thesameguy
Famous Member
chad":1ttcn0m7 said:Sorry, still not clear to this mudle head: the C 4 will fit my 'sideways' 4 cyl Ztec (a 2001 Focus)?
Thanks...
The Zetec is not the same as the Duratec. The Zetec was an evolution (more or less) of the old CFI motor from the '80s and '90s Escort (as was the SPI motor used in SOHC Focuses). It was only ever used in front wheel drive transverse applications. The Zetec came in multiple displacements, but the US only ever got the 2.0l. The Zetec was in use from about '95 (Contour, Escort ZX2) until '03 (Focus, Escape).
The Duratec was codesigned with Mazda to be either front wheel drive and transverse (Focus, Mazda6) or rear wheel drive and longitudinal (Ranger, Miata). The Ford version is called Duratec, the Mazda version is called MZR. It's the same basic motor regardless of brand or orientation. The Duratec/MZR comes in multiple displacements, in the US we get everything from 1.8l to 2.5l. For example, the 2004+ Focus gets a transverse 2.0l Duratec, the 2001+ Ranger gets a longitudinal 2.3l Duratec, and the 2009+ Mazda 3 gets a 2.5l MZR. ALSO, the Duratec/MZR was designed to support turbocharging, direct injection, variable cam timing, and balance shafts individually or in combination - a bunch of neat features. Lots of different applications, same basic engine. The Duratec replaced the Lima in '01 (Rangers), the Zetec in some cars in '03 (Focus PZEV), and fully replaced Zetecs in '04. It also replaced the Mazda BP motor in '03 (Mazda6) and '06 (Miata).
Confusing enough?

Neither motor - Zetec or Duratec/MZR will bolt to an old Ford transmission. Each motor has a new, unique bolt pattern that is different from each other and different from anything made in the past. The only transmissions ever made to bolt to a Zetec are FWD. The Duratec is a little luckier, since there are both FWD and RWD (and AWD, for that matter) transmissions that will bolt directly up to it. So, to answer your question, no, you cannot bolt a C4 to your Zetec.
HOWEVER, Quads4Rods sells adapters for BOTH motors to attach them older RWD transmissions, such as a T5 or C4. If you've got an extra $500 in your pocket you could buy an adapter and put a C4 behind your Zetec.
My thoughts are:
The Zetec is less powerful and heavier than a Duratec. It takes a LOT of money to get good power out of the Zetec - several thousand dollars just to approach 200hp. The 2.3l Duratec can make 200hp with a good intake, headers, and cams and save about 100lbs in the process. I was originally considering a Zetec, but I just couldn't justify the expense & difficulty for the final product.
I would like to keep my Falcon an automatic, and I'm not fond of putting a three speed automatic (C4) behind a small displacement four cylinder. Such a transmission would have a really hard time keeping the engine in its power band, and would leave a lot of performance and economy on the table. To that end, I'd really like to use the 4-speed or 5-speed automatic from a recent Ranger. Both are similar, and both based on the A4LD so I think tunnel clearance will be an issue, and of course both are computer controlled so there is that to think about.
I may cave in and go manual transmission, though. The Duratec bolts to a wide variety of modern 5 and 6-speed manual transmissions, but all of them are indirect shift (cable or rod linkage) which kind of sucks. To that end, the Quads4Rods adapter and a T5 is certainly a viable option. The T5 never came with great ratios for a small displacement motor, but at least with five forward speeds you've got a good start, and T5-into-a-Falcon has been pretty well explored.
That's where I am! Hope this helps.
Edit:
Quads4Rods - http://quad4rods.com/
There is also
RWD Motorsport in the UK - http://www.rwdmotorsport.com
These guys also sell adapters for the Zetec and Duratec to "vintage" manual transmissions. The Duratec -> Ford T9 (http://www.rwdmotorsport.com/Bellhousin ... od_20.html) is interesting. The T9 is a VERY compact 5-speed manual transmission that was widely mated to small displacement engines. It has limited power handling but good ratios. You can find the T9 domestically in the XR4Ti. T9 has a dogleg reverse, which would be out of place in a '60s domestic car, but it's otherwise a very nice, quiet gearbox.