So who has or is building a Zetec Elan or +2

[twincamman]

good one Tommy ed

[billwill]

Ed baby!...... I beg to differ..... 50+mph rear ended accident by3 year old Ford Focus into my +2 resulted in 1no insurance write off and hospital visit for injured driver of Ford focus and a repair bill for my +2 but no injury for me..... fibreglass shell equals natural crumple zones.

Police have to simulate accident that results in injury by law over here..... 50+ mph impact was their analysis of the accident and amazement and amiration of a 40+ year old design

Yersss...

I've often wondered how much kinetic energy will go flying off in the smashed bits of fibre-glass.

Our steering shafts must be rather dangerous though, if the impact makes it as far as the chassis.

I'm only a little fella so my seat is far forward & hence the steering column is fully forward on the sliding shaft. No crushability there.

============

I had a Mini crash into the side of my Elan, just behind the door once, long ago at around 20mph. The left front wing and headlight of the Mini was a crumpled mess, but there was no sign of any impact at all on my Elan. However some crazing did appear there many years later.

[twincamman]

well it turns out the fatality at the end of my street had found a cure for stupid ----100 mph in a subdivision with traces of pot and a few beers -------but I still don't want to crash 40 year old fiberglass in a car where the main job of your body is to protect the chassis - ---ed

[billwill]

Can someone please educate me as to which car(s) the Zetec & Duratec engines were originally used for?

[Robbie693]

Can someone please educate me as to which car(s) the Zetec & Duratec engines were originally used for?

Most Fords from early '90's onwards, so Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo amongst others

Cheers

Robbie

[types26/36]

Can someone please educate me as to which car(s) the Zetec & Duratec engines were originally used for?

http://www.burtonpower.com/technical_1/zetec_e.aspx
http://www.burtonpower.com/technical_1/duratec_he.aspx

[billwill]

Oh, so what was the engine in a 1987 Fiesta XR2?

[types26/36]

Oh, so what was the engine in a 1987 Fiesta XR2?

I dont really know but I'm sure its in here somewhere
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta
But here is some thing I did see
"the XR2 hot hatch became a cult car beloved of boy racers throughout the 1980s."

[Robbie693]

Oh, so what was the engine in a 1987 Fiesta XR2?

That was the CVH, also used in the Escort

Robbie

[graffiti]

Details of my brothers Sprint
Lotus Elan Sprint 1972

Ground up rebuild consisting of:-
New Spyder galvanised chassis
Ford Zetec 1800 twin cam engine (180bhp)
Scorpio 6 spd box
Full roll cage and sips
Emerald engine management system fitted
14? Minilites
Bespoke radiator
Bespoke fuel tank
4 point race harness fitted
Central locking
Alarm/immobiliser
Handbrake relocated between seats
New Burr walnut dashboard
New Hood & Tonneau
Radio relocated
Body stripped back to Gel Coat, 2 primers and 3 top coats

[seho]

Hello.

I just bought an early +2, 1967, fitted with a 2 liters zetec, silver top from 1996.

It obviously not a factory spyder done one, but has a spyder space frame, mt75 gearbox, but still with lotus suspensions and KO wheels.
Many things need looking at, like exhaust flexible which scratches quite often, and silencer (jag xj40 apparently) protruding far too much behind. I don't know why they did put such a long tub by the way.
Engine still have Ford inlet and injection system, but I hope to be able to change one day to more efficient one to release a few BHP. Right now it would 7000 easily, didn't try higher, so I don't know if it's original or not. Any idea?
About being an enthusiast or not when using a zetec one, I bought it to test "cheaply" (yes it was quite cheap) as I've been thinking of doing it on a 69 S4 I've had for years, in parts, with rebuilt engine, but I was looking for more and was worried about reliability.
Now I'm thinking of developping the +2, with track days and every days use in mind, and rebuilding the s4 with original engine, but still with a 5 speeds.
I just want to be able using my classics, with every day driving and parking in Paris which is the case of the +2 since I bought it (drove it back 500 miles to France) and of my other classics.

[spyzee]

I've just completed my first 1,000 miles in mine after almost a year of putting it all together. Chassis and engine from Spyder and a +2s 130 from a garage in darkest Sussex. I've had a blast, mostly emotional ranging from the depths of despair to wallowing in my own inventive genius. After reading some of the entries in this forum then this actually sounds like the norm. One minute I find myself awed by the design and beauty of the +2 and the next I just cannot believe how anyone could possibly design such an electrical system.

The car has been built to be used and it handles my 120 mile a day commute with ease along a nice mixure of M4 and the back roads. I've fitted some leather MX5 seats and the difference they have made is staggering. They are very comfortable and the change in driving position completely alters the feel of the car so instead of sitting almost in its bowels and hanging on to the steering wheel I'm now in complete charge of it and it's going to do what I want it to do when I want to do it. (I hope she's not listening).

I've converted the petrol breather to the Spyder system and have installed the failsafe headlamp bar.

However there are still a few things to do:

Rolling road session: I don't think she's chucking out anything like the 180bhp the engine is supposed to deliver. She goes well but I think it could be a lot better. I'm using the Zet2 map from Emerald and getting a constant 33mpg.

Interior trim: I'd like somewhere to put things so I'm looking to build a subtle centre console - nothing elaborate - does anyone have something practical they'd like to share? Door panels, I hate the carpet bit but admire its practicality - jury's out on this at the moment. The MX5 seats are a good colour and grain match so I'll leave the rest alone (for a while anyway).

Rewire: I've plumbed the new electrics into the existing system and it all works ok. I bought a a new loom when I picked up the chassis so that's going to be a winter project (maybe not this winter though) and I'm thinking about keeping the fuse box under the bonnet but housing it in waterproof container, bit like a tupperware sandwich box.

Electric headlamp pop-up: Have an MX5 motor ready but the current vacuum system is working fine at the moment. I'm also looking to wire up the spot lights on a flasher stalk. Any suggestions out there?

Larger fuel tank: Need a better range per tankfull. Also need to baffle it for the forthcoming track days.

Exhaust manifold: Hate it, too low so thinking on how to gain the precious inch here.

First things first though - need speed, rolling road. Does anyone have tips on the ZET2 map until then?

Colin

[Spyder fan]

Hi Colin,

I have had my +2 zetec for nearly 3 years now and still love it; I tell anyone who will listen that it is a very practical alternative to a modern Elise, there's so much more room and the performance is very similar including the twisty bits, I regularly put Elise's and Exiges to shame on track days.

There are a few downsides to the conversion as you mention (nothings perfect), the clearance of the exhaust manifold is a particular issue when negotiating speed humps and poorly surfaced back roads, I have a sacrificial skid plate welded to mine and raise the ride height by 20mm using the adjustable spring platforms for road use, when on track I lower it a little although the compression at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend at Brands Hatch is a problem meaning I have to leave it at road height or risk a black flag for trailing a shower of sparks

Performance wise I have a gas flowed head, raised compression and racier cams which is supposed to put out in the region of 190 - 200 bhp, it's been rollered for a power run only at 193bhp (no alterations), so I was happy with that although I did feel the car was a bit light on power when driven, Andy at Spyder says that the +2 Zetec is a 'Deceptively Quick Car', by which he means you are accelerating and going an awful lot faster than you think, this is a good theory I think as I am always wondering why everyone else is driving so slow on the road and Elise's are easy meat at Castle Combe, you just need to get the line right going into a corner and next straight you are powering past. I had the valve/cam timing altered about a year ago which made the low rev pickup a lot peppier, ask Andy at Spyder about this, it's worth getting him to do it for you and makes the car appear more powerful. Leave the Emerald map well alone unless you really know what you are doing, probably best to book a session at Emerald although you will have to wait a few weeks for a slot.

I changed my fuel tank for an aluminium item, it holds 12 gallons approximately and the fuel light starts flashing when there are 2 gallons left which is a useful reserve. I get about 40mpg on a run but this can go down to about 32mpg if I?m pressing on..... track days are best not mentioned for fuel economy

Regards

[spyzee]

Hi Alan,

The "deceptively quick car" bit is interesting because it feels quick up to 3,000rpm, then it seems a bit flat until about 5,500 rpm where it all gets a bit urgent. I've not been over 6500rpm yet and, as you say, there always seems to be a bit of space behind. I used to own an Escort twink and I used to say exactly that about it - you get used to it and think it's slowed down a bit but there was always a fair bit of space behind.

Unfortunately I live the wrond side of the country for a quick trip to Norfolk or Peterborough but Emerald have given the name of a chap local to me with a rolling road and Emerald ECU experience. I will book a session and see what happens.

[seho]

Hi Alan.

Your car seems really interesting and pretty much what I'd like mine to be one day. I've a friend at French Lotus club who's waiting for me to come to track days, and they are stuffed with elises and exiges !

So just to estimate how far I am from that, is it possible to know what companies you used for your performance upgrades, head, cams and ECU I guess, and what are the costs ?
Are they possible on a "silver top" zetec (still don't really know what are the differences with black ones)?
Your car seems to be on Lotus alloys, but what size of tyres do you use ?
I need to change mines, all dried, on Lotus alloys too, but there's so little clearance with spring plateform at rear that I'm not sure what to go for.
Does your exhaust (too low as mine), have the flexible part too just after downpipes ?
To fit the scorpio LSD, do you need special driveshaft and a particular model of spyder chassis ?
Sorry for all these question but you seem to know lot of stuff I've been wondering about, and excuse my english too.
Regards.