B.
FORMULA CONTINENTAL / F PREPARATION RULES
16. Ford Zetec Engine
The Ford Zetec ZX3 engine shall conform to the following specifications and may
be modified only as specifically allowed. If these specifications do not explicitly
allow a modification, then it may not be done. The philosophy of the Zetec engine
in FC is to allow limited engine rebuilds but no performance modifications to the
engine. Blue printing, balancing, head porting, polishing, etc. are strictly prohibit-
ed and against the spirit of the Zetec formula. Where Ford part numbers are
specified, normal industry part number supersession is expected and the super-
seding part numbers are automatically included.
a. The cylinder head may not be ported or polished. Machining the cylinder
head is not permitted except as specified in these rules. A standard three-
angle “production” valve job is required and the only allowed angles are
those defined in the Ford factory manual. The intake valve seats must be
30° 45° 70° with the 45° face a minimum 1.5 mm wide. The exhaust valve
seats must be 30° 45° 55° with the 45° seat 1.5 mm wide minimum. Valve
seats and guides may be replaced providing that they remain in the origi-
nal stock locations. The camshaft, valves, springs, and shim/bucket com-
ponents must be original Ford parts and may not be modified in any way.
Only original unmodified Ford parts may be used for direct replacement.
The camshafts must remain as ground by Ford; no polishing is permitted.
Valve seats may not be replaced. The head may not be surfaced or milled
beyond the minimum thickness of 5.230” measured between the cam cov-
er seating surface and the lower plane of the head. Only the Ford
#RFYS4E6090AC or RFYS4E6090AD head is allowed. The only allowed
camshafts are the Ford #L913B YSAA intake and #L913B C2B exhaust.
The original, unmodified Ford camshaft and crankshaft timing pulleys must
be used. Required camshaft timings are as follows:
Intake centerline 116-117 degrees ATDC
Exhaust centerline 106-107 degrees BTDC
b. Pistons, c Only original Ford or Sealed Power H872cp pistons may be
used. Crankshaft, and rods may be replaced only with standard original
Ford replacement parts. The crankshaft, rod and main bearing journals
may be reground or polished for the purpose of installing oversize main or
rod bearings. The rod journals must remain stock and the rods may not be
bored or remanufactured in any way. The rod and crankshaft bearings
may be replaced only with original or oversized Ford bearings. The big
end of the connecting rod may be honed to fit .002 inch larger rod bear-
ings. Connecting rod bearings may be replaced with unmodified bearings
which are specifically designated for use in this engine. The required orig-
inal crankshaft main bearing journal dimension is 2.282-2.283 inches and
the required original crankshaft rod journal dimension is 1.846-1.847 inch-
es. The corresponding main journal dimensions for oversized bearings are
either 2.273-2.274 inches or 2.263-2.264 inches; the corresponding rod
journal dimensions for oversized bearings are either 1.837-1.838 inches or
1.827-1.828 inches. The crankshaft centerline to deck dimension is 8.378
inches and may not be altered. The main bearing housing bore is 2.452-
2.453 inches and the rod housing bore is 1.9642-1.9650 inches. Only orig-
inal Ford rod bolts with a minimum weight of 24.6 grams or ARP rod bolts
with a minimum weight of 23.5 grams may be used.
c. Only original stock Ford replacement piston rings (part number
2S4Z6148AA) or Hastings Rings (part number 2M4887 Std) may be used.
The ring end gaps may not be altered and must remain as manufactured
by Ford. All of the rings must be installed including the complete oil scrap-
er assembly. The piston bore may be honed solely to allow piston ring
seating. The first and second compression rings must be installed in the
positions designated by the manufacturer Ford.
d. All surfaces on the head, block, rods, pistons, and crankshaft must remain
as manufactured by Ford and may not be altered in any way unless spe-
cifically provided for in these rules. The original casting marks and cast
surfaces must remain as-cast and also meet all of the Ford design values
and tolerances as stated in the Ford factory manual or as delineated in
these specifications. The block may not be decked. Only Ford Zetec ZX3
blocks with block numbers #RFYS4G6015AA, or #RFYS4G6015AD or
#RFYS4G6015AE are permitted. The blocks may be sleeved however all
bore tolerances must remain stock or as otherwise provided for in these
rules. The required compression ratio is 9.6:1, the required standard bore
is 3.3390 – 3.3410 3.3420 inches and the required stroke is 3.461 +/-
.004 inches. The maximum bore dimension of 3.3410 3.3420 inch is in-
tended to allow for cylinder wear only. It is not permitted to machine to this
dimension. This measurement will be taken .250 below the block deck
where the bore is untouched by the piston ring.
e. Flywheel: The minimum weight is 8.0 lbs. and any weight removal from
the specified flywheel must come from the clutch plate surface. The fric-
tion and clamping force surface of the flywheel may be resurfaced. Only
the Quarter Master #QM107160 flywheel may be used. It is permitted to
install a new ring gear on the flywheel.
f. Any 7¼ inch single plate or double plate, non-carbon fiber clutch is al-
lowed.
g. Any oil pan is allowed. The oil pan may not contain an oil scraper between
the oil pan and the block. No device in the oil pan may be contoured to the
crankshaft assembly to function as an oil scraper nor may any device be
closer to the rotating crankshaft assembly than 0.500 inches.
h. Any three-stage oil pump with a maximum of two scavenge stages is al-
lowed. The maximum scavenge rotor dimensions are 1.600 inches in di-
ameter and 1.375 inches in length. The maximum pressure rotor dimen-
sions are 1.600 inches in diameter and 0.863 inches in length.
i. The exhaust system manifold tubing OD must be 1.5 inches (as measured
1.00 inches or more from the head). The manifold tubes must be a mini-
mum of 24 inches in length and must terminate into a single exhaust pipe
through a 4 into 1 collector. The collector angles must be the standard 15
degree bend, (30 degree included angle) with an exit diameter of 2 inches.
The tail pipe must be a minimum of 24 inches in length. The tail pipe in-
cludes a muffler, if present, as long as the inlet and outlet pipes of the
muffler are the same diameter as the tail pipe. 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust col-
lectors or reduced diameter venturi sections are prohibited.
j. ECU: The Pectel T2 or the Performance PE-3 unit is required. The current
specification SCCA Club map or 2013 Pro map as published by SCCA is
required. The SCCA Club and 2013 Pro map are available on the SCCA
website.
k. Intake manifold and fuel injection components: The Quicksilver Race En-
gines (QSRE) intake air scoop, intake manifold, throttle bodies, air horns,
fuel rail, and injector system, pressure regulator and carbon fibre air scoop
with filter are required and must be used with no modifications of any kind
unless specifically provided for in these rules. (Due to the aging of the air
scoops alternative means of securing the filter will be permitted which may
include modifications to the debris tube and other mounting hardware. The
air scoop however must have a minimum .430 inch operable air bleed at
its rear most point.) The only allowed intake manifold and throttle body
combination is the #0138 manifold available through QSRE. Only stock
Ford 19 pound fuel injectors may be used and they may not be modified in
any way. Fuel injectors may be replaced only with stock Ford injector part
number #0280155887 XS4U-AA or Accel injector part number
ACC150819.
l. Intake restrictor must meet FPIR specifications: The QSRE #1975 intake
restrictor must be used. It must and may not be modified in any way. The
new restrictor internal diameter is 1.340. This is located in the air box
flange. The restrictor is to be placed between the air scoop mounting
flange and the intake manifold.
m. Engines will be mounted and aligned fore and aft in the chassis
n. The addition of material by any means to any component is prohibited
o. Non-standard rocker covers are permitted providing they in no way im-
prove the performance of the engine.
p. Oil coolers are unrestricted.
q. A liquid cooling system is mandatory, but radiators and water pump are
unrestricted. The stock water pump may be modified; electric water pumps
are prohibited.
r. Fuel pump is unrestricted.
s. Gaskets and seals are unrestricted except for
1. cylinder head gasket, Ford part number XS7Z6051CA or Victor Reinz
part number 54502
2. a continuous o-ring of cross-section of 0.100 inches must be fitted to
each intake runner groove between the intake manifold and the head
which to ensures that no air by-passes the o-ring seal
t. Pump, fan, and generator drive pulleys are unrestricted.
u. The use of non-standard replacement fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws,
studs, and washers) which are not connected with or which do not support
the intake manifold or any moving parts of the engine are permitted.
v. Any tapered seat 14mm x 25mm (.984 inch) reach spark plugs may be
used.
w. Ford OEM coil P/N 988Z12029A or any other single OEM type replace-
ment coil is allowed.
