1997 - 2003 Ford Escort ZX2

[LN323]

So, I just agreed to buy a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2 with a 2.0L Zetec motor (not the S/R). Very good shape overall. 75,000 original miles. 5-speed. Needs maintenance work, but everything else seems good. I've heard that it's relate to the BG model 323? Is that accurate? I wish to start searching for performance parts. So far, there doesn't seem to be much. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places? For example, does the front strut tower bar from any Mazda fit? How about rear strut tower bar? I found lowering springs. Any help and/or suggestions are welcome.

[bomdoutscort]

The zx2 is still based off of the BG chassis. I am pretty sure the strut bars are compatible.

[atomicEGT]

rear strut bar will fit, front you might want to get zx2-specific, to make sure it clears the intake tube (iirc i tried one and had interference issues, but it's been a while)

fyi, you'll see in a lot of places that the zetec is an interference motor; it is not, but there are two different timing kits depending on year so when you do a timing belt make sure you get the right one.

performance-wise, the s/r intake with a k&n filter and modified airbox (with a duct to draw air from the fender) is the way to go and has been dyno proven to make more power than CAIs and whatnot. the best ecu is an unflashed ngp0, but those are hard to come by, and requires 93 octane- other s/r ecus are *okay* but i preferred the stock ecu in my 01- i unfortunately forget the code, but it was the best of the non-s/r ecus and could use standard octane (with the downside of having the 107mph speed limiter). the s/r axle back doesn't give you a ton of extra power because it doesn't change the rest of the piping but it sounds great without being obnoxious, if you want an easy exhaust solution though i think trubendz still makes the zx2 kit. pacesetter is probably the best choice for headers because it keeps the cat in the correct place, but iirc it's unequal length and is kind of a pain in the dick to install

anyway if teamzx2 is still around, that'd be a good place to get information- the zx2 is basically a reskinned egt with the zetec, so there won't be a lot that will be new to you if you're familiar with bg chassis cars. i miss mine pretty badly, it was a great car

[ChillinZX]

Worth every dollar.

[whitefinish]

More pictures ! Looks awesome

[ChillinZX]

[ChillinZX]

[ChillinZX]

I got more if you want me to keep going.

[atomicEGT]

oh, are we posting zx2 pictures?

[Kitty]

Never realized the KL was open deck.

**** that.

[ChillinZX]

Never realized the KL was open deck.

**** that.

No race team ever had a problem with this design. Open deck problems are reserved for Subaru motors. Besides the race car in Australia used this motor in a 1000hp twin turbo setup. I'm only doing 700hp, which is overkill for a 2400lb street car.

[atomicEGT]

post dyno sheet/vid plz

[ChillinZX]

post dyno sheet/vid plz

I just finished putting it together a few days ago and tuned the warmup and idle. Still need to break it in and do a rough tune, then off to dyno to squeeze the rest out. I'll come back and post it when I have it available, unless you like the mobile app dynos, lol.

[atomicEGT]

so it doesn't make 700hp

got it

[Kitty]

Eh the Honda H22 is a great 1:1 example with closed vs open deck on the "exact" same motor and the closed deck is still selling at a premium 20 years later despite technically being more abundant.