Ford engine question

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 09 Aug 2005, 01:00

Hi All,
I have volunteered to do a head gasket on a 96 escort with the 1.6 16v zetec motor.
I have NO experiance whatsoever with fords, have done head gaskets on an old visa and 8v xantia.
Anybody have any special info/tips i should know before wading in? I shall probably go and get a Haynes Book of lies tommorow.
As an extra question, would a Zetec S head fit this bottom end without any work?
Much appreciated.

madasafish · Post by **madasafish** » 09 Aug 2005, 02:14

Zetec engine is different from a Zetec S..
Dunno anything about gasket change.. sorry..

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 09 Aug 2005, 02:22

Ok thanks, no problem. I only asked cos there is a zetec S recon head on ebay at a good price

Dave Bamber · Post by **Dave Bamber** » 09 Aug 2005, 03:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkwheel

I have NO experiance whatsoever with fords
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Some things are best left as they are[;)]

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 09 Aug 2005, 03:17

I tend to agree Dave.
I have no desire to work on it but it belongs to my next door neighbour, hes a good guy, needs his car for work, and really cant afford to be paying a garage the silly prices they quote. I see no reason why i cant manage it (famous last words) and he will pass a few drinking tokens my way at the end of it.

j_roc · Post by **j_roc** » 09 Aug 2005, 04:46

Right then - this is the Ford guru here! Go and get the BOL as you will need it to show you the diagram/instructions on how to go and make the tool to lock the cams (a strip of metal basically). If you give me a couple of days I will go and have a look as I know that I have it here somewhere. What is the Zetec-s head off, as the cams are different. Always put a new cambelt on the Zetec, and allow a good day to strip the head off as the Zetec is built like a cake i.e in layers, and the head bolts go almost all the way to the sump! Hope this helps - Alex.

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 09 Aug 2005, 12:17

A word of warning.
My mate did one for his neighbour. It all went as well as can be expected until the time came to start the engine. It wouldn't go for anything. He re-checked everything and could find nothing wrong and eventually went to bed, hoping the answer would come to him after a sleep.
Next morning he turned the key, it started and has behaved ever since. He thinks it must have been something to do with the hydraulic tappets.
Knowing the above might save you a bit of heartache.

madasafish · Post by **madasafish** » 09 Aug 2005, 13:31

I can assure you a 10 year old Ford is easier to maintain and repair than any 10 year old Citroen/peugeot.
Speaking from personal experience. Compare changing front pads on a Fiesta vs Saxo/106. 2 bolts/1 spring on Fiesta - 5 mins. Depending on which type, 2 springs, 1 very rusty slide and a hammer on Saxo = 30 mins + depending on the rust.
No contest.

drpau · Post by **drpau** » 09 Aug 2005, 18:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by madasafish

I can assure you a 10 year old Ford is easier to maintain and repair than any 10 year old Citroen/peugeot.
Speaking from personal experience. Compare changing front pads on a Fiesta vs Saxo/106. 2 bolts/1 spring on Fiesta - 5 mins. Depending on which type, 2 springs, 1 very rusty slide and a hammer on Saxo = 30 mins + depending on the rust.
No contest.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Those rusty slide things are a nightmare. Took me ages with my dremel to get that out as no amount of hammering would budge it..[:(!]

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 09 Aug 2005, 23:19

Hi J-roc thanks for the heads up on the special tool. Im getting the car thursday eve. Will let you know how i get on

yangreen · Post by **yangreen** » 10 Aug 2005, 03:09

Ah Matt, is this why you won't be at the Northants meet tomorrow? Sitting in bed reading the haynes BOL for a Ford?!
Tut tut!
Ian

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 10 Aug 2005, 03:28

I will be there Ian.
Did i say i wouldnt? Paul wont, he is in france at the minute (trying to find an acad, his better half has got right into cits since kelso and he has carte blanche to buy whatever he wants - h van included)
Think Richard + Mel will be there too, as probably will be Rob in his green dyane. Its getting bigger

yangreen · Post by **yangreen** » 10 Aug 2005, 17:24

Ah, jolly good. Shame the weather is pants today though. T'was superb yesterday!

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 13 Aug 2005, 17:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkwheel

I have volunteered to do a head gasket on a 96 escort with the 1.6 16v zetec motor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If this is the same as the 1.6 16v zetec motor that I ripped out of an escort many years ago, then this is a bit of a swine of a job, as the camshafts have to come out to get to the head bolts. Not a great job, and the clearance between the cambelt drive and the side of the engine bay is measured in microns.
Makes a xantia 1.9TD head look like childs play.
If you have the lifting gear and the space available, I would seriously consider pulling the whole engine/box out to do this.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 13 Aug 2005, 18:34

Bu**er.
I dont have lifting gear anymore. So its an in-car job. Will be starting it tommorow or monday.