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Cosworth BDA/Zetec Cam Cover


11Budlite

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Didn't want to take the SW7's Festival O/T, but I had to agree with SteveT about this: "I think I'm in love with that Cosworth motor. Do not tell the wife"

 

I've always loved the look of the Cosworth BDA motor and remembered seeing a cam cover that looked like a BDA but fit on the Zetec. So I googled it and came up with this:

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1775560467_bda1.jpeg

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1039528101_zetec1.jpeg

 

Not sure if it's still available, how much, or what's involved to fit it, but the contact info is here:

 

http://members.aol.com/hicksdavidr/bdacover.html

 

Should be a LOT cheaper than a genuine BDA motor!! :D

 

Bruce

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Sure Al, I'll try to contact him from home tonight. Quite frankly, I hadn't planned on swapping out my $30 eBay red powder-coated cam cover because it matched my Jenvey TB's perfectly! It would be nice to have a spare to swap out for a more classic look though! Not sure if it fits the ZX2 and ZX3 cam covers, but I'll ask that question too. Here's the modification instructions: http://members.aol.com/hicksdavidr/zeteccovermods.html

 

If it is still available, how many people might be interested?

 

Bruce

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Hi Mike,

 

Not sure if you have to modify the Zetec cap or use an aftermarket one, but that part should be "relatively" easy. There are some significant mods that would have to be done to the original cover. Check out the link above or a partial excerpt here:

 

"To enable the filling of oil on the wet sump cam cover there are two options available.

 

Option 1

 

Fig. 5 shows an un-modified cover with the oil filler at the rear of the cam cover. The filler on the BDA is at the front of the cam cover so the neck has to be moved. Fig. 6 shows the filler has be carefully removed with a hacksaw blade or mini hacksaw, with a blanking plate welded over the hole to provide oil tight sealing. The filler is then repositioned at the correct end of the cover and welded in place. The filler neck protrudes through the BDA cover allowing fitment of the filler cap

 

 

Option 2

 

The other option is a BDA cover that is available with a machined hole at rear of the cover that allows the original zetec filler neck to protrude through. This is available to the person that wants to modify the cover themselves but has no welding facility. Picture available shortly"

 

The one without the cap is the one for dry sump applications. :)

 

Bruce

 

 

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I e-mailed the seller about the cam cover and am waiting his reply. Will keep you updated....

 

Just in case this will only work on the ZX1 cam cover, does anybody know if the ZX1 cam cover will fit on the later engines?

 

"The seller is in the U.K. FYI. I'd think an enterprising youth on this side of the pond with access to a CNC machine could do some nice covers for both Zetec and Duratec? " - A little competition is always good, anybody interested??? :)

 

Bruce

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This cover IS nice. Looks very much the business. But the ZX1 cover isn't that bad either....

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/866373866_NoFilter.jpg

 

(That was a $70 polishing job at one of the local bike "bling" places)

 

Gert

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Gert - Looks nice, I like the ZX1 cover also! :)

 

Steve and anybody else with the ZX2 motor. Do you still have the actuator (?) at the front center of the cam cover? I'm just wondering if that would work with the BDA cover...I don't think they have that feature on the UK engines. Take a look on this picture of Folis' engine (hope he doesn't mind me using it):

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/818199314_FOLIS ENGINE.JPG

 

Bruce

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So, I heard back from Paul on the cam cover. Here is his reply:

 

"Thanks for your enquiry.

I have sold the last batch I had cast and looking to have some more made.

Not sure what the ZX1 cover looks like but over here we have an early cast aluminium type and the later moulded plastic type. My cover fits both but the plastic type is easier to modify to fit.

 

Its a hobby that's got quite allot of interest. I usually get 10 cast at a time and they sell quite quickly.

What quantity are you looking for?

 

I am off on holiday this Friday but could arrange to have a batch cast before I leave and have them machined on my return.

They are not cheap because of the low volumes and work involved the last batch I sold at £180 each or around $360 plus delivery. It all depends on the casting cost but yes I'm interested in a special price for quantity."

 

So, I'm pretty sure that it'd work on the ZX1 (95-97 with aluminum covers like Gert's) and ZX3 (01-on with plastic covers) motors. Since the ZX2 has the solenoid in the front center of the cover, that would probably not work. Now, I've heard of some people deactivating the solenoid since it was more of an emissions requirement so I'm not sure if you could remove the wiring and hardware on the ZX2 and make it work? Someone with more ZX2 experience can chime in if they have any ideas???

 

One other thing. Moving the oil filler to the front of the engine would reduce the clearance to the hood (bonnet). I'm not sure if it would fit without modification, or if the neck would have to have some material removed at the top to give enough clearance. It might look more appropriate with the neck shortened and a simple aftermarket aluminum cap fitted in place of the plastic stock one.

 

Let me know what you guys think...

 

Bruce

 

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I did notice the four "middle-row" bolts are missing. That is interesting as I have stripped one out, anyway :rolleyes:

So I suppose the cover is rigid enough to compress and seal the 2 inner rails of the gasket.... Any idea how much this weighs?

 

Gert

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Looks like it will not work for me, Bruce.

 

Found an old photo of my last Cosworth engine - and a 'green' Cosworth at that!

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1260134825_cosworth green090.jpg

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I did notice the four "middle-row" bolts are missing. That is interesting as I have stripped one out, anyway Roll Eyes

So I suppose the cover is rigid enough to compress and seal the 2 inner rails of the gasket.... Any idea how much this weighs?

 

It looks as though this is a decorative cover that bolts on top of your existing cam box cover. The gasket should not be an issue.

 

Not exactly "added lightness"

 

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Sorry if I didn't make it clear in my posts that this was a BDA replica cover that goes over a modified Zetec cover. Paul didn't know the exact weight off-hand, but I did weigh my aluminum ZX1 cover on a shipping scale and came up with a little less than 4.5#. I wouldn't be surprised if the BDA cover would be an addional 3-5# depending on the casting thickness. Certainly a complete new BDA style cover that replaces the Zetec cover would be the ultimate, but would there be enough of a market to make it worth while?

 

Here is the latest from Paul where he addresses how it's secured, the possible filler neck clearance to the hood, and ZX2 solenoid issue:

 

"Not sure, I will get back to you about the weight.

The 4 inner bolts are secured first then the cover placed on and the outer ones tightened. The zetec cover seals perfectly.

 

Most of the covers have gone into Ford Escorts with zetecs so unsure of the clearance.

I run a dry sumped cover with no filler. The engine rarely uses any oil. If it does need filling I do it with a syringe through the dip stick tube.

 

You maybe able to mill a pocket in the underside to clear the cam solenoid. Its quite thick in that area. If you send a more detailed photo and some dimensions I can check

 

Regards

 

Paul"

 

Let me know if there is any interest and I'll relay that info to Paul.

 

Thanks, Bruce

 

PS: I like my powder-coated cover and am probably going to stick with what I have for now. :)

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1432418688_IMG_0866.JPG

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