Honda: V-tec, variable valve timing, v tec

Question
Hey barrett! I don't understand the differences or similarities between v-tec and z-tec engines. I'm trying to do a science project (dont worry about the science stuff) that has something to do with v tecs and/or z tecs. I have friends with  v-tecs in their cars and friends with z tecs, and i wanna do something with the cars. If you only know information about the v-tec, please let me know! also, if you have any ideas of what i can do for my project (im still deciding on a topic, so i could just do something with v-tecs and forget about the z tec but i dont know enough about them to get started) that would be awesome. Anything that you could help me with would be appreciated. Thank you so much!
Meg

Answer
Hello Meg,
Honda pioneered Variable valve timing with its VTEC (Variable valve Timing and lift, Electronic Control)
Ford makes the ZETEC. I am not sure, but I don't think there is a similarity between the two, except that the names sound alike.
VTEC explained:
Before VTEC, car manufacturers had to decide whether to make an engine perform better at its lower rpm range or its higher rpm range.  Smaller engines have little power (because they're small), so, to make them easier to drive around town, we put in a cam with good low rpm settings(the profile of the lobes on the cam determine this).  If you want the small engine to be a good racecar, then you'd put high rpm cams in there.  Larger engines are big, so they have more power.  This means manufacturers have more flexibility with them, but they sacrife fuel efficiency because of their bigger size.  Honda decided they would alter the profile of the cam halfway through the rev range, giving them:  Good fuel economy, Good low rpm power (for driving around town), Good high rpm power (for the weekend racer), and the best part, That distinct sound of a VTEC engine that switches to its high profile setting.  

Here are a few other bits of information.
VTEC operates on oil pressure.  The computer tells a solenoid to open up and the oil pressure moves a pin into place activating extra rocker arms that contact different cam lobes.

The low lift cam lobes give you low-end power; the high lift, long duration cam lobes give you high-end power.

If you are using the car solely for racing, you would like to remove every part of the valvetrain that has anything to do with the low lift setting.  This will lighten the engine parts, and let you keep the high rpm power(good for racing).

Sorry I couldn't help with ZETEC,
Barrett.