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Post by mastarforth on May 25, 2010 20:43:05 GMT
thanks matt
I will use this posting to show that other local offices accept same evidence for age related plate
Am still waiting for my local DVLA office to confirm my date, they took my payment on monday but have heard nothing else since.
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scottydog
Newbie
50% of budget now saved - build planned 2012
Posts: 15
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Post by scottydog on May 26, 2010 18:07:07 GMT
Just a few more questions and I reckon I will have more than enough info' to find my donor.
I am sure there will be a few differing opinions here - best engine? 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0? My first instinct is big is best - not always true though. It is quite possible to have too much power for a chassis. It seems the 1.8 is particularly popular - any particular reason?
I have seen cars with up to 250,000 miles so I guess Zetec's are good engines. What would be considered high mileage and probably safer to avoid?
Finally, are all Focus engines Zetec, and are there any models to avoid?
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mattsmev
Senior
It's only Rocket science...
Posts: 726
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Post by mattsmev on May 26, 2010 20:08:12 GMT
Hi Scottydog
Engines - difficult one, covered many times on this forum, decide what you want to do with it and make a choice. You could always buy brand new and go for a '10' plate
milage? again, a bit difficult, I went as low a I could and got an 04 plate with 33000 miles for £900, but the down side of that was the cat C write off and not a single straight panel on it. so I got less in my ebay sales. In my opinion that was the better route, but some prefer to buy a runner.
model choice? - my only mistake was to buy a focus with drum brakes at the rear, so i had to buy rear callipers from a scrap yard, that added extra cost (about £70) i could have avoided with more care.
Possibly best to buy a ghia so you get more trim things to sell, but if you find a low spec car with the right engine don't pass it up just because it's a LX
You can also use the focus wheels if they are good enough but not many people do. If you find a car with decent wheels that could save a few bob
Cheers
Mattsmev
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mightylad
Senior
.....Mighty MEV Rocket.....
Posts: 559
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Post by mightylad on May 27, 2010 6:50:23 GMT
Just a few more questions and I reckon I will have more than enough info' to find my donor. I am sure there will be a few differing opinions here - best engine? 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0? My first instinct is big is best - not always true though. It is quite possible to have too much power for a chassis. It seems the 1.8 is particularly popular - any particular reason? I have seen cars with up to 250,000 miles so I guess Zetec's are good engines. What would be considered high mileage and probably safer to avoid? Finally, are all Focus engines Zetec, and are there any models to avoid? Hi Scottydog, My donor was a running 1.8 Zetec with 77k miles on it (it was actually in better nick than my normal car!) it came with disks on the back and a private plate! the down side was that it cost me £1200 BUT it was a runner and complete (no damage)... I think that 1.8 engines are popular for a number of reasons: a) The 1.8 Focus is a popular car and so easier to find... 2) Comes with the smaller IB5 box which drops straight into the engine bay of the kit... c) Has the same block as the 2.0l/ST 170 meaning easy up-grade options once the car is on the road.... 4) Can be tuned to 150ish BHP (or so i hear!)... Cheers, Ol
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scottydog
Newbie
50% of budget now saved - build planned 2012
Posts: 15
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Post by scottydog on May 27, 2010 13:11:38 GMT
"Comes with the smaller IB5 box which drops straight into the engine bay of the kit..."
(can't work out how to quote properly ;D)
That is a decider for me - ease of installation. I've noticed more 1.8's than any others as well.
Thanks all.
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Post by Scott on May 27, 2010 19:02:18 GMT
Having built both 1.6 & 1.8, I cant really notice a great deal of difference but building using a 1.6 was definitely easier, Don't rule out the 1.6 there's alot to be said for the lighter 1.6, just ask Matt !!!! Just my two pennies worth,, Scott
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scottydog
Newbie
50% of budget now saved - build planned 2012
Posts: 15
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Post by scottydog on Jul 20, 2010 20:39:46 GMT
I sold my Alpine a few months ago and the money is presently sitting in the bank. Only 20% of the way to my Rocket budget and have been haemorrhaging money on all the wrong stuff for a couple months. Saving for the rocket could take a while.........
So, being a bit bored I have ended up with a 1999 Mondeo (well 50/50 with a friend actually). It was being scrapped and we paid silly low money for it and is just something to muck around with until I can afford a kit. The original plan was to break it and sell the parts on eBay but it is possible we might refurb it and see if we can get it MOT'd.
A third option could be to use the engine/gearbox for the Rocket. It's done 202k miles so I am thinking about a complete engine rebuild.
My question is, would Mondeo parts be suitable for a Rocket on the basis that I want to buy a lot of new components anyway - upgraded brakes, MEV loom etc.... I don't plan on using too many second hand parts if I can afford not to. Also, does anyone know if the gearbox ratio's are the same?
Thanks.
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scottydog
Newbie
50% of budget now saved - build planned 2012
Posts: 15
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Post by scottydog on Jul 29, 2010 19:43:26 GMT
Anyone know if I can make use of the Mondeo engine if I rebuild it?
Will I still need lots of bits from a Focus anyway ?
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Post by Scott on Jul 30, 2010 7:54:44 GMT
Im not to sure on the Mondeo, but you will need plenty of bits from the Focus, and the Mileage on that engine is a fair bit, If it was me i would wait for that focus Doner to come up,,,
Scott
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scottydog
Newbie
50% of budget now saved - build planned 2012
Posts: 15
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Post by scottydog on Aug 2, 2010 19:10:04 GMT
OK - thanks Scott.
I was thinking about a complete rebuild of the Mondeo engine if I were to use it - but it doesn't sound practical.
I will just have to be patient until the money is available I guess.
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scottydog
Newbie
50% of budget now saved - build planned 2012
Posts: 15
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Post by scottydog on Apr 26, 2011 19:26:47 GMT
As we had the Mondeo we decided to pull it apart anyway. It turns out the engine was in pretty good condition (and double checked by an engineer) so we decided to rebuild it as a project since I can't afford the MEV kit just yet (over half way there now though - this time next year I will be ordering mine ;D)
It's been a complete rebuild and if it runs as well as we hope I am tempted to use it in my kit as the rest of the Mondy is past its best. I also very much like the idea of using an engine I've rebuilt in a car I've built - and I want to use pretty much all new parts anyway so can avoid a donor completely all being well.
Looking forward to becoming an official MEV owner next year - in the meantime rebuilding this engine has been great fun!
One question - hoping someone can help out - I am struggling to find the routing for the auxilliary drive belt the aircon is not needed. Everything has been photographed throughout the build except for the original routing of the belt as it was removed with the engine in situ.
Just wondering if anyone could post a pic' or link to a pic of the drive belt route on their 1999 1.8l zetec please? Or e-mail to simon@simontscott.com. Would be much appreciated - thanks ;D Slightly confused as the diagram in the Haynes manual doesn't quite look like our engine.
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Post by bigjeff on Apr 30, 2011 21:54:13 GMT
Hi - going back a bit - just joined! beware galvanizing - hot dip process can distort tubes you will need to provide lots of drain holes to reduce this and the surface finish can be rough and uneven!
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