ford fiesta 1.25 zetec - improving engine performance

[luv2cruise]

hi i recently brought a ford fiesta 1.25 zetec, and as the outside of the car is exactly how i want it to be, i decided to start workin on the engine. eventually i am goin to put either a 1.6 rs turbo engine in it, or a 1.8 zetec. but until then i was wonderin wot little mods i can add to the engine to increase power and performance. the engine is completely standard atm except for a k&n air filter.

hope to hear some of ur feedback.

[NightDriver]

Leave it alone and save your money for a 1.7 racing puma engine conversion. Personally wouldn't bother trying to stick any other engine in one.

The 1.25 is a great little engine but without spending loads its not going to see any serious gains. Cheapest way to good power is to just stick a 1.7 in.

Cheers

[Damian S]

In terms of basic mods, youll be parting with way more fifty quid notes than youll gain in horses. The resulting power increase will be marginal, and youll still get beaten by the 1.6 brigade.

No disrespect but why dont you just buy a better car from the outset. Its all very well sticking a bigger lump in ... but what about the brakes, suspension etc? As well as the engine youll need to replace the fuel system, ecu, wiring loom etc etc. Im pretty certain the final bill will end up costing more than the difference in price between your car and a higher spec model. Then there is the cost of getting your highly modified car insured, irrespective of the final power output.

Bottom line is, its pointless and a waste of money. buy a better car from the outset if performance is important to you.

[FWDRacer]

Agree wholeheartedly with the above posts. Stick with the standard 1.25cc lump for couple of years and then buy yourself a 1.7 Puma or a Zetec-S Fiesta (Only Grp8 Ins). Both cars will open up a whole new world of Fun motoring.

[Dimski]

Yup.

Agree with above, its a waste of money trying to improve the 1.25.

Anyway, the 1.25 16v fiesta is fantastic to drive considering its little engine. (As I am sure you know, co-designed with Yamaha)

Just enjoy the way it drives, which trust me is better than any punto or polo...

[luv2cruise]

cheers for all ur imput, but i got my heart set on puttin a bigger engine in, in the nxt year or so. it may b cheaper to buy a faster car straight off and not bother wiv the conversion, but for the money that i paid for the car and the condition it is in, i believe it will be better to do it this way. even if it costs me around £5k for the conversion.

[Dimski]

Fair enough pal, do it!

But plenty of people get fooled by emotional attachment to their motors... Sometimes its best to be a cool hearted b*****d.

At least thats what I keep telling my friends. Well not friends so much as acquaintances I tolerate!!!

[tigger1]

luv2cruise said:

cheers for all ur imput, but i got my heart set on puttin a bigger engine in, in the nxt year or so. it may b cheaper to buy a faster car straight off and not bother wiv the conversion, but for the money that i paid for the car and the condition it is in, i believe it will be better to do it this way. even if it costs me around £5k for the conversion.

Before you do - have a few companies give you a "fictitious" insurance quote.

[NightDriver]

luv2cruise said:

cheers for all ur imput, but i got my heart set on puttin a bigger engine in, in the nxt year or so. it may b cheaper to buy a faster car straight off and not bother wiv the conversion, but for the money that i paid for the car and the condition it is in, i believe it will be better to do it this way. even if it costs me around £5k for the conversion.

Thats fair enough. But as has been said get some insurance quotes, most will be expensive and require a full engineers report on the conversion.

I paid less for my Gti6 at 18 than I did for my 1.7 fiesta at 19.... The gti was the quicker, better handling, more reliable car hence why I still have that and dont have the fiesta. But, its your car and your money so if your willing to swallow the conversion cost (wont add anything to resale value unfortunately, found that out the hard way) then go for it.