builds engines and tunes them.

Personally I think that Civics hatches and Foci are fugly cars. A Contour, espicially with a SVT body kit, looks a million times better.

Most people also take the easy way out and just go the 3L route. An extra 90HP just from a motor swap is hard to pass up.

The biggest challenge to a high HP Contour is wheel hop. If someone could develop a traction bar setup, that would rock.

Also, there will be at least one more high HP Zetec. My MTX is now my fun car. Once I get my intake and exhaust done on my 6, I'm going to start working on it. It'd be nice to have project Timebomb running by this fall.

Later,
BP

 

[striker2]

There aren't any high HP Zetec Contours because 98% of them have no money. Heck, I bought my '96 MTX for $800. It is an ideal car though. It is cheap, there is a big aftermarket because of the Focus, and the Contour is light. Also, the bottom end on the Pre-98 Zetec is incredibly overbuilt. The main caps are HUGE. There are also hints that Ford had planned on a turbo version. The Pre-98 oil pan has an obvious spot for a turbo oil return. Also, the coolant bypass goes EXACTLY where it would need to be routed for a water cooled turbo.

I believe that a Pre-98 with forged rods and pistons could put down some serious power using a turbo and little other mods. (Fuel pump, injectors, cam gears, etc.)

Comparing a Civic to a Zetec Contour is stupid. The Civic aftermarket is 30x larger. Everybody and their grandma builds engines and tunes them.

Personally I think that Civics hatches and Foci are fugly cars. A Contour, espicially with a SVT body kit, looks a million times better.

Most people also take the easy way out and just go the 3L route. An extra 90HP just from a motor swap is hard to pass up.

The biggest challenge to a high HP Contour is wheel hop. If someone could develop a traction bar setup, that would rock.

Also, there will be at least one more high HP Zetec. My MTX is now my fun car. Once I get my intake and exhaust done on my 6, I'm going to start working on it. It'd be nice to have project Timebomb running by this fall.

Later,
BP

nobody seems to believe us Ben. :crazy:

I still wish i hadnt torn the Zetec apart and scrapped it and had just pushed it out of the garage and covered it until i could rebuild the engine again.

 

[ButtonPuncher]

It just seems like if it isn't plug-n-play, nobody wants to do it. :nonono:

I'll admit it, I've been talking about boosting my Zetec for years now. It has yet to happen. It's all about time, money, and talent. The money will always be a factor on how long a project takes. I've also had unexpected problems. My original ATX was totaled and the HOC turned out to be a disaster. In hindsight, I should have just concentrated my efforts on my MTX.

I've also got to throw in here... All of you 98+ Zetec guys... BUY A SUPERCHARGER!!! It is a no brainer bolt on. All that you need is injectors, a MAF and a tune. It doesn't get much easier than that. A Powerworks blower on a Contour Zetec would be AWESOME. More power than a naturally aspirated 3L plus you get that incredible supercharger whine.

Later,
Ben

 

[hectik1]

It is easy...

 

[cobrawannabe]

I suspect its because most everyone on here are of the opinion that if it isnt an SVT, or at least an Duratec, Contour then its slow and has no potential. nobody seems to believe me that the Zetec can be just as fast as a 3L or even a turbo 2.5L and not have the traction problems.

It's frustrating, isn't it?:nonono:

 

[conbon]

I believe in you guys.........

When my SE grows up, she wants to run 12's. Somebody once said that the V6 has too much low end torque for its own good, it can never get traction from the start, but a Zetec with a turbo won't have nearly as much low end torque (due to nature of engine and turbo spool), so the Zetec would get better traction off the line before the powerband hits. This would result in way faster times for hte amount of HP they are putting out. I believe if somebody put as much time and money into a Zetec as they do with their 3L turbo SVTs, with complete transmission rebuilds, stronger axles, etc, etc that are needed to try and tame the Duratec, they could easilly build a faster car by starting with a Zetec.

Zetecs can be had for <$1k, sure you can find SVT's for $2k, but they'll justt need more work on top of that, so a decent SVT goes for what, $4k? That difference right there is already a turbo kit. Then with the other $5k they invest completely building their 3Ls, that's head work, forged internals, new tranny, wheels, tires, suspension, everything that would be needed for a Turbo Zetec. Everybody is buying the car that's faster to start with, because they believe it will be faster in the end.

I support everybody wants their Zetec to be fast 100%, but I understand that 99% of us have them because they are budget cars, where as nobody that owns an SVT has a super limited budget. Trust me, if turbo kits were cheaper I'd be driving a turbo zetec as my DD, but sadly I'm jsut a high school kid that has no money and only dreams of a fast Zetec.

I keep telling my friends that one day I'm going to have the world's fastest Contour. I explain to them every aspect of a turbo 4 that makes it faster then a 6, and their response to that.........you could build a faster car for that amount of money. Ya, but I don't want a car with a 350 in it that runs 10's like every other joe in the whole ing country, I want something different, something nobody else has....I WANT THE WORLDS FAST CONTOUR! I understand I'm contradicting myself with the whole "build a faster car with the same amount of money" thing, but its different, contours are better then tree fiddys, and worht the money.

/rant

 

[cetroutt]

i agree. the biggest thing holding most Zetec owners back is money. if i had money to mod the crap out of my Zetec then i would also have the money to fix my SHO. then the world would be a better place.

 

[striker2]

I believe in you guys.........

When my SE grows up, she wants to run 12's. Somebody once said that the V6 has too much low end torque for its own good, it can never get traction from the start, but a Zetec with a turbo won't have nearly as much low end torque (due to nature of engine and turbo spool), so the Zetec would get better traction off the line before the powerband hits. This would result in way faster times for hte amount of HP they are putting out. I believe if somebody put as much time and money into a Zetec as they do with their 3L turbo SVTs, with complete transmission rebuilds, stronger axles, etc, etc that are needed to try and tame the Duratec, they could easilly build a faster car by starting with a Zetec.

Zetecs can be had for <$1k, sure you can find SVT's for $2k, but they'll justt need more work on top of that, so a decent SVT goes for what, $4k? That difference right there is already a turbo kit. Then with the other $5k they invest completely building their 3Ls, that's head work, forged internals, new tranny, wheels, tires, suspension, everything that would be needed for a Turbo Zetec. Everybody is buying the car that's faster to start with, because they believe it will be faster in the end.

I support everybody wants their Zetec to be fast 100%, but I understand that 99% of us have them because they are budget cars, where as nobody that owns an SVT has a super limited budget. Trust me, if turbo kits were cheaper I'd be driving a turbo zetec as my DD, but sadly I'm jsut a high school kid that has no money and only dreams of a fast Zetec.

I keep telling my friends that one day I'm going to have the world's fastest Contour. I explain to them every aspect of a turbo 4 that makes it faster then a 6, and their response to that.........you could build a faster car for that amount of money. Ya, but I don't want a car with a 350 in it that runs 10's like every other joe in the whole ing country, I want something different, something nobody else has....I WANT THE WORLDS FAST CONTOUR! I understand I'm contradicting myself with the whole "build a faster car with the same amount of money" thing, but its different, contours are better then tree fiddys, and worht the money.

/rant

been there, done that. on relatively low boost, 10PSI, i was making ~200WHP and 220WTQ. it was faster than most 3Ls but had Zero traction problems. i could dump it at 5K and the tires would spin for just an instant then grab. pretty much as soon as the tires grabbed, boost started to build and i was gone.

 

[icysvt]

been there, done that. on relatively low boost, 10PSI, i was making ~200WHP and 220WTQ. it was faster than most 3Ls but had Zero traction problems. i could dump it at 5K and the tires would spin for just an instant then grab. pretty much as soon as the tires grabbed, boost started to build and i was gone.

i can vouch for it smoking my old silver svt lol:blackeye: