XE vs Zetec

[bmxdave]

Whats your opinion?

 

In a recent conversation about me fitting the XE to my cortina, someone suggested Zetec power. He said itd be a much easier swap but i think itd be no easier. Id still be fitting a 5 speed, so fabrication would still have to be done.

 

I also think the tuning potential and the bhp per pound ratio is fair worse off in the zetec, plus theyre expensive to tune.

 

Anyone want to throw their opinions in, and experiences? Dont forget, ive never used these engines before, and only know what ive been told and some numbers.

[bomber1]

pinto nuff said

[bmxdave]

Id rather keep the 1600 crossflow then fit a pinto.

[carmad]

xe s return good pound per bhp when in but buying the conversion parts can be expencive

 

as people are catching on as to what they are worth

[RChambers]

XE: better power as standard

Zetec: cheaper to fit (unless you can find 2nd hand XE parts).

 

A zetec with a set of cams is the equal of an XE and are far easier and cheaper to get hold of. If you are going to keep the engine standard the XE is better, if you mod them they are equal, although you can get cheap tuning bits from USA for the zetec so maybe it tips the scales in its favour.

 

Not considered a duratec then? More expensive to fit than the XE or zetec but more power and more potential.

[bmxdave]

The initial figure isnt too big a deal, but later on i want about 180 to 200bhp. I wanna do this for about £1500. I know the XE should see 170 just by changing the manifold, a set of bike bodies and an ecu should see close to 200bhp if set up right. A zetec to get 200bhp would need cams aswell which can get expensive.

[hotrodholty]

my mates just put an xe in his mk1 cavalier, used mostly manta parts, standard ecu and injectors. had to buy exhaust manifold, power cap, fse boost valve and a couple other odds and sods. but he did it for less than £1500 easy. but if your gonna get 1 make sure you get an early one (stamped coscast, cosworth designed head). he used a manta getrag box and its shit, hes now looking at using a type 5 box.

in his cav it goes like fook. only problem is, its a vauxhall.

im only in liverpool so if you wanna word with him ill see if he minds me giving you his number for a chat.

[Guest MK1gaz]

My mate has worked on rolling roads for 15 years and every "standardish" 200bhp XE and Zetec he tunes makes much less than 200 bhp normally . It's seems that everyone has a "200 bhp" zetec or Xe these days except they haven't , they've normally got a 165 bhp one with £3000 worth of performance bits bolted to it . The vauxhall XE is a great engine though , i'd personally use one of them over a zetec

[raymondmarble]

I fitted a Dunnell Zetec to my Escort (now Sambo's) after a lot of consideration between Zetec, N/A Cos, BDA, XE and even Lotus Twincam. In the end, I chose the Zetec because it was the best package overall for what I wanted. It is very light, and had the best low down torque and very flat torque curve. Being a mainstream Ford motor, it was also very easy to get a hold of standard parts cheaply. It was however very far from the cheapest option, though I did mine a few years ago and maybe prices are ok now, I dont know.

I think it might be easier to get higher bhp figures from an XE from your £1500 than a Zetec, but I have never owned an XE, so others will be able to advise you better here.

 

Hope this helps!

[bomber1]

Id rather keep the 1600 crossflow then fit a pinto.

 

for the cost of the conversion u can get your x-flow warmed up into a hot x-flow and u are right i wish i had kept the 16 xflow rather than going pinto

[matt]

St170 engine

170bhp with all the emmisions crap on it.So scrap that for a set of carbs and your laughing.

Or get hold of a 2.3 granada (i think they were in the galaxy too) bottom end and stick the head off of a mk5 rs2000 on it, cheap as chips 200bhp and tons of torque

[alladdin]

its a well known fact that a well set up std xe on carbs and a with decent exhaust will make 180 bhp.if thats a fig you want then job done. a zetec will need cams to get this.

installation costs can vary a lot depending what you can make rather than buy for both engines. zetecs plentifull, xe knocking on a bit and rarer.

you pays your pennies and takes your pick.

[bmxdave]

Well i have enough budget to fit the engine but i was looking at adding £1500 to get more power. Ill most likely go ford gearbox too.

 

I was going to tune the x flow, and ive got most of the parts, which im now selling, but i worked out the cost to get 170bhp is the same for the conversion on the XE, and 200bhp is near impossible, and your talking serious megamoney and about 1800cc.

 

The only issue with the st170 engine is finding one, then fighting off the others who want it, and then id expect it to be pretty expensive. Im liking the 2.3 conversion but i dont really want to be striiping stuff down. I want something that i can just slot in without getting too heavy on modifications and rebuilding stuff.

[Guest MK1gaz]

A well set up standard XE on carbs with a good exhaust probably won't make 180 bhp unless it's a new re-built one and not some 15 year old scrap yard special from some old rinsed out Astra GTE . That's 30 bhp more than when it was new in 1990 after 10 carefull chav owners have thrashed the tits out of it !!!!!!!!!

[PIG]

how long ago was the picture taken gaz? just your hair has got longer m8

[Guest MK1gaz]

how long ago was the picture taken gaz? just your hair has got longer m8

That was before i had the botox !!!!!!!!

[ZetecVan 2.0]

I'm probably going to plump for the XE for my next project. I'm undecided between that and a 4age turbo.

[Cookie]

Good thread

 

I am in this current dilema with my mk2 cortina, All along I have told myself xe all the way, especially as I have had a few gsi's and know they go well out of the box, BUT i have been looking for a bargain gsi to come up for the last year now and fook all! all to expensive

 

But I have scrapped several mondeo's with zetecs in them and have a 2.0 ghia down there now with a lovely runner in

 

So am swaying towards the zetec for the simple fact I got one and if it goes bang i can go and find another complete running car for acouple of quid

 

BUT and this is my big BUT, i drive the old mans mondy 2.0 ghia everyday as all my cars are off the rd being fixed or up for sale and to tight too tax them I do not find the mondy quick at all, it seems to be so restricted, fair enough you are cruising at 80 when it only feels like 40-50 if you know what I mean, what I need to know is what these engines go like with a set of carbs and a bit of fiddling etc...

I am not interested in power quote bollox etc, I need to know real life, will the tyres light up??? will you beat that chavved up vtr in real life?

Also I know the conversion parts are add up to a fair wedge, is there any bits you could make? adapt from something else etc???

 

 

If i go for this then my cortina can get started, I have'nt got the will to start it before i know for sure where I'm going with it sort of thing

[Kieran]

XE

[Mr Sam]

pinto nuff said

 

[Mr Sam]

A well set up standard XE on carbs with a good exhaust probably won't make 180 bhp unless it's a new re-built one and not some 15 year old scrap yard special from some old rinsed out Astra GTE . That's 30 bhp more than when it was new in 1990 after 10 carefull chav owners have thrashed the tits out of it !!!!!!!!!

 

that nova box was local to me until he planked it spinning off on some diesel at 20mph

[raymondmarble]

Cookie - My Zetec went like phook, lit the tyres on request, and although I never raced anyone in it, I know it would win. Not the cheapest though

[RChambers]

A zetec with throttle bodies/carbs is a completely different animal to how it behaves in a Mundano .

[mr zefect]

Ive driven lots of 18l and 20l zetecs in standerd mondeos and they go like crap but once all the emisions crap ect are all removed they go very well i am more than happy with mine and always gives me a grin when driving it and im not intrested in how much bhp its got.

[alladdin]

the instal issues and costs apply to both these engines. you can save or spend a lot depending on your skills/contacts.

if you just want a bolt in job as stated then your choice still dont change, both require induction,exhaust, ignition, sump, mounts.

the zetec then requires a water rail while the xe requires a bellhousing and possibly head mods where the dizzy was.

gaz is correct but i will clarify " it will make 180 bhp but not if shagged out"

for my own choice ... read cookies post..... my thinking exactly.