General Zetec powered Caterhams/7's discussion

[Vovchandr]

Here is a detailed one for the SVT blue one labeled as "Doug" (2nd down on the list) Very similar to the other one posted above

 

Zetec SVT Engine with Jenvey throttle bodies.

 

176hp at wheels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MV8]

Completely apples to oranges of course, but it is interesting to compare to a mildy tweaked slant six with a single carb. Very similar hp curve up to 5500 rpm but the torque curve is more like a table around 160 ft lbs. Much heavier engine too (high nickel blocks) though some were aluminum.

[Vovchandr]

I plotted mine against all those others for fun...

 

[Vovchandr]

Any one has any recommendations for cams? 

[Vovchandr]

On 11/17/2023 at 11:24 PM, Vovchandr said:

Any one has any recommendations for cams? 

 

Still curious on this matter.

[pethier]

I have a 1991 Caterham 1700 Super Sprint and am wondering how difficult it is to install a 2-litre Zetec engine in place of the original 1700 Super Sprint engine.

 

I friend of mine has a Birkin which came to him with a Zetec.  He converted it from the side-draft Webers to Mikuni injection with adaptors.  He is now converting the Birkin to all-electric.  He has sold me his entire collection of gasoline equipment:  Zetec engine, 5-speed transmission, fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel-injection management hardware using MegaSquirt, radiator, the whole ball of wax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MV8]

. I don't know about tank interchange but you should be able to fit Cat engine mount arms and mounts. A custom driveshaft will probably be necessary for length and to adapt your axle to his trans, with new parts or modifying your old one. Plenty of shops can do that work and balance the shaft. You will need to know the right length. I measure bearing cap center to center instead of overall which can vary with slip yoke. The measurement should be 1/2 inch less than the distance with the slip yoke bottomed into the transmission.

Don't assume the tune is good as-is. Hopefully you received the webers too. 

 

I may be interested in the birkin bare roller (no batts, controller, or motor) once interest in the electric wains.

[pethier]

My friend sold off the Webers.  I of course have Webers on the 1700, but I would rather have injection.

 

There are dyno-tuners in the Twin Cities who know MegaSquirt.

[das76]

15 hours ago, pethier said:

I have a 1991 Caterham 1700 Super Sprint and am wondering how difficult it is to install a 2-litre Zetec engine in place of the original 1700 Super Sprint engine.

 

@pethier

I'm far from an expert (1yr Caterham owner), but my 2005 Superlight R with a Zetec SVT has a cutout in the frame to accommodate the engine . From what I have been told the cutout is Zetec specific. This might not be the case with a non-SVT Zetec (I'm not sure to be honest). But others probably know more than me. Worth investigating for sure!

[Vovchandr]

52 minutes ago, das76 said:

 

@pethier

I'm far from an expert (1yr Caterham owner), but my 2005 Superlight R with a Zetec SVT has a cutout in the frame to accommodate the engine . From what I have been told the cutout is Zetec specific. This might not be the case with a non-SVT Zetec (I'm not sure to be honest). But others probably know more than me. Worth investigating for sure!

 

Easy fix. Swap to ITB. If I recall my setup is nowhere near the cutout. 

[pethier]

2 hours ago, das76 said:

 

@pethier

I'm far from an expert (1yr Caterham owner), but my 2005 Superlight R with a Zetec SVT has a cutout in the frame to accommodate the engine . From what I have been told the cutout is Zetec specific. This might not be the case with a non-SVT Zetec (I'm not sure to be honest). But others probably know more than me. Worth investigating for sure!

That looks like the fuel-injection intake.  The Mikuni setup looks like it occupies similar space as the Weber carbs, so I don't think I have anything that looks like this.

Edited July 25, 2024 by pethier

[pethier]

2 hours ago, Vovchandr said:

 

Easy fix. Swap to ITB. If I recall my setup is nowhere near the cutout. 

I assume ITB means Individual Throttle Bodies.  I believe that is the Mikuni setup.  I think there is an adaptor for each cylinder and each adaptor in turn carries a Mikuni throttle body.

 

Have I mentioned that I do not yet have any of this hardware at my home shop?  It is all still in his shop's loft over his machine shop.  He has a full-coverage hoist, so when the time comes, we can place each component in my pickup truck.

[pethier]

14 hours ago, MV8 said:

. I don't know about tank interchange but you should be able to fit Cat engine mount arms and mounts. A custom driveshaft will probably be necessary for length and to adapt your axle to his trans, with new parts or modifying your old one. Plenty of shops can do that work and balance the shaft. You will need to know the right length. I measure bearing cap center to center instead of overall which can vary with slip yoke. The measurement should be 1/2 inch less than the distance with the slip yoke bottomed into the transmission.

Don't assume the tune is good as-is. Hopefully you received the webers too. 

 

I may be interested in the birkin bare roller (no batts, controller, or motor) once interest in the electric wains.

I don't think his interest is going to wane.  He is a serious individual.

[Vovchandr]

18 hours ago, pethier said:

I have a 1991 Caterham 1700 Super Sprint and am wondering how difficult it is to install a 2-litre Zetec engine in place of the original 1700 Super Sprint engine.

 

I friend of mine has a Birkin which came to him with a Zetec.  He converted it from the side-draft Webers to Mikuni injection with adaptors.  He is now converting the Birkin to all-electric.  He has sold me his entire collection of gasoline equipment:  Zetec engine, 5-speed transmission, fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel-injection management hardware using MegaSquirt, radiator, the whole ball of wax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you happen to know if it was SVT or what power it put down?

[pethier]

15 minutes ago, Vovchandr said:

 

Do you happen to know if it was SVT or what power it put down?

No.  I don't know anything about the origin of this Birkin or its engine.  

[11Budlite]

On 7/25/2024 at 12:47 AM, pethier said:

I have a 1991 Caterham 1700 Super Sprint and am wondering how difficult it is to install a 2-litre Zetec engine in place of the original 1700 Super Sprint engine.

 

I friend of mine has a Birkin which came to him with a Zetec.  He converted it from the side-draft Webers to Mikuni injection with adaptors.  He is now converting the Birkin to all-electric.  He has sold me his entire collection of gasoline equipment:  Zetec engine, 5-speed transmission, fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel-injection management hardware using MegaSquirt, radiator, the whole ball of wax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's a pretty good write-up of one owners conversion to a Zetec on this site: http://my.voyager.net/~quadrant19/XF-to-Zetec.html

 

I've seen this car in person and went for a ride with the owner at the TOTD and it was done very well.

[addict]

would anyone be able to share a base map for a caterham 7 with a pectel t2, zetec, and itbs? I'm having some issues with my tune and want to start somewhere fresh... perhaps @Vovchandr? 

[Vovchandr]

19 minutes ago, addict said:

would anyone be able to share a base map for a caterham 7 with a pectel t2, zetec, and itbs? I'm having some issues with my tune and want to start somewhere fresh... perhaps @Vovchandr? 

 

I have this on hand. If it doesn't work I can dig mine up from the other laptop

 

XACT3A greg map

[addict]

3 hours ago, Vovchandr said:

 

I have this on hand. If it doesn't work I can dig mine up from the other laptop

 

XACT3A greg map 7.13 kB · 0 downloads

appreciate it! I just got on a plane for a quick work trip but when I'm back I'll give this a try and see if it gets me closer to a solution!