Esslinger cams in Zetec

[stevet]

Has anyone put Esslinger's high performance cams in their 2.0 Zetec?

 

 

 

I'm trying to find out what is involved in actual installation (including any ECU adjustments), and any general in-use feedback - performance improvement, driveability etc.

 

 

 

Thanks.

[Mike Rohaley]

I seem to be coming down with a bad case of upgraditus myself. I want to increase power by about 25% without the addition of turbos or superchargers. Therefore, different cams (among other things) would be required to accomplish that. Any info as to what would be required to do this Esslinger cam job would be of interest to me also. Questions such as: What is the stock Zetec ECU capable of working with and when are injectors peaked out and in need of upgrading. Not to mention what can be expected for power and the effect on drivability and fuel economy. You know, simple little questions like that. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif

[slomove]

Esslinger does not offer Zetec stuff anymore for a year or two, they sold this off to another Zetec tuning company. But there is still the UK makers like Kentcams or Piper. Not sure if the stock ECU can handle the change (maybe with a special chip?).

 

 

 

I got KentCam FZ2002 in my ZX1 (like Focus12 for the ZX3) but run an aftermarket ECU and Jenvey TBs.

 

 

 

Gertslomove2006-09-11 19:55:00

[JohnK]

My experience would point to Crane as the best source. A machinist whome I think is competent had problems fitting Piper cams in the Zetec head due to the base circle being too big. Crane cams seem to go in OK with no problems and they run well. I know of one instance first hand where Esslinger delivered a Zetec with, let's say, "a problem". That instance was bad enough that I would not ever consider them. I have heard that their experience is mostly with the Pinto engine.

 

The Ford ECU is an amazing piece of work and is unique in the industry, but requires a real wizard to modify (the Mustang crowd does it well with an item called the EEC-Tuner). If you don't wind up geting more HP out of the engine than the injectors can support (1HP per hour requires 0.5 lbs of fuel per hour) the ECU should adjust darn near perfectly. If you change ANYTHING that the ECU listens to or talks to, it will not work right. Period.

 

You can fit an aftermarket Engine Management System (Webcon, Emerald, ...) but my experience is that IF you can find a shop with a dyno that knows what they're doing, you can easily spend $1000 getting a reasonable tune.   I did this for several Zetecs in three different states of tune. The last one took over 20 hours of dyno time just to get it "OK" (however the owner was amazed at the difference, especially when he had a calibration(tuen) from the factory that was supposed to be spot on). Proceed very cautiously here.

 

   

 

 

 

 

[stevet]

Thanks, John.

 

 

 

I'm not rushing into this. The cams I got came from 'Web Cam' in Riverside CA (anyone know them or used them?). I'm going to get them checked out by someone who knows thier cams from thier elbow before making any decisions.

 

 

[roll a 7]

Esslinger milled my head and installed the Kent Focus 12 cams. Works great!