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VCT head on an early model Zetec

95_Mystique

95_Mystique

Hard-core CEG'er
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Jul 19, 2007
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I was wondering if a VCT head would fit on my 95 Zetec... i'm guessing the VCT had the varible timing like the vtech made by honda??? would the head swap work???
 
Head swap would be a lot of work....since there were quite a few changes between the VCT head and the non-VCT head. Not worth the effort....the VCT is for emissions.
 
95_Mystique said:
oh.... why is that???
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they seam to respond better to mods as well as they typically are easier to tune. there also appears to be less problems with the non-vct engines. wheather thats really true or not is hard to determine. i know my 97 (non-vct) was still running perfectly when i pulled it with 241K miles. i have yet to see a VCT engine run that long with no problems. i did nothing but basic maintainence to mine. i only pulled it cause one of the springs in the clutch finally gave out. rebuilt an engine and trans, installed that and then built my own turbo kit.

Its my opinion that the pre98 (non-vct) engines are much stronger than the 98+ engines
 
Easier to set timing on pre-98, no VCT solenoid to go bad, and some have claimed that the old bearing caps were stronger.
 
striker2 said:
they seam to respond better to mods as well as they typically are easier to tune. there also appears to be less problems with the non-vct engines. wheather thats really true or not is hard to determine. i know my 97 (non-vct) was still running perfectly when i pulled it with 241K miles. i have yet to see a VCT engine run that long with no problems. i did nothing but basic maintainence to mine. i only pulled it cause one of the springs in the clutch finally gave out. rebuilt an engine and trans, installed that and then built my own turbo kit.

Its my opinion that the pre98 (non-vct) engines are much stronger than the 98+ engines
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yeah your right about vct, the engine wont last as long if it has it. It was also just for emissions, so ford could put on more aggressive cams but still meet statndard emissions Because of when the exhuast valves open when retarded fully. It is also hard to tune with, becuase of the way it(vct) adjusts exhaust cam timing. i got into a big discussion about vct on a escort zx2 forum and if you want to hear i could go on.

but in short you dont want it, it wont help you.
 
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Rich2279 said:
Stick with pre' 98 head. You will regret getting mixed up with the VCT stuff.
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my wife has a 1998 Zetec Contour with the VCT zetec, and it has 190+K on it, and has never had 1 problem... obviously she doesnt drive it very hard, but never even a check engine light for anything other then the stupid fuel cap that she forgets often *argh*

also has never had any good oil, alswyas the cheapest crap she can find...

car runs like a champ liek i said with zero issues or problems. the only thing we had to change on it was wheel bearings and lca's!
 
My VCT 99 Cougar is almost @200K with no problems. I've had the timing belt replaced and from my obseravtions, no honest difference when it comes to setting the timing. I've got a mild crower intake grind and stock exhaust cams. Instead of deleting the VCT, I just have it turned off.

Pretty much like everyone said. VCT is only for emissions and provides no performance above Pre-VCT or standard Zetec engines.

I am curious as if there would be a difference if it used hydraulic lifters instead of mechanical. Do both engines (pre-current) use the same ratio?
 
No ratio, they are direct-action bucket tappets. You're thinking of rocker arms.

The purpose of VCT was to eliminate the need for EGR. EGR is often aggravating, but VCT has its own set of problems. I've never had any issues with it (though it does greatly complicate a timing belt job), but many others have. Given the choice of two engines in the same condition, I'd go with pre-98. Like he said, they *appear* to have stronger main bearing caps.
 
mcgarvey said:
No ratio, they are direct-action bucket tappets. You're thinking of rocker arms.

The purpose of VCT was to eliminate the need for EGR. EGR is often aggravating, but VCT has its own set of problems. I've never had any issues with it (though it does greatly complicate a timing belt job), but many others have. Given the choice of two engines in the same condition, I'd go with pre-98. Like he said, they *appear* to have stronger main bearing caps.
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Ha! I must've been in 5.0 mode when I posted. Good catch.

When you say "appear" to have stronger main caps, how so? Can they be used on post 98 engines?
 
I'm jumping in late with a question!
What complications will I endure by performing a swap of my '98 Contour's blown VCT equipped motor with a '95 Zetech motor? Are the trans mounts/bellhousing the same. And electronics?
Thanks
 
yes they are the same but you going to run into PCM tunning issues, harness issues, possibly injctor size issues, fuel rail differences possibly more differences
 
Devanmc said:
yes they are the same but you going to run into PCM tunning issues, harness issues, possibly injctor size issues, fuel rail differences possibly more differences
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the motor mount on the passenger fender is also drastically different.
 
striker2 said:
the motor mount on the passenger fender is also drastically different.
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that too but i think that MIGHT be able to be worked around with the timing cover. possibly?

since my motor mount(98+ VCT) had the mount attached to the timing cover. maybe just swap?
 
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