Author Topic: The Zetec 'Ropacane  (Read 70645 times)

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Offline Chuck Nukem

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #480 on: Friday,January 07, 2022, 08:40:44 AM »
I tried the Meguiars and I had similar results.

For cutting I'm using

https://www.amazon.com/RUPES-Coarse-Performance-Cutting-Backing/dp/B08K3L5NF3/ref=pd_lpo_3?pd_rd_i=B08K3L5NF3&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/RUPES-New-Coarse-Compound-HIGH-Performance/dp/B0878V5CKJ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1D5JWA0WRQYRC&keywords=rupes+da+compound&qid=1641573024&s=automotive&sprefix=rupes+da+compound%2Cautomotive%2C77&sr=1-3

I purchased both from my local auto paint supply store.

The polisher I have is the old harbor freight variable speed.

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/polishers-buffers/8mm-random-orbit-6-in-da-polishersander-64528.html

Apparently they changed the design recently and it is not quite as good. After my air hose debacle I have sworn off HF as much as possible...

Offline Kendo

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #481 on: Friday,January 07, 2022, 11:08:35 AM »
Thanks Chuck. I’ve seen such glowing reports on the Meguiars products. It’s odd we don’t get them. I wonder if the cars we paint have softer paint when we polish it because we don’t have ovens to dry it. Or others are correcting paint on dealer bought cars that just has had time to really dry, even years.

Anyway, thanks for the Rupes suggestions.

Offline Chuck Nukem

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #482 on: Saturday,January 08, 2022, 08:27:25 AM »
Does anyone have any pictures of a JPS car with painted window frames? I am contemplating a bodycolor or matte black for the frame just to remove some of the striking curve and blend it in to the door a bit. I have seen other colors with black frames, but not a black car.

Offline Chuck Nukem

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #483 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 10:26:51 AM »
The SVT engine lives! The sweet little elderly lady who I bought it from was correct that the fuel pump had given up the ghost. I threw a $15 cheapo ebay ford pump in the cannister to test it in the car and it fired right up! I hadn't looked closely at the exhaust arrangement when I bought the car, but she had this thing straight piped!! It sounds great!!

Here's the latest from the cutting room floor

Offline BDA

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #484 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 10:33:28 AM »
You and D'man with those black mirrors!  :beerchug:

Offline S2Zetec54

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #485 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 11:08:11 AM »
 Amazing…absolutely amazing….the bugs will just slide off

Great to get the engine running….love the idea of straight through pipes

Offline TurboFource

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #486 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 01:15:59 PM »
  8)
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline SilverBeast

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #487 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 01:51:49 PM »
If you and D'man park next to each other, you can make an infinite row of Europas by standing between them....

Offline Chuck Nukem

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #488 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 02:15:19 PM »
If you and D'man park next to each other, you can make an infinite row of Europas by standing between them....

I was thinking that exact thought   :))

A portal to the europa dimension

Offline dakazman

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #489 on: Monday,January 10, 2022, 05:03:21 PM »
Lol 😂,  Chuck
  I love the big smile on you face.
Congratulations , Job well done.

Dave / D’man / Dakazman

Offline Chuck Nukem

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #490 on: Sunday,February 06, 2022, 09:32:29 PM »
Sorry for the radio silence guys. I have been busy with work and machining parts for a customer who is on a tight deadline.

I changed the fuel pump and the new engine fired right up. This is when I realized the PO had removed the mufflers and it was on straight pipes. She was 60 years young bless her. Check out how smoked the clutch was!!!!


I got the SVT Engine out today, mated it to the 352, and lined it up in the frame.

The Good news.
The intake and exhaust appear to clear. I have it sitting about 9" high in the pictures, but everything should fit. This means I should be able to use the factory wiring harness. The standard Zetec flywheel I modified fits on the crank so no surprises there either. SVT was a dual mass from stock.

The Bad news
The oil filter and oil cooler lines need to be relocated. My zetec motor mounts bolt up, but the exhaust side needs more considerations. The oil pan is different from the standard zetec and is seriously in the way now. Faced with this I am thinking about casting my own bellhousing that will eliminate the need to do any kind of starter modifications, temp housing mods, throw out bearing extensions, or other nonsense. I will try to make it work with all zetec engines and mate to the Renault box hopefully up to NG series.

Since I made a little foundry over a year ago and have not yet found a compelling reason to use it I think this is a sign to fire it up!
« Last Edit: Sunday,February 06, 2022, 09:46:12 PM by Chuck Nukem »

Offline TurboFource

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #491 on: Monday,February 07, 2022, 03:37:03 AM »
I did not realize the starter was such an issue…..I would think a new bell housing to over come such obstacles
would be great!
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline RoddyMac

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #492 on: Monday,February 07, 2022, 06:58:40 AM »
The oil pan looks like a "blacktop" oil pan, just carve that ear off the pan, it's not connected to anything when using the TC bellhousing.

I did it for my Europa and welded on another bushing (or two, I can't recall at the moment) for the starter  (and pay no attention to the massive hole just behind the starter flange):



On my B GT project I removed the opposite side:




But, a dedicated bellhousing does sound like a fun project.  Would you do lost foam casting or make dedicated casting patterns?


Offline TurboFource

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #493 on: Monday,February 07, 2022, 09:32:15 AM »
That clears things up, thanks for the pic Roddy!
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline dakazman

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Re: The Zetec 'Ropacane
« Reply #494 on: Monday,February 07, 2022, 02:55:26 PM »
   Wow , watching closely 😲

     It looks like you threw the kitchen sink and everything else at it ,   To get her done , boy.
Dakazman