Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Same zetec as focuszx3,escort zx2, ford escape,mazda tribute.....................

Hello... McCloud... Anyone home? Take the valve/cam cover off your engine and tell me what you see. Could it be two cam shafts? Over-head? Why yes, yes it is. The Zetec engine is a dual over head camshaft engine. No ifs, ands, or buts.

VCT isn't on pre-98 Contours. It was added for emissions on the exhaust side, not for performance like Honda uses their VTEC for (Variable Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control).

Here, take this. No take it, I insist. It's a 20% coupon at the clue store. Maybe you should pick up their catalog and buy one.

Yea.. ALL zetecs are DOHC

[This message has been edited by Crystallas (edited April 17, 2001).]

Allright, allright, allright, I've been getting differing and conflicting reports on my end. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the ZX2 and ZX3 engines from Ford, why mine is the same as a ZX2 but different horsepower rating, and why if they are the same engines they have different part numbers and some aftermarket parts work for the ZX3 but not my car? If it's just brackets I say **** on that because I just found a plethora of new performance parts!

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jonpreston5@hotmail.com
99 SE Zetec atx
mods: KKM intake
accel coil and wires

Could be the presence of VCT on one or the other (I never can keep it straight). Could be exhaust, intake, throttle body, computer, etc. Lots of different reasons. Some of the parts may not fit because of clearance issues (hood, or in front of the manifolds), differing TB size on the different cars, etc.

Both my Focus and Mystique have the Zetec. They look exactly the same except for the valve cover, I have had both cars parked side by side and they look interchangable, the only differnce is the Mystique's Zetec has VCT and the Focus's had and EGR valve, the Mystique's Zetec is rated at 125 HP and 130 Tq, where as the Focus is rated at 130 hp and 135 tq, I think they have differnt cams. I know the Mystique is heavier and is an auto but it doesn't feel like it has the same torque curve, it feels weak low end and picks up strong high end, the Focus seems surprisingly strong low end and weakens out high end.

The way I see it is the auto in the Mystique kills it's power. I imagine a Zetec powered manual contique is fun to drive and pulls hard.

Power wise the Focus feels much more powerful, but I guess that is due to the weight. I would get an UDP for the Mystique, it did wonders for the Focus huge difference in power, but I don't want to screw up the tranny, I have alread changed it once.

Anyone know if the Zetec in my Mystique is internally balanced? Cause I hear the ZX2 needs a harmonic balancer but the ZX3 doesn't, and as far as I know there is no difference between the ZX2 engine and the one in the 98 contiques, with the white valve covers and VCT.

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98 Mercury Mystique GS ATX (Bone Stock).

2000 Focus SE Sedan
(Sport PKG) MTX
MBRP Exhaust, Ractive Filter, Esslinger Under Drive Pulley, 20/35% tint, Le Bra Hood Bra, Eagle H4 Plasma Blue headlights.

i think the reason why the ZX3 header won't work on our cars is because the bolt pattern is different. also possibly the shape of the ports.

the engines are BASICALLY the same exact engine, but ford changes little things here and there to make life complicated. for example, the serp belt on our contours is about a foot shorter than the ZX3 or ZX2 belts because they use 2 extra tensioner pulleys that we do not. no one really knows why ford added the extra pulleys, but they did. that makes the parts different.

as far as the ZX3 engine being internally balanced, i have not heard of that. as far as i know even foci fans are taking some risks when installing UDPs. proceed with caution.


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1974.5 MGB GT...Crimson
Restoration Project
1995 Ford Contour GL Zetec (MTX)...Portofino Blue
Some Mods for Speed / Some Mods for Looks / Some Mods for Sound
2001 Infiniti G20t...Black Obsidian
Touring Package / Winter Package

Cool, can anybody tell me the difference between DOHC and VCT? I think once these two become differentiated there will be no more confusion.

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jonpreston5@hotmail.com
99 SE Zetec atx
mods: KKM intake
accel coil and wires

well, from what i know, the headers will work indefinately.. you just need to do some extra work on it.. and not to mention.. If you have a larger car, your car can fit small components to clean up some noise.. which is very nice from the dealership point. the zx2 stock headers are poorly designed.. but it was heavily improved on the zx3/escape.. and the zx2s headers if im not mistaken, are near identical to the contours.

okay, the vct and dohc are 2 seperate things, but combined.. all 2.0 zetecs are doch as far as i know. VCT is the variable Cam Timing.so along with valve timing, the cam timing is improved as well, makes sence.
I think the VCT is the exaust cam on the zetecs curently.. but rummors say that the SVT zetec focus will have the VCT on both intake and exaust cam.

So then, is the VCT a cheap imitation of, or an improvement on, the DOHC design?

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jonpreston5@hotmail.com
99 SE Zetec atx
mods: KKM intake
accel coil and wires

I´m currently changing the head gasket because of an overheating.
Believe you me.......it´s DOHC allright.
Had to remove TWO camshafts of the valves.
16 valves. take a good look at your engine,
and you will see two big dented wheels
which are moved by the main band.
That´s your DOHC wheels.

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Contour 1996
Pearl White
Zetec 2.0 I4 4 Door
Original Ford Air Spoiler
K&N Intake Hig Flow Air Filter
K&N addittional head emmission exhaust filter
Tornado Air System
Nology Hot Wires
Double Platinum Sparks
Eagle GA Tires
Ventilated Titanium Rotors
Hella FF100 Fog lamps W/100w Bulbs
Hella Xenon 80W-100W Bulbs
Infinity Kappa series 4-6x9-200W RMS
Infinity Basslink Subwoofer 200 W RMS
MTX Bluethunder Amp. 100W x 4 RMS
Ebaich Springs