Tell me about...... FORD PUMAS.

[Angrydicky]

I know a guy who's got an Austin A35 with a 1.7 Puma engine coupled to a Sierra gearbox. He does track days in it, fun little thing.

[Lankytim]

Nice pics, it gives me some encouragement to get this on the road!

 

I'd very much like to get my hands round your knob, P.M sent.

[Morgan84]

Clutch isn't adjustable,but they have a hydraulic slave cylinder inside the box,so if the clutch does go for a burton,make sure a new cylinder goes in as well,and that should be that job done for possibly the life of the car.If the engines a bit tappety,oil and filter change it,and possibly give it a flush,but I 'think' there is mention on some zetec engines at 100000 miles ( cambelt change ) to check the tappets

[Lankytim]

Spent today cleaning the Puma. Everything went great except the crank seems to be rattling, looks like it's a breaker!

[Cavcraft]

Piss taking aside Tim, what's the oil like and is there enough of it? My experience of this era of Ford engine is that if they get low they rattle like a bastard very quickly but a top up or replacing the oil usually does the trick.

[Volksy]

I've got a double Din ford radio cassette that should fit, if you're not breaking it.

[Lankytim]

Here's some pics I took after i'd spent an hour cleaning it...

 

 

 

 

 

Skanky interior.

 

 

 

FROM HELLS HEART I SPIT AT THEE!!!

 

 

 

The noise sounds just like this youtube clip, it's nowhere near as bad though. The oil is pretty low but doesn't have any flecks of silver bearing surface floating about in it so maybe a top up will solve the issue. TEH INTERWEBZ tells me that older zetecs like thicker oil than the usual 05/30 that usually goes in.

 

Next steps? Dunno. I may just risk it and sling some thicker oil in and see what happens, it certainly doesn't look like it's going to explode any time soon. I still think it looks like a smart motor. I guess replacing the engine won't be too much trouble. There's a guy on youtube who's put a 1.8 diesel lump in!

 

Volksy, may take you up on that offer. I'll see how I feel in the morning!

[Morgan84]

Thicker oil will cause the hydraulic tappets to throw a hissy fit; its 5w30 semi synthetic for all Puma's

[Lankytim]

Had a play with this on my lunch break. The oil was low so I topped it up, it made no difference. The naughty big end is now quite loud but I can't bring myself to weigh the thing in! Does anybody know to a 1400 zetec engine knocking about? Is it worth dropping the sump and sticking a new (or scrapyard) bearing shells in the affected big end?

[cort16]

When I drove mine the first time the oil light came on and I put 2 1/2 litres of oil in it just to get it back to level. If the 1.4's anything like the 1.7 then they seem to use bit more oil than a normal engine and as they fall into more neglected hands no-one bothers checking the oil until it goes pop.

 

I've read on the internetz that you can drain the oil in these cases and replace some of it with gearbox oil and it will reduce the knocking althought I think this is a bosh it through the auction so it's not knocking it's head off trick rather than an actual solution.

[Felly Magic]

The old Fester Ghia I had was sounding like that too. I don't think swmbo helped it by bunging a load of Morrisons cheapo motor oil in it when it was low. It got to a point where I was fed up of topping the oil up almost weekly. It's put me off modern Fords now as well. Seems a shame it's sounding like that, as it doesn't look as rusty as many I've seen about.

[cort16]

You should have seen the amount of crap I pulled out the bottom of the wheel arch above the point the wing bolts to the body. Get dug in about that and blast it out if you can as this is what caused my one to rot out and why I had to spend most of Saturday afternoon welding a new bit on.

[Lankytim]

Thanks but I think that's the other kind of zetec as found in Mondeos etc.

[cort16]

They did put that a 1.6 Zetec into some of the later Pumas I've no idea if it's the same on though.

 

Check this out, possibly just 60 notes for a 1.7 Zetec one.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Puma-1-7-16v-VVT-complete-engine-and-gearbox-/140889729324?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20cdaea92c

[Lankytim]

Thanks to my recent degree in shite studies from Wikipedia uni I can tell you that the 1400, 1600 and 1700 were all Zetec S lumps and not the regular mondy style Zetec. The 1600 replaced the 1400 in 2000. Any idea if a 1700 would be a straight fit?

[cort16]

I've not idea how easy the swap would be but if you want me to take some pics/measurements of my 1.7 then let me know.

[mk1_4dr]

Thanks to my recent degree in shite studies from Wikipedia uni I can tell you that the 1400, 1600 and 1700 were all Zetec S lumps and not the regular mondy style Zetec. The 1600 replaced the 1400 in 2000. Any idea if a 1700 would be a straight fit?

 

As far a I can recall, it should bolt straight.

Like i said, I've had a hand in building them with alsorts of lumps in them, I seem to remember that its just a case of getting hold of the relevent stock Ford engine mounts for said motor. So RST will bolt in with FRSt engine mounts, 1800TD with Fiesta van mounts etcetc...

 

Also, if you're going to do an engine swap, I'd be trying to find a Fiesta/Escort diesel van gearbox as the 5th gear is longer meaning better motorway cruising MPG. Stronger too which is why it was such a popular conversion with the RSt boys.

[Lankytim]

From what i've read the physical dimensions are the same, it will bolt up to the 1.4 box too. There's an issue with the looms, immobilisers and ECU's e.t.c so it's not as simple as it appears and i'd need more than an engine to do the swap. I *think* it may be possible to just bolt the 1.7 block onto the 1.4 head, losing the VVC stuff. Sounds too complicated for a quick fix anyway.

 

A mate of mine has just weighed in a good 1.4 engine, typical!

[cort16]

What about this?

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/ford-fiesta-14-zetec-engine/1003611212

[Morgan84]

There's a Escort 1.6 estate being offered on here for £250 I believe

[mk1_4dr]

There's a Escort 1.6 estate being offered on here for £250 I believe

 

Yeah, could even nick the rather tasty 7spokes of it too, then weigh the remainder in. You might even make on it if you have a weekend to break it and ebay any tasty morsels.

[Lankytim]

That's the one Tayne pointed out, wrong type of Zetec, i'm afraid!

[Lankytim]

Ok chaps. I've had a think about this and I'm going to cut my losses and fook it off. Does anybody want some cheap parts? You can buy the whole thing for 200 quid!

[cort16]

I spent the last 4 weeks looking for a radiant red drivers door for mine. The one I eventually found arrives today . Typical. What's your passenger side front wing like?

I need 1 wheel and tyre as one of mine has a big lump out it although I could be interested in the set if the tyres are okay and they're cheap enough.

[Lankytim]

Wing looks good, tyres look quite new but one is cracked a bit. I'd be after £60 for the wheels and say £10 for the wing.

[cort16]

I've pm'd you.