[JuliaTaye]

hi everyone always look on the forum but just now became a member i used to have a ZX2 as a daily but i wrecked it but my uncle knew how much i loved it so found and got me a 2000 Escort sedan and i want to mod it like i did my ZX2 but i cant seem to find parts for the sedan and im curious do parts from the ZX2 fit on the sedan as in interior (seats mostly) and seeing if anyone know of places to find aftermarket parts for the motor any help is greatly appreciated
-Julia

 

[Apex]

I don't own a sedan so I can't say for sure, but I believe some people have stated that many ZX2/BG Chassis (namely, the Mazda MX-3) interior parts do interchange with the sedan. Definitely use the search and see if anyone has posted about it, don't take my word for it. If you still have the wrecked ZX2 you could certainly try it

As for the motor, I would imagine your best bet is going to be a ZX2 engine swap. I know at least one of the active members here has swapped a Zetec engine into a 3rd gen wagon. There are still plenty of performance mods available for zetecs, though many US-based sellers for zetec parts are starting to not sell those parts anymore. They are still popular in the UK, but are often used in rear wheel drive applications and geared towards that.

 

[JuliaTaye]

No I don't the cops here hate any modded cars cause they think we are all street racing which in fairness alot of us are cause there is nothing else to do so they mostly feed us some bs and take our cars and crush them after they are in accidents. So to make a long story short I dont have my zx2 anymore but ill definitely have to check it out a and I've heard about putting a zetec in it but I've heard different things about the different generations so any referrals on that? I know I don't want to fool with anything to new cause the wiring and install will be way to much of a headache

 

[Apex]

Usually that's up to the insurance company isn't it? If a car is totaled they own it after they pay out, but usually you can buy it back.

From what I have read, it is one of the easier engine swaps you can do on any vehicle, usually the biggest hurdle on a motor swap is motor mounts as they are usually custom, but the mounts are bolt on. As long as you are getting a ZX2 engine (and maybe transmission? not a necessity but it might be preferable for more aggressive gearing) from a ZX2 you are fine, a Focus zetec has some slight differences and the transmission will not work without modification. The biggest generation difference between ZX2s is the cars from 98-99 and 99.5-2003, but the differences are not very drastic.

I also read somewhere that the ECU doesn't need to be changed, but I would definitely swap the ZX2 ECU in. As for wiring, and well, the swap in general it would be best to get a zx2 that was crashed in the back or side, pull the harness, engine, trans, axles, ECU, etc. and swap everything over.

Here is one person's thread where they documented their swap:

98 ZX2 to 99 Sedan SPI->Zetec swap story thread

6 months ago my beloved 99 sedan dropped her valve seat at 158k miles, the seat fell onto the piston, breaking it, and then sending the rod right through the block...ending that engine's story. I had just dropped my tuition money for fall term, so there was no getting another engine right away...

www.feoa.net

 

[JuliaTaye]

Thanks 😊

 

[novanutcase]

I swapped a zetec into my wagon. I bought a crashed ZX2 and essentially replaced everything in the Wagon engine bay with everything in the ZX2 engine bay. Most of the lines for the SPI work with the zetec except for the low side A/C line. The A/C compressor power line will need to be extended as the SPI version is located on the driver side vs. the passenger side on the zetec.

If you really want any significant power bump I suggest you go straight to turbocharging the engine. I live in California so emissions is what keeps most performance mods from happening here but a lot of states allow modding at a certain level. You mentioned the cops don't like modded cars and will try and impound and crush them any chance they get. I would suggest you stay within those boundaries if you want to keep your car. I've bolted on most of the bolt on performance upgrades you can on the engine. After I swapped it I swapped in a computer from an S/R model along with the S/R CAI. I did a Keman mod on the air filter housing and added a 4/2/1 stainless header with no cat or resonator. I also used the S/R muffler which is a Borla muffler made for Ford. I installed a stage 2 clutch and aluminum flywheel for better throttle response but notice a little RPM drop when shifting gears. The headers are the only thing that are illegal on the car other than the coilovers but for the most part the car is legal.

The wagon started out as an SPI/ATX equipped car and I swapped both zetec and manual trans out of the ZX2 as I wanted a stick shift car and not an automatic.

John