Hey everyone,
Just joined, wanted to say hi from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
I just bought a 2003 Ford Focus SE (2.0 SPI, 5-speed IB5) 3 weeks ago. Starting to get into the modding scene.
Seems like this is the place to be for us Canuck Focus drivers. ;)
Welcome to the site!
So what do you have planned for your car in the way of modification?
darkpuppet,Feb 3 2006, 08:47 AM Wrote:Welcome to the site!
So what do you have planned for your car in the way of modification?
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Well, I haven't done much so far... LOL. I've changed the tired old stock plugs for some NGK Iridiums (TR55-1IX-7316) and upped to 94 octane gas. I'm getting a new cluster from someone on FocusFanatics because my cluster doesn't have a tach, the one he's selling me does. Going to mod the cluster before I install it too.
I'm still figuring out exactly what CAN be done. There's not that much available for the SPI. Plus there's not much point of doing too much to the SPI because if I was going to do that, might as well trade it in for a Zetec to start with.
I know I'm going to get a tune from Wayne @ Hypnotics, get the governor off and re-calibrate for 94 octane. Probably start with throwing on a cold air intake as well.
I'm still trying to find things like a ceramic clutch, a lower final output gear and a lighter flywheel, but doesn't seem like they exist for the IB5.
From what I gather and what's I've found out so far, seems like I'll have to stick to mostly esthetic modding.
Welcome, and congrats on your SPI. Good choice going with Wayne for the tune, excellent customer service with him!
WELCOME!
Talk to Nos...He kknow everything there is to know about the SPI.
ANTHONYD,Feb 3 2006, 11:24 AM Wrote:Talk to Nos...He kknow everything there is to know about the SPI.
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Yup, his screen name is NOS2GO4ME. He'll tell you whats up with the SPI & Modding it.
And you'll get used to *my* answers...You really want to make that thing perform? Go turbo. Its a chunk of change but depending what your already palnning on doing, you could be 1-2K away from a DIY turbo kit ;)
Not one day goes by that I dont regret doing it to mine. :D
EDIT: How is the old city? I used to live on Poirier Street back in 89.
Just a thought but before you start throwing your hard earned money away buying 94 octane fuel, put that extra money you would pay for the gas in an account and by this time next year you could easily pay for a Zetec swap.
Welcome though.
I have to afgree with the 94 octane.
I could go into a long discussion about it, but to keep it short, 89 octane burns more effeciently than 94 and will give you better gas mileage.
It is a common misunderstanding that 94 is better.
It just has more damaging detergents.
And welcome to my hellhole
Flofocus,Feb 3 2006, 11:13 AM Wrote:meford4u,Feb 3 2006, 12:11 PM Wrote:And welcome to my hellhole
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Our hell hole. :angry: :P
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Ok I'll share.
And did you see my golf thread? If we make it down for the dyno day in Ottawa in the spring, I am definately kicking your ass at golf.
You can golf, right?
Or atleast try to?
Ok, deal, as long as I get to kick your ass in a freindly drag race after the game(And I do suck at golf)
Sounds fair heh? :P :lol:
Flofocus,Feb 3 2006, 09:30 AM Wrote:How is the old city? I used to live on Poirier Street back in 89.[right][snapback]168227[/snapback][/right]
I've only been in St-Jean for about 2 years now. I'm actually a native BC boy. Spent my entire life in Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam. Moved out to Quebec because the economy in BC went to s*** because of the liberals. Training wage killed the economy.
As for the 94 octane, I'm damned curious to know what difference it makes good/bad or otherwise to use 94 or 87.
jcarle,Feb 3 2006, 01:07 PM Wrote:As for the 94 octane, I'm damned curious to know what difference it makes good/bad or otherwise to use 94 or 87.
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Actually, higher octane can actually impede performance because the flamefront moves slower. This is great if you have more advanced timing or other modifications that would normally introduce pre-ignition.
On my stock zetec, 87 Octane was getting nearly 70km more on a tank than 91 over a 3,000km round trip.
There are people that say running high octane on a low octane engine may result in octane dependence as carbon may build up in the engine that would introduce knock with lower octane gas over time... but I don't have first hand experience with this.
The unfortunate part of 87 Octane is that it's the bottom of the barrel gas.. the gas that doesn't pass muster for anything else.. so it may have impurities that higher octanes don't have. I've never had a problem with 87 octane per se, so I can't quantify any possible harm running 87.
To be honest, the two things a stock NA focus motors need least are spark plugs and higher octane gas. They may not do any harm, but I honestly don't think they're doing anything positive either.
Welcome aboard and enjoy the trip.
Puppet, Flo and others are the fuel management / tuning gurus. I'll get that out right away. 91/94 is purportedly just as good an increase as the Zetec, but I can't make that call... yet. Hoping to get a X-cal 2 this spring.
:hi:
Intake - any Zetec intake will fit with a rubber reducer. The intake must be meant for the stock Zetec throttle body. The reducer can be found at any local hardware store. Measure the inside diameter of the intake when you get it, then measure the inside diameter of the SPI TB. Done deal.
The K+N cone filter that fits the SPI MAF is RE-0930 or anything else with a 3" inside diameter.
Throttle body - in short supply, normally easiest obtained from
http://www.escortfocus.com. Same for their exhaust components. Moving to the 60mm BDR throttle body eliminates the need for the rubber reducer with a Zetec-geared intake. The BDR TB is nice, Oscar has one on his car.
Exhaust - MBRP's exhaust for the SPI/Zetec is the same for all models, just slightly longer/shorter where it matters. It sounds great on the SPI... I just so happen to have a clip of it up, pre-nice intake.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~teamx/resized/mbrpinside.mpeg
Underdrive pulley - the SPI is a different beast than the Zetec as far as underdrive pulleys go. The Zetec can use 1-3 pulleys, the SPI needs but one. Once again,
http://www.escortfocus.com has the goods, in 25% and 50% underdrive configurations.
CAVEAT EMPTOR - ef.com had some typos on their site, saying the focus needed a crazy-short belt for 2001-up with air. The final belt configuration I ended up with recently was a 66.5" belt... 2001 SPI with air. I'm not sure if I'm on the early or the late end of the stick as they shifted configurations for the accessories between 2001-2002 at some point. Take a few belts with you between 65-67" in size and return what you don't need.
The SPI gains some nice punch without sacrificing hardly any fuel economy. You've got a nice car there, and you can make it even better. :)
Welcome and enjoy your focus driving exp(both good and bad). =)
darkpuppet,Feb 3 2006, 12:15 PM Wrote:... things a stock NA focus motors need ...[right][snapback]168262[/snapback][/right]
I've managed to decipher most abbreviations regarding the Focus, but this is one I haven't figured out yet. What does NA (or sometimes N/A) stand for?
I think FI is forced induction and UDP is underdrive dampener pulley... oh and while I'm at it... :P what's a foci? Nickname for the Focus?
NOS2Go4Me,Feb 3 2006, 02:44 PM Wrote:Moving to the 60mm BDR throttle body...[right][snapback]168299[/snapback][/right]
What does getting a large throttle body do? Higher increase in air intake? Same principle as a cold air intake?
What are UDPs used for? I'm starting to get the feeling that UDPs are used to remove accesories from the routing scheme of the fan belt to increase power & fuel economy?
Focus Is Art,Feb 3 2006, 04:40 PM Wrote:Welcome and enjoy your focus driving exp(both good and bad). =)[right][snapback]168334[/snapback][/right]
There is no such thing as a bad driving experience when having fun with such a sweet little car. Especially considering my last four cars in the last two years where a 1992 Dodge Colt Hatchback, 1990 Ford Tempo, 1988 Buick LeSabre 3.8L V6 and 1986 Plymouth Horizon (Dodge Omni)... and yes... in that order. :P
@everyone:
Thanks for the warm welcome. Seems like I'm going to enjoy my stay here very much. ;)
NA is the opposite from FI. Naturally Aspirated.
Or North America :P