Zetec hydraulic lifters. Help!

Pants · 26 Dec 2006 at 19:50

Hi,

My brother has changed his 105 spec cams to 130 spec cams (from a 2.0) in his 1.8 Zetec engine.

The new cams have more lift and the valves are not closing fully. There is no compression and the car obviously wont start.

Any ideas, we are currently trying to squeze the lifters in a vice but the may have a valve.

Any help appreciated to get the thing going!

Cheers.

Ant.

Pants · 26 Dec 2006 at 20:44

We have put the lame cams back in and there is still no compression.... that says to me the lifters must be the offenders?

It's a bit strange tho, that all we have done is basically taken the cams out, put them back in and there is now no compression.

blueboy2001 · 26 Dec 2006 at 20:47

Sounds like you've screwed the timing up when swapping the cams.

gobbo · 26 Dec 2006 at 21:26

Did you remember to mark/check the TDC when changing the cams?

Pants · 26 Dec 2006 at 22:12

Yep timing is spot on, you lign up the cams and the bottom pully with markings or slits.

Put "lairy" cams back in, still no compression. I think it's the lifters so we're going to tow it around in 1st gear with my dads transit. This might persuade the lifters to compress properly. But at the monent the engine just spins around, it's obvious theres no compression.

Dogbreath · 26 Dec 2006 at 22:59

It's not just the cams you need to convert a 105 spec engine to 130. The throttle body and the ECU is different as well.

Either you screwed up the timing when you first put the cams in and bent some valves (easy done as the cams and pulleys have no keyway or dowels), or the followers have somehow pumped up with oil. You should be able to gently squeeze them in a vice to get the oil out if this is the case.

Pants · 26 Dec 2006 at 23:20

It turns out we didn't screw up the timing or cam timing. (they do have keyways on the end of the cam dogbreath).

We towed the car about a mile and it was spitting flames and generally trying to go. After about a mile it stared chugging under it's own steam, as the lifters sorted themselves out.

Also it's worth pointing out that we have already changes inlet / maf to 2.0 and tubular exhauset etc, were not n00b when it comes to zetec!

Now i'm not exagerating but these cams have absolutely changed this engine. It;s absolutely rapid compared to before. :eek:

It's gone from 60mph to 80mph on "the hill test". My VR6 does about 90 max for comparison with 200 horse.

Dogbreath · 27 Dec 2006 at 16:04

Pants said:
It turns out we didn't screw up the timing or cam timing. (they do have keyways on the end of the cam dogbreath).

Must have a special Zetec then as I have never seen one that has been keyed or doweled unless a vernier has been fitted. The stock pulleys rely only on the friction of the large bolt at the end being done up to 60 lbft.

Also it's worth pointing out that we have already changes inlet / maf to 2.0 and tubular exhauset etc, were not n00b when it comes to zetec!

In which case you will know that the 130 engine uses a different fuel and ignition map to the 105 or 115 version,

SgtTupac · 27 Dec 2006 at 16:11

130's also have oil squirters which spray oil up towards the pistons IIRC.

Lopéz · 27 Dec 2006 at 17:46

Dogbreath said:
Must have a special Zetec then as I have never seen one that has been keyed or doweled unless a vernier has been fitted. The stock pulleys rely only on the friction of the large bolt at the end being done up to 60 lbft.

Don't let anyone distract you with an "Urgent" phone call half way through doing a Zetec cambelt + HG change, or you might forget to do up that bolt and bend 16 valves trying to start it back up

Dogbreath · 27 Dec 2006 at 18:55

Lopéz said:
Don't let anyone distract you with an "Urgent" phone call half way through doing a Zetec cambelt + HG change, or you might forget to do up that bolt and bend 16 valves trying to start it back up

Ouch. 16x ouch.

Lopéz · 27 Dec 2006 at 19:58

Dogbreath said:
Ouch. 16x ouch.

They weren't my valves and it wasn't my fault - I was only assisting andd went home during the 'phone call. Certainly was 16x ouch for the mechanic doing the job

Pants · 27 Dec 2006 at 23:28

Dogbreath said:
Must have a special Zetec then as I have never seen one that has been keyed or doweled unless a vernier has been fitted. The stock pulleys rely only on the friction of the large bolt at the end being done up to 60 lbft.

In which case you will know that the 130 engine uses a different fuel and ignition map to the 105 or 115 version,

At the end of the cams there are slits to keep them ligned up and you can also hold the bottom end in place to line the whole timing up. Not sure what your getting at, because i'm not imagining it? lol! Maybe i'm not explaining myself with the correct technical terms etc?

Yes we are aware of different Maps etc.