2.0L Zetec silvertop, redtop, blacktop...

[Rab (bombero) Reid]

Hi Paul,

I have had a standard red top, zetec 1800 and zetec 2000 (200 bhp )

The zetec at 200 bhp is very easy to use and makes a good all round car, whether you  are on the road or track days.

Even though my red top was only standard you will find that they have more torque at lower revs and more grunt. ( Although other members will disagree ).

A silver top and black top are basically the same except black top has different o/s engine mount position due to oil filter screwed into block. Different water pump, solid tappets instead of hydraulic and different sump. Thats about it.

JEM

So is a crate red top about 200 bhp, depending on what intake & carbs you bolt on?, and yes it was very torquey down at low revs, pulled very happily in fourth from about 1700.

Think you might be getting a little confused over the colours of cam covers Paul.

Red tops normally refer to vauxhall engines.

Silver tops are early Ford Zetec

Black tops are the later Zetec,

Don't be confused by whay colour owners paint the cam cover.

My engine develops 200 bhp from a new Zetec which was modified by Raceline. Different cams, head ported and throttle bodies.

J

So if silver tops are early Zetec and the black tops are later Zetec, why the move by Ford to solid tappets as opposed to hydraulic? Surely hydraulic are stress free by comparison? i await your replies . . .  

[nikpro]

In theory hydraulic should be easier to maintain - in practice they often aren't!

Ford also had problems with the Mk1 silvertops hydraulic litters and a quick fix was found by using a grade of oil the engine wasn't designed to run on (5w-30).

The later mk2 silvertops didn't suffer with noisy lifters like the mk1 and can run 5w-40; the oil the original engine was designed for.

HTH

[Rab (bombero) Reid]

In theory hydraulic should be easier to maintain - in practice they often aren't!

Ford also had problems with the Mk1 silvertops hydraulic litters and a quick fix was found by using a grade of oil the engine wasn't designed to run on (5w-30).

The later mk2 silvertops didn't suffer with noisy lifters like the mk1 and can run 5w-40; the oil the original engine was designed for.

HTH

Thanks nikpro, but my new question ( ) is how can I differentiate between a Mk1 and Mk2 silvertop?

[jak]

I think the early ones had 16V cast into the cam cover, later ones had zetec. All of which will count for zero if the cam cover as been changed!!

Other than the above, if it's got a proper Ford engine number, then you could probably find out from that.

Bear in mind though that the ones supplied by Westfield with their kits had their own numbers on them.

[perksy]

Bit of Zetec info  HERE

[JEM]

I think the early ones had 16V cast into the cam cover, later ones had zetec. All of which will count for zero if the cam cover as been changed!!

Other than the above, if it's got a proper Ford engine number, then you could probably find out from that.

Bear in mind though that the ones supplied by Westfield with their kits had their own numbers on them.

DOHC on early zetecs and ZETEC on the later silver tops.

[Rab (bombero) Reid]

This is fab, folks - thanks v much!