Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Performance Differences between pre98 and 98+ zetec engines

The blocks are the same on the tranny side and on the head side. The pre 98' blocks have a different timing belt setup. They also use different water pumps and accessories (Alternator etc.). The heads are different as well. The later blocks with the VCT have the camshaft sensor located on the exhaust camshaft side of the head instead of on the intake camshaft side. Not too sure, but I read somthing in a chilton repair manual about the 98' up heads having slightly larger valves. The answer is to get a 2000-up focus head. They have the cam sensor on the intake camshaft and they don't have the VCT on them and also use the same timing belt system as the 98-later heads/block. Other than swapping the head due to the camshaft sensor and possibly differences in the accessories run by the serpentine belt it is a straight forward swap.