About a year ago, I messed around a little with Todd's Zetec, dropped it into Rusty. Looked like a very doable swap, but we had no viable transmission options, so I did not pursue it.
Today I found this very hot lead on adapting Zetec's to T5's.
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?40,2568556<img
The text of the post:
Our MGB Zetec swap went pretty well, but mating the Zetec to the Ford 2.3 bellhousing took a lot of work. We had to adapt the bell with some brazed on tabs drill some holes, trim a block plate, figure out a release mechanism.... Since then, we've found a much easier way to bolt on a RWD bell for a wide range of transmission choices.
A little background:
In the late 80's OMC used the Ford 2.3 OHC as an inboard motor. In order to mate that engine to the OMC outdrive, they cast an adapter. On the 2.3 OHC engine there are two different bolt patterns - the usual 2.3 pattern and the older "pinto" pattern. The main difference is the location of the two upper bolts. OMC used the "pinto" pattern which happens to be the same as the Zetec. That "pinto" pattern is also found on the 2.0 OHC, 1600, 1.9CVH, and the 2.3/2/5 HSC engines.
The OMC outdrive is based on a Chevy V8 bellhousing pattern. So, the OMC adapter has a Zetec pattern interfaced with the Chevy bell pattern. The starter holes are indexed allow a Mustang/Ranger 2.3 starter with the Ford 2.3 or Escort 1.9 flywheel, either of which will fit the Zetec.
So, by bolting the adapter to the engine, you can bolt on an inexpensive corporate Chevy bell. That makes transmission possibilities pretty broad. Muncie 3 or4 spd, T5, NV3500, T56, 700R4, 200-4R, 4L60, or even a 2 spd Powerglide. And because the pilot shaft on a typical GM transmission is the same as the Zetec (.590"winking smiley, no special pilot bushing is needed.
Only a few easy things are needed to use this plate:
1. make a stepped index bushing for the engine side (.600" to .500"winking smiley,
2. drill for a .625" transmission index bushing on the transmission side,
3. modify the Zetec pan to clear the low mounted starter like we did for the MGB, (a 15 minute job on the bandsaw),
4. Trim the adapter to fit around the rear main seal on the Zetec.
Looks like the T5 will adapt. The tunnel would have to be modified. On my initial fitup, I thought the exhaust manifold would work, but not the intake. So an opportunity for induction improvement!
The Zetec would be a very sweet way to send an Alpine down the road. Not the most power in the world, but enough and a very nice power plant.
Step 3 could probably be eliminated as it is an MG related mod. I do not think the starter will be an issue in an Alpine.
Bill
Today I found this very hot lead on adapting Zetec's to T5's.
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?40,2568556<img
The text of the post:
Our MGB Zetec swap went pretty well, but mating the Zetec to the Ford 2.3 bellhousing took a lot of work. We had to adapt the bell with some brazed on tabs drill some holes, trim a block plate, figure out a release mechanism.... Since then, we've found a much easier way to bolt on a RWD bell for a wide range of transmission choices.
A little background:
In the late 80's OMC used the Ford 2.3 OHC as an inboard motor. In order to mate that engine to the OMC outdrive, they cast an adapter. On the 2.3 OHC engine there are two different bolt patterns - the usual 2.3 pattern and the older "pinto" pattern. The main difference is the location of the two upper bolts. OMC used the "pinto" pattern which happens to be the same as the Zetec. That "pinto" pattern is also found on the 2.0 OHC, 1600, 1.9CVH, and the 2.3/2/5 HSC engines.
The OMC outdrive is based on a Chevy V8 bellhousing pattern. So, the OMC adapter has a Zetec pattern interfaced with the Chevy bell pattern. The starter holes are indexed allow a Mustang/Ranger 2.3 starter with the Ford 2.3 or Escort 1.9 flywheel, either of which will fit the Zetec.
So, by bolting the adapter to the engine, you can bolt on an inexpensive corporate Chevy bell. That makes transmission possibilities pretty broad. Muncie 3 or4 spd, T5, NV3500, T56, 700R4, 200-4R, 4L60, or even a 2 spd Powerglide. And because the pilot shaft on a typical GM transmission is the same as the Zetec (.590"winking smiley, no special pilot bushing is needed.
Only a few easy things are needed to use this plate:
1. make a stepped index bushing for the engine side (.600" to .500"winking smiley,
2. drill for a .625" transmission index bushing on the transmission side,
3. modify the Zetec pan to clear the low mounted starter like we did for the MGB, (a 15 minute job on the bandsaw),
4. Trim the adapter to fit around the rear main seal on the Zetec.
Looks like the T5 will adapt. The tunnel would have to be modified. On my initial fitup, I thought the exhaust manifold would work, but not the intake. So an opportunity for induction improvement!
The Zetec would be a very sweet way to send an Alpine down the road. Not the most power in the world, but enough and a very nice power plant.
Step 3 could probably be eliminated as it is an MG related mod. I do not think the starter will be an issue in an Alpine.
Bill
