[madmatt2024]

Someone here lives in CA and has the ZX2 swap, there was no issue getting is certified and legal since its considered an optional factory configuration. You shouldn't need to "discuss" anything, just look up your local inspection laws (if you have them) and go from there. Here in NY as long as it has the emissions components and can pass the OBDII plug-in test then it passes. 25 years and older doesn't get any form of emission inspection and you can run whatever you want.

 

[novanutcase]

Someone here lives in CA and has the ZX2 swap, there was no issue getting is certified and legal since its considered an optional factory configuration. You shouldn't need to "discuss" anything, just look up your local inspection laws (if you have them) and go from there. Here in NY as long as it has the emissions components and can pass the OBDII plug-in test then it passes. 25 years and older doesn't get any form of emission inspection and you can run whatever you want.

When I did the swap I took it to a BAR referee here in Cali to certify the swap. I brought my shop manuals that show both engines to show him it was available for Escorts from the factory.

Once he certified it he placed a new door frame sticker over the factory one.

John

 

[Buggaman2014]

I really appreciate every one's responses thanks couple of things though donor car is unfortunately out of the question I live in the middle of nowhere and I was planning on dropping the zx2 zetec straight in and bolting it to the spi tranny and hopefully switching just the ECU little to no wiring not saying anyone is wrong or it's gonna work lol because I haven't done it but I was hoping I could pull this off Ive read on the previous pages that it will bolt up but a couple of the bolts won't line up engine to tranny and most of the wiring is plug and play according to another source problem is I don't know if that's true I guess I could get the wire harness engine and ECU from picknpull if the engine will bolt to the tranny I'd like to run the stock accessories off the spi on the zetec if possible but again big ? On that one to I'm just trying to pull this swap off cheap as possible because the motor is only $150.00 for any engine in the yard and has a six month warranty and the chances of finding a wrecked zx2 for a couple or even few hundred bucks is slim to none around here especially in the tine frame of the next few weeks I'd like to have the car back on the road in a month max from now maybe two depending on funds all input is greatly appreciated and I don't have to worry about inspections or smog we don't have either here where I live thankfully

 

[Buggaman2014]

I'm fixing it for my wife so she has something nice to drive for now the reason I don't want to replace just stock for stock spi is because according to YouTube valve seats fail around 118,000 Wich is exactly what mine has and I highly doubt I'll find a really low mileage in the junk yard or I'd just drop a stock low mileage spi back in for now I was thinking about pulling a complete head off in the junkyard and welding the valve seats in some how jb quick or something lol something that will work of course not grenade the engine if and that's a big if jb quick is even an option or maybe tack them in place somehow with something so they don't just fall out of the head again I'd have to grind them smooth of course or the valves won't close properly again I've never tried this either anyone have any ideas on this wether it would work ?I'll have to re-read the previous pages again I remember someone saying that the wire harness is the same except the AC wiring and 1 important sensor that can easily be rewired don't remember exactly how again all input back is appreciated I just have to be extra crafty with my current situation has anyone done this swap just switching engine ecu and a few pigtails ? Spi to zx2 zetec ? Or last option I guess I could buy a rebuilt head but will the valve seats fall out eventually ?their really expensive though is what's bad and dissasembling the engine that far down is alot of work not sure I want to go that route I've replaced alot of stock to stock motors though I can do basic wiring and electrical testing so i think I could pull it off

 

[novanutcase]

I guess what I would do if I were in your shoes would be to take a ton of pictures of a ZX2 engine bay. I would also pick up a shop manual.

I would go to the yard and pull everything that I could from the ZX2 bay since you'll be swapping it into your car. The wiring is plug and play so no need to pull the engine bay loom. Make sure you pull every bracket and clip you see. Snap pictures as you disassemble for reference.

Talk to 1993Tracer. He just did the swap so it's fresh in his mind. He can tell you everything you'll need along with what you want to look out for. In fact he did exactly what you want to do bolting a Zetec to an SPI ATX.

Your other option would be to pick up a JY SPI engine as you suggested and have the head rebuilt with new seats. The seats they install today won't fail like the OEM ones so you should have no issues in that regard if all you want to do is have a reliable ride for your wife.

John

 

[Buggaman2014]

You are going to need just about everything from the zetec powered zx2 to put it into your wagon.,... coolant bottles, wiring, sensors, hoses, computer. etc. A very good mechanic and I just did this swap a few weeks ago. We just parked the wrecked zx2 with a good drivetrain right next to the wagon, pulled the wagon engine/trans, the complete wiring harness, computer, front crossmembers and other subframe parts and nearly everything else and then swapped over the zx2 misc components and finally the engine and trans. While you're in there, install poly bushings for the swaybar front mounts, steering rack and control arms and replace all the ball joints and tie rod ends. You probably want to go over the CV axles too so they are ready for lots more miles. Good Moog stiff plastic sway bar bushings, ball joints and tire rod can be had for under$100.o0 from Rock auto. Add some poly bushings from Energy Suspension or Whileline ( I used Whiteline) for the controls arms for a few bucks more. I used KYB GR-2 struts ( the gas adjusts are no longer available) and progressieve springs to wrap up the suspension and added a 2nd Gen GT swaybar t the rear with new Moog plastic bushings. The car rides very taunt, but not abusive and corners nearly flat. Sits about stock height or maybe a little higher ( I have to deal with snow in my parts)

Did you have a 93 tracer ?I only ask because mine is a 99 obd escort wagon see so I've been told the swap is mostly plug and play

 

[Buggaman2014]

Did you have a 93 tracer ?I only ask because mine is a 99 obd escort wagon see so I've been told the swap is mostly plug and play

Do you have sorry phone changed my text and I forgot to add obd 2 LoL and mine is a se model again phone changed text

 

[Buggaman2014]

Do you have sorry phone changed my text and I forgot to add obd 2 LoL and mine is a se model again phone changed text

Not trying to say anyone is wrong just trying to figure out for sure before I tackle this project I know 93 is obd1 and 99 is obd 2 and I'm pretty sure the wiring is all different and again thank you to everyone helping me figure this out gotta budget build right now as much as I can

 

[Buggaman2014]

Here is a video link to what I want to know and can I put a older 1.9 liter motor in it and just use the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold off the 2.0 so then Ill only have to swap those two items nothing else drop it in done will this work ?

 

[denisond3]

I know the 1.9L heads and the 2.0 heads have different shaped intake ports. I suspect there are many other differences. And changine just the PCM from an OBD-II car with the PCM from an obd-I car is pretty likely to involve changing the wiring harness, not just what plugs into the harness.
In your position, I would get the EVTM from both years of Escorts, and use them to compare wiring.

 

[Buggaman2014]

I have a few questions about putting a 3rd Gen Escort ZX2 2.0 Zetec engine into a 1999 Mercury Tracer Wagon. I haven't found any info, but my Tracer Wagon has the same engine as a 1998-2002? Ford Escort 2.0 SPI which I think can have a Zetec swapped in.

My valve seat in the 4th cylinder dropped and messed up my engine. This car has sentimental value to me and I want to keep it for a long time and i wouldn't mind the extra power of a Zetec. If the engine would break down again, I would rather put another Zetec engine in it in the future, instead of the SPI's and having to buy a $300 fixed head each time.

Would the Escort zx2 Zetec engine bolt right into my car?

Can i use my current automatic transmission, or do i have to use the zx2's transmission?

If I get the Zetec engine only, does it also have to be from an automatic transmission car, or can it come from a manual transmission car?

Would this be a lot more extra work for my mechanic to swap this instead of putting in another SPI engine?

Would I need to buy lots of extra parts like new water pump, intake manifold, and all that stuff?

Would this be a huge pain in the ass without a donor car?

What kind of problems might my mechanic run into?

Since their aren't any guides, can anyone tell me exactly what modifications need to be made? I keep reading different things.

Any help would be appreciated. Ask me any questions... Thanks.

I'm in the exact same boat 99 escort wagon #4 cylinder dropped a valve seat and I'd like to drop a zetec Dohc zx2 motor in but will it just drop in and bolt to tranny will the zx2 ECU plug into my stock 99 harness some people are saying it's plug and play bolt right in except a couple bolts Don't line up but it works and if 98 percent of the wiring is the same ECU should plug in right I'm guessing anyway just wondering if you had done the swap yet or had better luck trying to figure out what's involved thanks

 

[novanutcase]

1993tracer swapped the zetec into a 3rd gen '99 wagon.

John

 

[Buggaman2014]

1993tracer swapped the zetec into a 3rd gen '99 wagon.

John

Ok very nice people on here have been saying the zx2 zetec engine bolts right to the single cam 2.0 spi tranny is this true ? If it is what about the wire harness it would be nice not to have to swap the wire harness but I will if it's gonna be easier it's only $40.00 at the junkyard here and of course the ECU I'll grab while I'm there I just don't want to have to swap the tranny axles hubs etc ?I just might though idk it's about time and money really more time More money anyway all info is appreciated Thanks

 

[Buggaman2014]

yes.

Ok now I'm definitely interested in a v6 swap what options do I have for v6 swaps?

 

[novanutcase]

Ok now I'm definitely interested in a v6 swap what options do I have for v6 swaps?

Bro...

The zetec swap does not require a loom change.

It'll swap and bolt directly to the SPI tranny. I know this because I've done this swap a few times.

As far as a V6 swap, a KLZE is what your looking for. Motor mount brackets need to come out of an MX3GS if you want it to bolt directly. Wiring will be the hard part.

John

 

[Buggaman2014]

Bro...

The zetec swap does not require a loom change.

It'll swap and bolt directly to the SPI tranny. I know this because I've done this swap a few times.

As far as a V6 swap, a KLZE is what your looking for. Motor mount brackets need to come out of an MX3GS if you want it to bolt directly. Wiring will be the hard part.

John

Ok very nice will the zetec zx2 ECU plug into the single cam wire harness to ?and I gotta add I'm really excited to get started maybe I'll just start the zx2 swap this Wednesday after work thank you so much for all the info I really appreciate it

 

[novanutcase]

Ok very nice will the zetec zx2 ECU plug into the single cam wire harness to ?and I gotta add I'm really excited to get started maybe I'll just start the zx2 swap this Wednesday after work thank you so much for all the info I really appreciate it

Yes. ECU is direct plug in.

John

 

[Buggaman2014]

Thanks again you're a lifesaver I'm gonna start hunting for a zetec zx2 Wednesday after work I think the junkyard actually has one hopefully it's complete other than doing a compression test at the junkyard and trying to check the fluids Wich is hard because they drain everything and punch holes in the oil pans is there anything else I can check or that u would recommend checking before I pull it out ?

 

[novanutcase]

Thanks again you're a lifesaver I'm gonna start hunting for a zetec zx2 Wednesday after work I think the junkyard actually has one hopefully it's complete other than doing a compression test at the junkyard and trying to check the fluids Wich is hard because they drain everything and punch holes in the oil pans is there anything else I can check or that u would recommend checking before I pull it out ?

The usual tests will suffice.

Leak down/compression.

Check the wax button on the head to see if the motor overheated. Open the valve cover to see if there's any milkshake from a blown head gasket. Check the radiator for milkshake too. If the head gasket blew they probably just left it like that so you'll need to blow out the water passages and get all that crud out of their.

Check the pan to see if their are any metal chunks stuck to the pan bolt or on the bottom of the pan. If I'm not mistaken OEM pan bolt is magnetized but not 100% on that.

If you decide to pull the head, check the cylinders for scoring. If you see crosshatch then you've got a winner.

One thing I forgot. If the SPI tranny is MTX try and pull the motor from an MTX ZX2. If you pull the motor from an MTX and try and bolt it to an ATX you'll probably have to swap out the flywheel for an MTX one and vice a versa.

I still think it would be best to buy a crashed ZX2 so you have all the little stuff you need. Having to run to the yard for missing brackets will get expensive. The Zetec swap I did into my wagon was from a crashed ZX2 that cost me $250 for the entire car. You'll pay at least that for motor and associated parts.

John

 

[Buggaman2014]

I understand I wish I could find a wrecked one. I'll definitely get one or more down the road if I find any. Cars here are not as plentiful as big cities especially Cali. I Know Cali has a big selection but that's 1,800 Miles from me now. I can tell you definitely know what your talking about that makes me feel even better about starting my swap I'll remember about the flywheel to I'm glad you mentioned that I didn't know they were different I'm not gonna pull the head off but if I had your experience I probably would some day I'll be there I've done alot of stock to stock motor swaps only. Everytime I've had a vehicle with a blown head gasket or any other major problems I just swap the whole motor it's worked out so far but again I really appreciate the info