Replace 1.8 CVH with 2.0 DOHC

[ColinM50]

I've broken the engine in my Sabre, had a head gasket go and the local garage that are fixing it tell me the heads BER and what's worse we can't seem to get hold of a refurbed head. A couple of complete engines for £100-150 on Ebay etc, but then what do I do? Bung in an unknown engine and hope it's OK, or have the head put on my bottom end? And if I do the latter it'll need skimming first so even more expense.

I'm not overly happy with the CVH engine anyway, it's by no means the fastest car on the road, not that I want high performance, but some would be nice. So I'm leaning towards swapping the 1.8CVH for a 2.0 DOHC. When they were new the 1.8 CVH put out 90bhp and the 2.0 DOHC 138bhp and I reckon that'd be about right.

Been offered a rusty Sierra GT with a supposedly good engine, 75,000 miles for £200, but I'm not sure if the engine mounts, and exhaust mountings are the same. The guy who's offered it to me is a mate and a genuine chap so I've got few fears that the engine will turn out to be a bummer, but I'm more concerned about how easy the swap will be. Is it just a staraight drop in? Bearing in mind I'm working abroad, I've got to pay a garage to do this work so the more work involved the more expensive it gets.

Anyone done this and got any tips? Obviosuly I'm aware that I'll also need the ECU and parts of the wiring loom from the scrapper, or would I be better off buying a Megajolt?

Any advice and help would be much appreciated

[S47]

By all means swop the engines, since you bought a complete 2litre DOHC car you'll have all the bits you need to do the job.
The 2litre DOhc is an excellent engine, much tougher than the rather feeble CVH.

[ColinM50]

Thanks S47. Do you know if it's just a straightforward unbolt one, bolt in the other? Or has "someone" got to fabricate loads of bits.

[singlecoil]

I don't know the CVH engine so I don't know if the mounts or exhaust will be the same. I do know that the inlet manifold is quite high on the efi models, and you may well have bonnet clearance issues.

[hidetheelephants]

You'd be better with a zetec, it's lighter than both the CVH and the DOHC/pinto and a better prospect for tuning. A duratec would be even better but will be pricier.

ETA This chap has a few tips on zetec installation.

Edited by hidetheelephants on Sunday 27th June 17:09

[S47]

ColinM50
I Swapped a pinto to a DOHC, like you I bought a complete sierra car, it's a fairly straight forward swop, though I kept my existing Type 9 gearbox instead of using the MT75 which came with the DOHC car.
The other addition I needed was a 2nd return fuel pipe. I also used the intank fuel pump for the dohc injection, [my pinto had 2 webers fitted] and used the complete sierra loom removing [unplugging] the bits I didn't use.
I'd say you need better than average mechanical ability to do the swop, though you certainly have all the bits required to finish the job.
The Dohc is a great engine lighter than the pinto and real grunty and economical when fitted into a kit.
Hope this helps
Mal

[Mr2Mike]

Note that parts availability for the DOHC is very limited indeed, if that engine goes pop then it will almost certainly be uneconomical to repair. A Zetec would certainly be a better long term choice, and has more in common with the CVH than the DOHC.

[S47]

Parts are available - I bought the unique cam chain tensioner From ford dealers recently, and picked up a brandnew spare water pump which again is unique to the dohc from a autojumble for £3 from his bargin bin because the dealer didn't know what car it was off/from:}
I don't think the parts will ever become unobtainable - after all it's a Ford and probably a few million engines were made for the escort/Sierra/granada/transit models.
and having picked up the sierra for little money its worthwhile fitting and using the DOHC engine IMO.
So go for it

[ColinM50]

Thanks chaps, learning all the time here. but then that's what these fora are for isn't it?

OK, listening to what you're all saying, there's another change of plan.

My mechanic went to see the Sierra engine and whilst being DOHC it's only 8 valves of course - for some odd reason I'd got it into my head that it was 16V but as you all know it isn't. Anyway he had a look at it and also at a Mondeo engine that was also for sale. Knowing I had a penchant for 16valves he called me and long story short, we've bought it. Ex Mondeo 2.0 16valve Duratec engine. He assures me it'll fit on my gearbox so since he's the chap doing it, I'll leaave it to him. He can get a wiring loom and ECU from the Mondeo, or is there a big gain for going with something like Megajolt?

Not too worried about saving a few quid since I'm into about £1K so far, another £500's neither here nor there. I want it to be right and a lot sharper and quicker than the CVH.

Any tips??

[singlecoil]

ColinM50 said:

Ex Mondeo 2.0 16valve Duratec engine. He assures me it'll fit on my gearbox so since he's the chap doing it, I'll leaave it to him. He can get a wiring loom and ECU from the Mondeo, or is there a big gain for going with something like Megajolt?

So which is it? Zetec or Duratec?

If it is a duratec (Mk 3 Mondeo) then there will be issues with the bellhousing, and the exhaust is on the other side.

[S47]

Good luck with your duratec badged Zetec, the more modern engines require aditional items compared to DOHC, eg ECU, lamda sensor etc. and will certainly cost you more than the DOHC which IMO is the easiest of the 'modern' Ford engines to fit into a kit, provided you have the complete DOHC donor car.
Either way good luck - let us all know how it works out
Mal

[hidetheelephants]

ColinM50 said:

Thanks chaps, learning all the time here. but then that's what these fora are for isn't it?

OK, listening to what you're all saying, there's another change of plan.

My mechanic went to see the Sierra engine and whilst being DOHC it's only 8 valves of course - for some odd reason I'd got it into my head that it was 16V but as you all know it isn't.

There are 8v and 16v versions of the DOHC, so not strictly true.

[Mr2Mike]

S47 said:

Good luck with your duratec badged Zetec, the more modern engines require aditional items compared to DOHC, eg ECU, lamda sensor etc. and will certainly cost you more than the DOHC which IMO is the easiest of the 'modern' Ford engines to fit into a kit, provided you have the complete DOHC donor car.
Either way good luck - let us all know how it works out
Mal

You don't need fuel injection to run a Zetec, it's quite possible (and quite common) to run them on carburettors.

[S47]

Mr2mike
I agree carbs can be used - but then why fit a Modern zetec or DoHC, you might as well fit a simple Pinto or X Flow?
Modern engines are designed for injection, carbs on modern engines are a big mistake IMO
Injection setup is so simple and once set it's set for the life of the engine [or until you make major changes], OH it's also greener on the jungle juice too and much better on the wa££et.
Just my 2 penneth mind you

[ColinM50]

As you may have seen from another thread here, we've had yet another change of plan. Gone off the Duratec but have definitely (I think) bought a wrecked Focus with a 2 litre Zetec in it. Hopefully I'll deliver my Sabre to him on Friday and with any luck will get it back within a fortnight with a nice new engine in.

Yeah right, like it'll happen that easily eh?

Anything we should be aware of that might prove "a challenge"?

[Mr2Mike]

S47 said:

Mr2mike
I agree carbs can be used - but then why fit a Modern zetec or DoHC, you might as well fit a simple Pinto or X Flow?
Modern engines are designed for injection, carbs on modern engines are a big mistake IMO

I would agree that fuel injection is better in almost every way, but some people like the simplicity of carbs.

Just because a modern engine is fitted with fuel injection in it's original application it doesn't mean they won't work well with carbs. A modern DOHC 16v engine is always going to have better power potential than old 8v engines; irrespective of the fuel system, they can make very good power on carbs, you just don't get the economy/driveability/emissions benefits that a modern, well calibrated injection system brings.