Sil_Pro5

that may be true then. (saying that the Zetec motor no longer has VCT.)

reason is this: i know that 2L Zetec engine changed when the Focus came out-didnt it? i read in one of the major rags that the Focus would have a new Zetec motor, and one that apparently the Euro's have had for some time now.

i know the valve covers alone are striking different from the Focus (black Zetec cover that is relatively flat) and the old ZX3 (esp. S/R edition.) one (aluminum and the cover looked almost banked at angles. hard to describe.)

so, perhaps the new engine no longer has VCT, whereas the older version did?

Sil_Pro5

i did some searching to describe what im talking about and here it is. youll have to follow the links.

this one is the fromt he "old" Zetec and its fitted to an Escort ZX/2. look closely on the cam cover's left side(where the pulleys are) and youll see a circular bump. thats the VCT. also notice the "VCT" written on the cover.

http://members.tripod.com/zetecpower/id125.htm




heres the "newer" Zetec engine in a newer model Focus. notice the shape and colour change of the cam cover?

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/ar...h01_0501.shtml

here notice no "hump" on the cam cover and also more tellingly, no "VCT" logo either. so, i suppose they really did re-engineer the engine or something! because you can defientely tell at least the cam cover and surrouding parts were either changed/moved around or they are using slightly different heads.

jlanger

You better not be knocking my duratech!!! It was something pretty special. If you were talking about the 2.3 duratech I can forgive you though. Just remember I can take you and just about everybody (with a stock pro) in a straight line and still stick with you in the twisties. Anyway I think that you do have a point, Ford learned early on that naming an engine design seems to make people want it more. Hence you see all the zetec, powerstroke, duratech, yamaha, etc. stuff in their literature. However, the orignal zetec was pretty impressive compared to what was out before as well as the duratech. I was quite impressed with the perforance of the little zx2, especially compared to that of the old escorts. As for the duratech just test drive an SVT or even an older SE sport and see what you think (after you fix the waterpump a couple of times!!).

kc5zom

Thats very good of you to notice. I would assume that there would have to be some pretty serious changes to get an extra 30hp. Ford is not referring to this engine as a Duratech (it would also set a bad precedent since Duratech has been used for V6 applications only in the past). But putting a RWD engine into a FWD application is like fitting a square peg in a round hole. Connection points for almost all of the components will have to change. The Mazda 6 will not be sharing the 2.3L in the Ranger.

kc5zom

I like the Contour SVT. It is a fun drive. But I was never very impressed by the 171hp 2.5L V6. I test drove one of these in the Cougar. Still can't stand the noise of the 2.0L in the Focus or ZX2. Way too much noise. I noticed some either people complaining about it too. My wife would flat out not even let me buy one because it was so loud. The Protege, on the other hand, has been relatively quiet and uneventful (except for that annoying engine rattle). But it still revs up when I want it to.

jstand6

Will the Mazda 6 and the next Protege share the 2.3L that's in the Ranger? Not in exact form, but basically yes. Kind of like the BP engine in the RWD Miata and FWD Protege...

Before you get jumped on... the Contour SVT made a lot more power than 171hp. That was the power rating for the Contour SE V6...

Personally, I preferred the Mazda 2.5L V6. Although the Duratec was quite good, I found the Mazda engine to be just a bit more refined, although they were strikingly similar in feel. Even today, the 10-year old Mazda 2.5L is still pretty impressive... just not in an automatic 626 or heavy Millenia!

jlanger

the 98.5 SVT put out about 200 after that it was going at 205. Of course at the wheels it's about 170 (142 for the regular 2.5) In fact SVT has a couple of Focus' running around with the SVT 2.5 engine in it. They are pretty cool.

kc5zom

Yeah. I kind of know how much horsepower an SVT Contour makes. I'm not a dumbass. I was talking about the standard 2.5L.

jlanger

Not trying to make you look like a dumbass (sorrry if it looks that way) I'm just a bit passionate about my tour. (why I don't know) The 2.5 has almost a cultlike following much like the protege. Quite overlooked and considerable bang for the buck (especially with the depreciation that they have now!)

P5er

2.0 l Zetec on ZX2 have some VCT but 2.0 l Zetec on ZX3 does not have any VCT.
2.3 l Duratec on Mazda6 will not be quite the same as 2.3l Duratec on Mazda3, Mazda6 will get it in a more quiet and smooth version (different engine mounts?)
Focus will get the same engine but in it's most primitive version without S-vt technology, so it's power may be only around 140hp what kinda sucks.
Anyway that new 2.3l Durtec will be just a differnet class than 2.0l Zetec or 2.0l from Pro5.
I had Zetec and in it's ZX3 version it was very noisy and harsh but it had a touch more pep on the bottom than our P5's 2.0l and it had way smoother cold starts than sounding like it's "falling apart" Pro5's engine.