Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec 3.0L Duratec in Focus!! HELP!!!

I'm going to to swap a Zetec ZX3 motor with a Duratec 3.0L V6 and wanted to know where to buy one. Is there any info I should know about tricking out the Duratec? Where is the best place to buy Duratec parts cheapest? Has anyone done this swap? Are all the FOrd O2 Censors ect.. the same on the compact models? I have seen a 2.5L swapped at zx3tuning.com and my post in duratec tuning, a person said I should go ahead with the 3 liter if I'm gona do the 2.5 liter. Is the 3 liter the same size as the 2.5 liter? I mean fitting in the engine bay. What are the real differences??? Which engine has the greater potential for aftermarket parts? What car can I get the 3 liter out of? I was going to get the 2.5 liter out of a SVT Contour. I know its alot of questions but I need any and all info so that I can do this swap right. Will the 3 liter hook up to the focus axle like the 2.5 will? I could use any help me and it would be greatly appreciated.

FuriousFocuz

First, what are you building the duratec V6 for, FI or NA?
What power levels are you looking to reach?

The duratec 2.5 and 3.0 are basicly the same block, just different bore size with a few slight differences. There are a few different options on how to build the engine, so what you are intending to use the engine for will help in pointing you in the right direction.

We Contique owners have been swapping in 3L's to replace our 2.5's if that gives you an idea on how close they are.

I'm not sure whether I will go on to FI but stage 1 will be NA. I was looking to put out at least 300 horses with a 75 to 100 shot of NX. This is still going to be my daily driver and I will only spray it on the track, so not all that often. I'm gona do a custom intake and exhaust and I'm not that familiar with the availability of performance parts for the 2.5 or 3.0 liter. Could I take the 2.5 head and the 3.0 liter block? My car weighs 2455 pounds so I'm really wondering what kind of horsepower the engines will have in my car after dropping the weight from the Contour and Taurus. I don't feel like the Taurus has the aftermarket that the Contour has. I think 215 or 230 NA is a realistic goal: custom CAI, 3.0" custom exhaust, no cat, headers(if available). There are so many ways to go but my friend said it would run the quarter in 13 sec and I wonder what it could run with the 75 to 100 NX spray. High 12? What do you think would be the ideal set up??? Anyone!

FuriousFocuz

Do you use the factory motor mounts in the 2.5 duratec going to the 3.0L in the Contour? What is the size increase?? Direct Swap?

On the subframe, the mounts are the same. The top trans mount is also the same, but on some 3L's you need to alter the topr front mount.....but that's for fitment in a Countour or Cougar.

With some slight mods, the 2.5 heads do fit on the 3L's. Forged pistons and rods are available and should be used for you application IMO. Better clevite 77 main and rod bearings should be used over the OEM aluminum bearings. I'm not sure what your subframe situation is, but there are a few oil pan/baffel/pick-up options.

There is a good source for ported and polished head work, PM "Kinger" here on CEG. Buckshot Motorsports is a very, very good source for duratec parts and services (I personally am going through him, PM Buckshot77 if you'd like)

The MTX75 from a zetec has a different bellhousing and will not work with a duratec. I'm not sure if you can swap bellhousings or not....but you can pick up a used, low mile duratec MTX75 for about $500-600.

typically we build a hybrid. That has the 2.5L SVT heads on the 3L shortblock. There are some oil passages that have to be closed, ect.....but it's fairly straight forward and almost a straight swap.

But the more 3L's that are swapped, the more variety of setups we've seen. There are also 2 different types of 3L duratecs as Ford changed the intake port design in the heads (There is also the 3L duratec w/ VVT that are found in Jaguar X-type and the Linc LS, more info on that swap can be found @ www.fordcontour.org ). There are different upper and lower intake manifolds that you can use.......

Duratecs are starting to have a decent amount of aftermarket sources, what exactly are you looking for? There are headers, cams, intake pipes, UD pulleys, light weight flywheels, good amount of choices for clutches, turbo kit, s/c'er.....

HTH and gives you some ideas to search for more info

Don't ask how I know... just be glad I know...

Your best bet for a Focus would be to buy a junked Contour with a 2.5L (regular or SVT) with a spun bearing or something, to snag the heads, manifolds, and accessories off of. Then, buy a prepped 3L from http://www.buckshotmotorsports.com since you haven't been around the 3L forums long enough to have absorbed all of the information needed to complete the modifications to the block. If you stick around long enough though, you can search into the archives and find most of the info you would need.

As far as the mounts and such... you need the Contour trans mount with the Focus top half to attach to the frame. The upper passenger's side mount (and power steering mount) needs the Contour pieces if I remember... The roll restictors may need a custom mount fabricated to attach to your Focus sub frame.

The Focus trans has a different mounting flange and won't fit. Use the Contour's MTX75 and Focus shifter tower if they are different. You can have a trans shop swap over the Zetec final drive because the lower Contour gears (higher numerically) added to the extra torque of the 3L will just spin your tires. The longer legs of the Zetec final drive would match your ligher weight perfect. Might I also suggest a Quaife diff for some amount of control.

Custom axles with Focus outer shafts and Contour inner shafts will be needed. The Contour passenger's side support bearing will be needed also.

Contour engine wiring harness will be needed, along with the ECU and a custom chip. If your car has a tach that you want to work, grab a Cougar cabin wiring harness and gauge cluster. There will be some customizing to make everything work, but as long as you get the wiring diagrams from both cars you shouldn't have a problem. The gauge cluster is a bolt in for the Focus after the wiring.

I also suggest true duals in a 2" or 2.25" if you do headers and P&P heads or something. Single 3" loses to much velocity and just sounds really crappy. Believe me, I know... I had over $600 of 3" stainless exhaust sitting in my garage rafters for over a year because I couldn't get it to sound good with ANY muffler/s on my 3L Contour SE.

Final note: SVT parts are expensive for the most part and not entirely needed. The SVT hybrids typically put out 10-15 more HP/TQ than the SE hybrids do. Weigh that into your cost scale to determine if it's worth it for your car.