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A big problem with small engines is low end torque. Yes, you can make the max torque occur very low in the RPM range then have a very flat curve throughout the range, but give or take 30 lb-ft you really can't make a whole lot more torque with the standard mods. I can't remember the website, but they did a sequential buildup and dyno test of a Zetec. They started with what we all do, intake, then exhaust, then TB, then low pro cams through high pro cam, then low press trubo and high press turbo... blah blah blah, but they never got more than 160 pounds of torque out the engine.
This is a classic case of [?|] with a small cube engine. We all have the problem as compact owners. You can make gobs of horsepower but thats a BS number. I want torque, I want lots of it, and I want to make it efficiently. Horses don't kick you back in your seat when you mash the accelerator, torque does. Take note of the new 2.3L, more torque than the SVT but less HP on a much less exotic engine buildup. Far more useable. The reason, more cubes. A bigger bore almost always results in more torque per liter than any other mod.
So, I pose this question to all. Considering the age old mantra that there is no substitute for cubes, has anyone ever seen/heard of/done any overboring of the Zetec engine? I have never heard of it myself, so when my ride makes the transition from daily driver to weekend warrior, I will seriously be considering boring it over.
This is a classic case of [?|] with a small cube engine. We all have the problem as compact owners. You can make gobs of horsepower but thats a BS number. I want torque, I want lots of it, and I want to make it efficiently. Horses don't kick you back in your seat when you mash the accelerator, torque does. Take note of the new 2.3L, more torque than the SVT but less HP on a much less exotic engine buildup. Far more useable. The reason, more cubes. A bigger bore almost always results in more torque per liter than any other mod.
So, I pose this question to all. Considering the age old mantra that there is no substitute for cubes, has anyone ever seen/heard of/done any overboring of the Zetec engine? I have never heard of it myself, so when my ride makes the transition from daily driver to weekend warrior, I will seriously be considering boring it over.