New car...

[massivewangers]

Not an RS, sorry. I had seriously considered buying an RS2000, I could have afforded one, but after chatting to a few owners, the maintenence costs put me off a little, as the bits seem to be a bit pricey for the engines, and at uni I'm limited to on street parking, so having an RS badged car didn't seem the wisest move sadly.

Anyway, I have something of a compromise now, and here it is, an R-plate Escort Ghia, 4 door saloon so it's practical, nice big boot and four doors to get the booster seat in and out of, all that business.

Couple of pics from a meet yesterday:





Spec as follows:

2.0 Mondeo Zetec engine, stripped and reassembled with new gaskets and bits, bores all checked and fine.
4-2-1 manifold with stainless system and de-cat
Lurid yellow rocker cover (being changed!!!!)
Perspex cambelt cover (now swapped for standard item)

New gas shocks
RS2000 rear springs
RS2000 optional Eibach front lowering springs
New steering rack
New Ford lower suspension arms

Unknown 16" alloys (look like big MK5 XR3i wheels though)
Four new 205/45 tyres

300mm Focus ST170 brake disks
Mondeo MK3 calipers

Ghia X Leather seats and doorcards
Alpine CD/MP3/Bluetooth headunit with glovebox USB connection
Alpine Processor mounted behind dash
Boston Acoustics front Components in doors with tweeters in a-pillars
US Amps 800W amplifier mounted under rear shelf
US Amps subwoofer mounted in custom enclosure in wheel well
Sound deadened boot and doors

The stereo cost a fortune, sounds good but I'm not that bothered about it. Tempted to change it around a bit so I can have a spare back in it. I'm not too keen on the handling, will fit the disk beam off an RS2000 at some point, as the back end feels a bit loose, and maybe the front strut brace off a cabby too. Body isn't mint, but I'm not too bothered as it lives on the side of the road, but I may do bits to tidy it here and there.

Anyway, I know it's not an RS, but being at uni, I had to try my best to keep my sensible hat on, this has a few toys, and is nice and comfortable and practical, and with a few more modifications in the pipeline, should have the pace of the RS2000, just with a bit more luxury and sensibility

[Churchy]

Still can't get away from orions can ya

[massivewangers]

I know!!!! I keep trying but keep being drawn back to them for some reason 

[RST-Steve]

Looks a cracking motor for the money Jon!

As a side note, my RS2000 didn't really cost me anything to run (one of the reasons i regret selling it) BUT fair play about the practicality etc

[massivewangers]

You do have a point there Mr Steve, but yours was a nice low mileage one, I would have been looking at higher mileage examples, so it would have been more risky. Phil B and Kev (minirotty) did warn me about the risks, and they're both quite up on the engines, Kev especially.

I'm happy anyway, I don't need a badge, I have an extra big arse instead 

[Churchy]

You do have a point there Mr Steve, but yours was a nice low mileage one, I would have been looking at higher mileage examples, so it would have been more risky. Phil B and Kev (minirotty) did warn me about the risks, and they're both quite up on the engines, Kev especially.

I'm happy anyway, I don't need a badge, I have an extra big arse instead 

Craig's Mk5 RS2K was written off sometime back and he's breaking it, so why not drop an I4 in the orion???

[RST-Steve]

ooooooh now theres a thought!! Especially as he has the items required for the 2.3 conversion

[massivewangers]

I4 would be nice, but would bugger the insurance sadly. This is quite expensive really. Anyway, with a few more tweaks, I should be up to RS2000 power anyway I hope 

[Churchy]

I4 would be nice, but would bugger the insurance sadly. This is quite expensive really. Anyway, with a few more tweaks, I should be up to RS2000 power anyway I hope 

Would it hell be expensive, your not 18 anymore sunshine

Don't write it off before you found out some quotes, ring the right places and I think you might be pleasently suprised

[rstaaron]

Why would you want an I4 engine anyway?? The zetec is loads easier to get more power from (it helps that people actualy sell performance parts for zetecs), the only reason to go for the I4 is to be different. A recent issue of Fast Ford (you may have seen it ) has an RS2000 with the 2.3 conversion and it seems it's alot of hassle for 180 bhp.

[Churchy]

Why would you want an I4 engine anyway?? The zetec is loads easier to get more power from (it helps that people actualy sell performance parts for zetecs), the only reason to go for the I4 is to be different. A recent issue of Fast Ford (you may have seen it ) has an RS2000 with the 2.3 conversion and it seems it's alot of hassle for 180 bhp.

Because your dropping 150bhp straight in, and IMO is more reliable left std than a zetec tuned to 160bhp!

[RST-Steve]

I just put a mongoose cat back exhaust and k+n panel filter onto my RS2000 and it pulled like a train.... the 'add ons' just made it sound good! 

I know it had only done 47k when i sold it (bugger!!) BUT it was almost bullet proof.......... correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't the Zetec use a cambelt?? I know the I4 obviously has the chain.... one reason for its strength!

[massivewangers]

This has proved more expensive than I thought it would. Not expensive in the grand scheme of things, but I'm a skint student now remember  

Incidentally, the reason for fitting the 2.3 to RS2000s isn't to gain power, as the power output is roughly the same between the 2.3 and 2.0, but the 2.3 gives much better torque figures and mid range grunt.

If anyone remembers Gavin Dents old 2.3 RS2000, that goes to show what a 2.3 can do, as that went bloody well really!

I'm sure we could debate the benefits and drawbacks of each engine all day long, but I do like the Zetec, it's cheap as chips to maintain, and can produce reasonable numbers without too much work. It does the job anyway

[RST-Steve]

If anyone remembers Gavin Dents old 2.3 RS2000, that goes to show what a 2.3 can do, as that went bloody well really!

Lovely car that was/is......... he's still got it i believe!

[Fireball]

I4?? never heard that before, is it a type of early zetec?

(Steve goes back to cradling his CVH, with little knowledge of this strange new fangled technology)

[massivewangers]

The I4 is what was fitted to the MK5/6 RS2000. It's a chain driven, twin cam 16v, adapted from the 8v version fitted into later 2.0 Sierras. A 2.3 version was used in the Scorpio and the Galaxy also.

2.0 produced a shade under 150bhp, and the 2.3 around 145bhp, but with better torque levels. It's a heavy old engine, but quite reliable and got plenty of grunt.

People always say it isn't tuneable, which to be honest, is a lie. It is expensive to tune, due to not having much of a following. The Zetec and CVH have always been more popular, so people modified them, so the I4 was left alone by most. But there have been a few turbocharged examples that produced in excess of 300bhp, and it was also used in the RS2000 Maxi rally car around 96/97 and produced up to 280bhp in naturally aspirated form. Tell me that isn't tuneable....

[cozmeister]

Little known fact about the I4 - the pistons in the 8 valve engines have valve pockets in the crowns...but each piston has 4 pockets instead of two.  Originally, the Sierra versions were to have 16 valves, but some genius at Ford thought it were a bad idea to have 'another' 16 valve engine in the Sierra range, in case it detracted from sales of 'the' 16 valve Sierra, so the heads ended up with 8 valves instead.

That said, they produce maximum torque right down at the bottom end of the rev range - before 2000rpm if I remember right.

[RST-Steve]

People always say it isn't tuneable, which to be honest, is a lie. It is expensive to tune, due to not having much of a following. The Zetec and CVH have always been more popular, so people modified them, so the I4 was left alone by most. But there have been a few turbocharged examples that produced in excess of 300bhp, and it was also used in the RS2000 Maxi rally car around 96/97 and produced up to 280bhp in naturally aspirated form. Tell me that isn't tuneable....

It isn't THAT tunable tho, i mean yeah you can definatly turbo the I4, and bung on throttle bodies etc but after spending twice the price of the car on building the engine, it seems a little excessive imo, especially when the car drives and pulls so nicely as standard! 

I think when people say you can't do anything to them (i said the same about mine) its just down to cost really and how far you want to go......... a key example here being my Series 2 and Matt's Mk6 RS2000........ a stage 1 tune @ APT and a stainless exhaust, with combined cost of around £700 ish gave me an increase of about 30-40bhp......... Matt's £3k got him about 10-20bhp extra... OUCH!!! 

Torque is obviously the major player with the I4 over the CVH BUT the options ARE a lot more limited and its a hard old slog getting those extra ponnies! 




Yes, you did just read that right............ steve getting slightly technical!!  LOL

[Churchy]

People always say it isn't tuneable, which to be honest, is a lie. It is expensive to tune, due to not having much of a following. The Zetec and CVH have always been more popular, so people modified them, so the I4 was left alone by most. But there have been a few turbocharged examples that produced in excess of 300bhp, and it was also used in the RS2000 Maxi rally car around 96/97 and produced up to 280bhp in naturally aspirated form. Tell me that isn't tuneable....

It isn't THAT tunable tho, i mean yeah you can definatly turbo the I4, and bung on throttle bodies etc but after spending twice the price of the car on building the engine, it seems a little excessive imo, especially when the car drives and pulls so nicely as standard! 

I think when people say you can't do anything to them (i said the same about mine) its just down to cost really and how far you want to go......... a key example here being my Series 2 and Matt's Mk6 RS2000........ a stage 1 tune @ APT and a stainless exhaust, with combined cost of around £700 ish gave me an increase of about 30-40bhp......... Matt's £3k got him about 10-20bhp extra... OUCH!!! 

Torque is obviously the major player with the I4 over the CVH BUT the options ARE a lot more limited and its a hard old slog getting those extra ponnies! 




Yes, you did just read that right............ steve getting slightly technical!!  LOL

To be fair to Matt, his exhaust maifold was leaking when he got 160bhp.

[RST-Steve]

Yeah exactly, that accounted for the 157BHP but even the target 170BHP isn't that much of an increase although that car pulled like a train!!!! Sorry for reminding you Matt, WAS a lovely car!!

[massivewangers]

The problem is, you're comparing two very different animals really. It is more expensive to get power from a normally aspirated engine, there's no doubt about it, but the power is there to be had. The I4 is quite a torquey engine, but I would wager a turbo CVH would do a lot better job of producing it, when at stage 1 than a mildly tweaked I4.

I would say the I4 is very very tuneable, easily as good as the Zetec IMO. But with less of a following, it's just more expensive. I feel it is a very underrated engine myself. People are always quick to jump on the bandwagon and say you can't do anything to it. That is an innaccurate statement. You can do bucketloads to it, it's just more expensive. People have been tuning CVH rattle boxes forever and a day. They were so under-tuned from the factory that releasing ponies is easy. The I4 was actually relatively highly specced as standard (150bhp is quite good for a 2.0 from 92) so it's harder to get those gee gees. And you can't just wind the boost up, you gotta be a bit cleverer than that!

[RST-Steve]

Your right Jon, this discussion could go on for a week LOL!!

[Fireball]

People always say it isn't tuneable, which to be honest, is a lie. It is expensive to tune, due to not having much of a following. The Zetec and CVH have always been more popular, so people modified them, so the I4 was left alone by most. But there have been a few turbocharged examples that produced in excess of 300bhp, and it was also used in the RS2000 Maxi rally car around 96/97 and produced up to 280bhp in naturally aspirated form. Tell me that isn't tuneable....

It isn't THAT tunable tho, i mean yeah you can definatly turbo the I4, and bung on throttle bodies etc but after spending twice the price of the car on building the engine, it seems a little excessive imo, especially when the car drives and pulls so nicely as standard! 

I think when people say you can't do anything to them (i said the same about mine) its just down to cost really and how far you want to go......... a key example here being my Series 2 and Matt's Mk6 RS2000........ a stage 1 tune @ APT and a stainless exhaust, with combined cost of around £700 ish gave me an increase of about 30-40bhp......... Matt's £3k got him about 10-20bhp extra... OUCH!!! 

Torque is obviously the major player with the I4 over the CVH BUT the options ARE a lot more limited and its a hard old slog getting those extra ponnies! 




Yes, you did just read that right............ steve getting slightly technical!!  LOL

WTF did he spend 3 GRAND ON?!?! Bloody Nora.

N/A is so hard to get power from, especially an "unpopular" or un supported engine. £3k on a CVH Turbo would have you eating scoobies for goodness sake, with a gearbox to match!

[massivewangers]

If you spent your money right, £3k could have you a pretty decent Zetec turbo to be honest...

[Fireball]

If you spent your money right, £3k could have you a pretty decent Zetec turbo to be honest...

Exactly, I was wondering what kind of wizardry £3k would get you in the N?A World on an RS2000? Must have been extensive head work?